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

Episode Date: November 11, 2025

When 60-year-old chiropractor and beloved mother Mary Yoder suddenly falls fatally ill, her tight-knit New York family is devastated — and baffled. Doctors can’t explain her mysterious symptoms, but one thing is clear: this was no ordinary sickness. As investigators dig into Mary’s final days, they uncover tangled relationships, buried resentments, and a young woman whose connection to the Yoders would soon turn deadly. A story of love, betrayal, and revenge that proves sometimes evil hides in plain sight. Murder: True Crime Stories is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Murder: True Crime Stories! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hi, crimehouse community. It's Carter Roy, and if you love digging into the most gripping true crime stories, then you need to listen to another crime house original. Crimes of with Sabrina Deanna Roga and Corinne Vienne.N. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season, from crimes of paranormal, unsolved murders, mysterious disappearances, and more. Sabrina and Corinne have been covering the true stories behind Hollywood's most iconic horror villains, and this month they'll be diving into the paranormal. Listen to Crimes of Every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. we all have that one person in our lives who we aren't technically related to but call family and whether it's your mom's best friend who has become like an aunt or a sibling significant other these people become a part of our inner circle in a permanent way but sometimes you find out

that blood really is thicker than water and not everyone can be trusted The Yoder family learned this lesson the hard way. In the summer of 2015, Mary Yoder became fatally ill. Not even a team of doctors could figure out what was wrong or what had made her sick. But the Yoder family was determined to uncover the truth. And when they did, it would make them question everything and everyone. Even the one person who they thought would never betray them. 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. I'm Carter Roy, and this is Murder True Crime Stories, a crime house original powered by Pave Studios that releases every Tuesday and Thursday. Crime House is made possible by you. Follow Murder True Crime Stories and subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts

for ad-free early access to each two-part series. And if you can't get enough True Crime, go search and follow Crime House Daily. Our team's twice a day show, bring us a day show bringing you breaking cases, updates, and unbelievable stories from the world of crime that are happening right now. This is the first of two episodes on the 2015 murder of 60-year-old Mary Yoder in upstate New York. Today, I'll take you through Mary's life and introduce you to her family. After struggling to make ends meet, Mary and her husband, Bill, had finally established a thriving chiropractic business in upstate New York.

but one day in 2015 everything came to a standstill when mary became fatally ill next time i'll dive into the investigation into mary's death what initially seemed like a tragic accident quickly turned into something much more sinister and in their search for the truth detectives would put everyone under the microscope especially those closest to mary all all that and more coming up. With Instacart, you get groceries that over-deliver, like when you get groceries that are the same price as in store. With no markups at select retailers,

you get in-store products for in-store prices, and the only thing that isn't in-store is you. That means you could order in-store products at in-store prices while you're in sweatpants, in spin class, in stuffy work meeting, in anywhere but in. in store. So download the app today and get zero-dollar delivery fees on your first three orders. Instacart, groceries that over-deliver. Service fees, exclusions, and terms apply. In true crime, sometimes you know a lot more about the end of a person's life than the beginning.

And sadly, that's true in the case of Mary Yoder. She was born in 1955 as Mary Bay-Curt and raised in Utica, New York, about four hours north of Manhattan. She was a blonde-haired, bright-eyed child with a sweet personality and an even warmer smile. We don't know too much about her early years, but after graduating high school in 1973, the 18-year-old enrolled at a nearby community college. After two years, she moved on to the University of Buffalo to finish her degree. It's not clear what she studied, but it seems like that was less important than who she met while she was there. 30-year-old Bill Yoder was a Ph.D. candidate at the school, working to complete his

doctorate in philosophy. And it just so happened that he and his roommates were looking for someone to fill the extra room at their off-campus house. Although Bill was 10 years older than Mary, and his roommates probably were too, she applied for the spot. As soon as they met her, they knew she'd be the perfect addition to their home. At the time, Mary was dating someone and Bill didn't see her as anything other than a housemate. Still, he couldn't help but notice that she was beautiful and really easy to talk to. Within a few weeks of her moving in, Bill found himself making excuses to run into Mary around the house. He talked to her whenever he could. He just wanted to get to know her better. So when she and her boyfriend broke up, Bill jumped at

the opportunity and asked Mary out. To his delight, she said yes. After a few dates, they made things official. Unfortunately, that's when Bill got some bad news. He couldn't stay at the University of Buffalo anymore, and the school had a policy that PhD students had to complete their dissertations in seven years or less. Bill hadn't gotten his done in time. Instead of getting upset, Bill saw this as his chance for a fresh start. Sure, he was disappointed that his hard work was going to waste, but he was tired of the East Coast in its frigid winters, so he decided to pack his bags and head west, and he didn't do it alone. Although Mary was still working towards completing her undergraduate degree, she didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to travel with her new boyfriend. She did little research and realized she could transfer her credits to a new university.

