Murder: True Crime Stories – UNSOLVED: The Chiropractor Killer 1

Podcast: Murder: True Crime Stories
Host: Carter Roy
Date: November 11, 2025

Main Theme

This episode delves into the disturbing and still unresolved murder of Mary Yoder, a beloved chiropractor, mother, and wife from upstate New York. Host Carter Roy peels back the layers of her family’s history, their close-knit professional and personal relationships, and the events leading up to Mary’s shocking death by poisoning in 2015. The focus is not just on the crime itself, but the ripple effect it had on the Yoders and their community, as well as the complex web of relationships—particularly with a key figure, Katie Conley, who became entwined with the family in unexpected and ultimately tragic ways.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Yoder Family’s Origins and Dynamics

• Mary’s Early Life and Marriage (04:52 – 09:25)

  • Mary, born Mary Bay Kirt in 1955, was known for her warmth and optimism from childhood.
  • She met Bill Yoder—a philosophy PhD candidate—while rooming together during her college years. Despite their 10-year age difference, romance blossomed.
  • "They were young, in love, and just enjoying the ride." (06:32, Carter Roy)
  • After an unexpected turn in Bill’s academic career, the couple moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, before ultimately returning home to raise their family and pursue chiropractic medicine together.

• Professional Life and Family Growth (09:25 – 11:15)

  • Both Mary and Bill decided to become chiropractors, balancing their education with raising children.
  • They founded ‘Chiropractic Family Care’ in Whitesboro, NY.
  • Their family grew to three children: Leanna, Tamarin, and youngest, Adam.

Adam Yoder and Katie Conley: A Volatile Relationship

• Adam Meets Katie (11:50 – 15:05)

  • Adam meets Katie Conley at age 21, while Katie is still in high school at 17.
  • Katie was charismatic, popular, but rumors from her peers painted her as unpredictable—nicknamed "Crazy Katie."
  • "All he saw was a charming girl he’d met at a party. He asked her out and it wasn’t long before the two of them started dating." (12:42, Carter Roy)
  • Katie quickly becomes closely involved with both Adam and the family business.

• Relationship Turns Sour (14:48 – 20:30)

  • Though their romance starts intensely (“Adam had fallen head over heels for her and by all accounts he was completely obsessed,” 14:54), Katie’s reluctance about future commitment sparks tension.
  • Breakups and reconciliations become a pattern, with Adam’s emotional dependence and significant financial ties to Katie (borrowing up to $20,000).
  • Katie remains office receptionist after their breakups, leading to complications.

• Escalation: Accusations and Legal Action (18:49 – 21:39)

  • Katie accuses Adam of sexual assault months after their final split, providing photos of alleged bruising and filing a report.
  • Police arrange a “controlled call,” but Adam denies any wrongdoing (“You’re lying to yourself,” 21:14, Adam to Katie), and the case is eventually dropped at Katie’s request.
  • Adam grows wary and fearful of Katie, sensing she is a threat to his family’s stability.

Strange Illnesses: Adam, Then Mary

• Adam’s Sudden Sickness (26:44 – 28:39)

  • In April 2015, Adam becomes suddenly and violently ill after taking "Alpha Brain Supplements" given by Katie. The symptoms are severe enough to land him in the ER.
  • “If you poisoned me, I’m afraid we can no longer be friends.” (29:17, Adam’s text to Katie)
  • Katie pointedly follows up, showing strong interest in his symptoms.

• Mary’s Final Days (28:40 – 36:05)

  • By July 2015, Mary, now 60 and full of energy, is running the chiropractic business—and still trusting in Katie, who has stayed on as her assistant.
  • Mary maintains a strict wellness routine, often using a protein shake as a meal replacement.
  • On July 20, Mary feels sick after her lunch break, behaving oddly with patients and staff—detached, fatigued, and needing repeated bathroom breaks.
  • That evening, she returns home and collapses. Within days, she is in the ICU; doctors are mystified, but symptoms echo Adam’s April illness.
  • Despite intensive care, Mary passes away on July 22, 2015.

Shocking Revelation

• Cause of Death and Aftermath (36:05 – 37:30)
  • The Yoder family, desperate for answers, requests an autopsy.
  • “It turned out Mary’s death wasn’t a tragic accident. She’d been poisoned.” (37:14, Carter Roy)
  • This chilling discovery propels the family into a quest for justice, setting the stage for the investigation explored in the next episode.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “People’s lives are like a story. There’s a beginning, a middle and an end. But you don’t always know which part you’re on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon and we don’t always get to know the real ending.”
  — Carter Roy, 03:14

• “Adam found it a bit strange. She seemed obsessed with the specifics of his symptoms.”
  — Carter Roy, 29:03

• “If you poisoned me, I’m afraid we can no longer be friends.”
  — Text from Adam to Katie, 29:17

• “Mary’s three children rushed over to be with their mother. So did Katie. She wasn’t part of the family, but she was the next closest thing.”
  — Carter Roy, 34:54

• “She’d been poisoned. And now it was up to the Yoder family to figure out what or who had killed her and why.”
  — Carter Roy, 37:18

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:00 – 03:50 | Introduction and context: Setting up Mary Yoder’s story
• 04:52 – 11:15 | Mary and Bill’s relationship, family, and their professional life
• 11:50 – 15:05 | Adam meets Katie; their early relationship and Katie’s background
• 14:48 – 20:30 | Adam and Katie’s on-off relationship, Katie’s integration into the family business
• 18:49 – 21:39 | Accusations, legal troubles, and escalation of personal drama
• 26:44 – 29:17 | Adam’s mysterious illness and suspicions about Katie
• 28:40 – 36:05 | Mary’s sudden illness, death, and the family’s devastation
• 36:05 – 37:30 | Autopsy results reveal poisoning; the unsolved nature of Mary’s death

Tone and Delivery

Carter Roy’s narration is empathetic and suspenseful, guiding listeners through the multilayered tragedy with respect for the Yoder family and a compelling sense of urgency. He uses intimate anecdotes, reported conversations, and direct quotes to immerse listeners in the personal and emotional stakes of the case.

Conclusion & Teaser

The episode ends with Mary’s devastating death, the shocking discovery that she was poisoned, and the family’s determination to uncover the truth. The host promises a deeper exploration in the next episode, focusing on the investigation and the primary suspects—including those closest to Mary.

For listeners seeking a story as much about people and their tangled loyalties as about the crime itself, this episode is a thorough and emotionally gripping introduction to the unsolved murder of Mary Yoder.