Murder: True Crime Stories

Episode: UNSOLVED: The Chiropractor Killer 2
Date: November 13, 2025
Host: Carter Roy | Crime House

Episode Overview

In this gripping conclusion to the Mary Yoder case, host Carter Roy plunges listeners deeper into one of upstate New York’s most haunting unsolved murders. This episode dissects the twists and turns in the hunt for Mary Yoder’s killer, unraveling forensic developments, shifting suspicions, family betrayals, courtroom drama, and the astonishing legal developments that leave the Yoder family searching for justice a decade later. Listeners are guided from the first hints of foul play to the shocking fallout from not one but two tense murder trials.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mary Yoder’s Death and the Initial Investigation

• Mary Yoder: Described as "the sun her family orbited around," Mary’s sudden death at age 60 stunned the town of Whitesboro, NY (05:12).

• Cause of Death: Autopsy revealed colchicine poisoning—a drug used to treat gout, leading to immediate suspicions since Mary didn’t have gout and shouldn't have accessed the medication.

  “Her organs were shades of green, purple and brown, which is not normal… This pointed to only one possible conclusion. Poison.” – Carter Roy (05:30)

• Early Theories: Family wondered if a gardening accident, contaminated supplements, or a tragic mistake could be to blame (05:59).

• Detective Mark Van Naime: Called in after Mary’s sister Sharon Mills pushed for answers; his suspicion first landed on Mary’s grieving husband, Bill Yoder.

2. A Shocking Anonymous Letter and Sudden New Suspects

• The Letter: On November 23, 2015, police received a typewritten anonymous letter, claiming to know the killer: Mary’s youngest son, Adam. The letter gave details only an insider would know, including claiming the poison was in the front seat of Adam’s car (09:05).

• Adam’s Alibi: Adam agreed to let police search his car, where colchicine and an incriminating receipt were indeed found. Adam was shocked, claimed he was being framed, and forensic evidence supported his alibi (09:40).

  “Adam insisted that whoever had written the letter was trying to frame him. He swore he’d never seen the drug or the receipt in his life.” – Carter Roy (10:25)

• Investigative Dead Ends: Police briefly refocused on Bill Yoder, scrutinizing his relationship with Mary’s sister Kathy, but found no evidence of pre-affair or hidden motive.

3. The Focus Shifts: Katie Connolly Comes Under Suspicion

• Katie Connolly: Adam’s ex-girlfriend and Mary’s former office assistant, initially seemed helpful and cooperative.

• Key Forensic Breaks:

  • DNA from the letter’s envelope was female, casting doubt on Bill and Adam’s involvement (17:19).
  • The receipt for the poison traced back to an IP address at Katie’s home.
  • Katie’s phone revealed searches about colchicine poisoning, and a fake company (“Cairo Family Care”) used to purchase the poison (20:59).

• Interrogation Breakthrough: Under repeated questioning, Katie indirectly implicated herself with an unsettling admission:

  “Guys didn’t use poison. …because it’s a lady’s weapon.” – Katie Connolly (approx 21:43)

• Katie confessed to writing the letter but continued blaming Adam for the murder.

4. Legal Proceedings: Trials, Twist, and Fallout

• First Grand Jury (June 2016): Katie indicted for second-degree murder after forensic and digital evidence presented (26:48).

• Trial #1 (April–May 2017):

  • Prosecution: Argued Katie poisoned Mary via her protein powder, presented digital and physical evidence.

  • Defense: Tried to cast suspicion on Mary’s husband Bill, scrutinizing his character and relationships.

  • Verdict: Hung jury; mistrial declared (May 18, 2017).

    “Ten jurors found Katie innocent. Just two found her guilty. Since there was no consensus, it was declared a mistrial.” – Carter Roy (approx 30:56)

• Second Trial (October–November 2017):

  • Defense pivoted to blaming Adam, referencing a retracted sexual assault accusation.
  • Prosecution produced further evidence, including calculations by Katie for lethal dosages of colchicine, saved on her phone.
  • Verdict: Not guilty for second-degree murder, guilty for first-degree manslaughter (November 6, 2017).
  • Sentence: 23 years in prison.

• Victim Impact Statements:

  • Mary’s husband Bill described “all consuming grief.”

  • Adam expressed deep regret for introducing Katie to the family, saying:

    “He’d introduced Katie to his family. He was the reason she’d entered their lives. He was the reason Mary was dead. Then Adam told the room full of people, including Katie’s family, that he hated her.” – Carter Roy (approx 33:41)

5. Post-Conviction and The Stunning Overturn

• Appeals Process: For years, Katie’s lawyers failed to overturn her conviction.

• Conviction Overturned (January 2025): Katie freed after serving seven years, due to ineffective counsel (cell phone search not properly challenged in court).

• Case Reopened: As of April 2025, prosecutors intend to reconvene a grand jury; the outcome remains uncertain.

  “Today, Mary Yoder’s suspected killer is free. But she might not stay that way forever. Mary’s family and her lawyers aren’t done fighting for justice.” – Carter Roy (approx 35:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Risks of Assumptions in Family Crime:

  • “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 (03:54)

• On the Psychology of Poison:

  • “Guys didn’t use poison. …because it’s a lady’s weapon.” – Katie Connolly (21:43)

• On the Emotional Toll on the Yoder Family:

  • “A part of them had died that day.” – Bill Yoder, Victim Impact Statement (approx 33:27)

• On the Limbo of Unsolved Crimes:

  • “It’s impossible to say what the outcome will be. The results have been drastically different each time. But whatever happens, one thing is certain. Mary Yoder was so much more than a victim.” – Carter Roy (35:22)

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• Mary’s Autopsy and Early Suspicions: 05:12–08:30
• Anonymous Letter & Car Search: 09:05–10:48
• Shift of Suspicion to Katie Connolly: 17:19–22:42
• Katie’s Interrogation and Digital Evidence: 19:25–22:40
• First Grand Jury, Trial, and Mistrial: 26:48–30:56
• Second Trial and Verdict: 31:47–33:17
• Sentencing & Family Statements: 33:25–34:35
• Conviction Overturned & Future Uncertainty: 34:45–end

Summary

This episode pulls listeners through the full cycle of hope, heartbreak, and unresolved justice in the wake of Mary Yoder’s poisonous murder. From the initial shock, through a methodical investigation, to a trial sequence that exposed the dark complexities of small-town relationships, the story personalizes the real and lasting damage of violence. With a focus on forensic evidence, digital footprints, the psychology of poison as a weapon, and a chilling confession-avoidance by the prime suspect, the podcast stresses both the limitations and the doggedness of the justice system. By the end, while listeners do not receive a definitive resolution, they do gain deep insight into why Mary’s story remains vital: she was more than a victim, embodying the trust and kindness that are too often lost in tragedy.