ABC’s David Muir fans’ ‘hearts hurt’ as he stalls show for ‘lowest of the low’ story

David Muir interrupted regular programming to deliver a shocking breaking news story, which left viewers in tears

David Muir hosting ABC World News Tonight (Image: ABC)

ABC World News Tonight’s Wednesday broadcast began with a chilling interruption as anchor David Muir cut into the evening’s schedule with a startling update.

Directly addressing the audience, the seasoned broadcaster, aged 51, reported, “The breaking news coming in from a Colorado courtroom at this hour, the verdict in a case making national headlines. A well-known dentist accused of killing his wife of 23 years by slowly poisoning her protein shakes with cyanide.”

Muir went on to reveal the grim specifics of the crime, stating, “Authorities say his slow, methodical plan landed his wife at the hospital three times over 10 days. Tonight, James Craig has been found guilty of killing his wife, Angela, the mother of his six children, now convicted of first degree murder.”

He then informed viewers of the outcome, declaring, “The jury has been deliberating for more than eight hours, and just moments ago, the judge sentenced James Craig to life in prison.”

Transitioning to correspondent Kayna Whitworth, Muir set the stage for her to provide an update directly from the courtroom where the verdict had been “read just a short time ago.”

James Craig was sentenced to live in jail (Image: undefined)

Whitworth took over with a voiceover, detailing the shocking case: “It was a story that made national headlines, a community dentist who authorities say was secretly and systematically poisoning his wife to death, lacing HER protein shakes with cyanide and a drug found in over-the-counter eye drops, in a top-shelf shaker bottle,” while visuals of Craig and his family were displayed.

“Puzzling symptoms, sending her to the hospital three times over 10 days in March of 2023, until prosecutors say James Craig administered the fatal dose as the mother of his six children lay dying in her hospital bed late today,” Kayna elaborated.

A clip then played showing the jury who held Craig’s fate in their hands delivering their verdict: “guilty of murder in the first degree.”

Kayna also shed light on some other crimes committed by the dentist, stating, “Craig also found guilty of trying to fabricate evidence to make his wife Angela’s death look like suicide, asking others to lie for him, including one of his own children, and asking a fellow inmate to kill the detective investigating him.

The defense argued, Angela actually took her own life after she learned her husband was cheating on her, but the jury not convinced.”

Fans were heartbroken after hearing the story (Image: ABC)

Angela’s devastated family was then shown speaking from the court following the verdict. They expressed, “None of us could have imagined that the person she chose is her companion, the father of her six children, and we welcomed into our family as our trusted brother-in-law.”

Kayna wrapped up her report by saying, “And, David, we know Craig will spend the rest of his life behind bars. One of his children saying in court that her father will forever be a villain.”

It became evident that viewers were deeply affected by the harrowing story and took to social media to express their sorrow for Angela and her family.

Beneath a shared snippet of the breaking news segment on ABC World News Tonight’s Instagram, one viewer vented, “He’s the lowest of low. Divorce was available. His poor children. Losing their mother is so sad.”

Another expressed their sorrow, commenting, “This is horrible. My heart hurts for their children,” and included a crying face emoji.

A third individual questioned, “Why not simply divorce her. So horribly sad,” while someone else similarly pondered, “What in the world stopped him from simply filing for divorce and going on to live the rest of his life? I do not understand these men and women who do this!”.

A different user lamented, “Those poor children!” and yet another pointed out the oddity with, “Cyanide in eye drops? That doesn’t make any sense.”