depending on where she and Bill ended up. Eventually, they landed in Albuquerque, New Mexico, taking jobs at Pizza Hut to get by. It wasn't exactly glamorous, but Bill and Mary didn't care. They were young, in love, and just enjoying the ride. But Bill was ready for something more. After dating for about a year, Bill popped the question. Mary said yes, and she became Mrs. Yoder in 1970.

when she was 22 and he was 32. Life was good. But for Mary, something was missing. Her family. They were still in her hometown of Utica, New York. Bill knew how much they meant to her, and he was happy to move back. Little did they know,

they were about to embark on yet another adventure, one that they weren't exactly prepared for, parenthood. The following year in 1978, 23-year-old Mary gave birth to their first child, Leanna. Two years later, they welcomed their second daughter, Tamarin. Suddenly, Mary had gone from having no responsibilities to being a young mother of two. It was a big adjustment, but she was the kind of person who embraced life with open arms. Still, the kids were getting older.

Before she knew it, they'd be off to school. and Mary was wondering what she would do with all her free time. She decided to finish her undergraduate degree, but she still wasn't sure where her career would take her. Bill, now in his mid-30s, had also made some big changes recently. Instead of continuing to study philosophy, he decided to get his doctorate in chiropractic medicine at the Life Chiropractic College.

To some people it probably seem unexpected, But for Bill, this still felt connected to philosophy. He wanted to practice something called straight or vitalistic chiropractic. It involves physically correcting spinal misalignments, but is based on the idea that the body has the power to heal itself. After hearing Bill talk about it, Mary was intrigued, and eventually she decided to join him at chiropractic school. For the next several years, the couples struggled to make ends meet as they attended classes.

It was hard work and took a lot longer than they'd initially expected. And unlike many of their fellow students, they were also raising their two young children. It was a balancing act, but one that was in service of their shared dream, to heal people for a living. Their ambitions didn't stop at earning degrees either. After they both became board-certified chiropractors, they decided they wanted to be their own bosses. This led them to open their own business, which they called the chiropractic family care facility in Whitesboro, a small town in upstate New York. Meanwhile, their family continued to grow. Around 1990, they welcomed their third child, a son named Adam.

As the baby of the family, Adam was the apple of his parents' eyes. As the years past, Mary watched him grow into a responsible young man, the kind of person with good morals and a strong sense of loyalty. But of course, even responsible kids need to let loose sometimes. And that's exactly what Adam was looking to do on a summer night in 2011. That evening, Adam's friends invited him. to a local high school graduation party. Although Adam was 21 years old and several years out of high school,

it seems like the kids in Whitesboro didn't mind. That's where Adam laid eyes on her for the first time. A beautiful brunette surrounded by a gaggle of friends. She seemed approachable, a girl next door type, and he felt an instant surge of attraction. Her name was Caitlin Conley, and she was 17 years old. Adam learned she went by Katie

and came from a well-known family in Utica, in the same city where his mom Mary was from. Katie was a popular girl who was adored by her parents and her sisters. Growing up, she'd played tennis and was a high achiever graduating near the top of her high school class. Most people who knew Katie described her as wholesome and sweet. But not every one. agreed. In fact, some people referred to Katie by a special nickname she earned in high school.

Crazy Katie. The details are slim, but according to former classmates, something just seemed off about Katie. A lot of the time, it was hard to tell when she was being honest. For example, one former classmate recalled a moment in high school when Katie admitted that her ex-boyfriend had sexually assaulted her. While telling the story, Katie was robotic, like she had no emotions about it. Her classmate didn't know what to make of this, and Katie didn't elaborate.

But Adam Yoder didn't get the sense that Katie was strange. 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. Adam had no idea that his new girlfriend was going to turn his entire family upside down. By 2011, 56-year-old Mary Yoder and her husband, 66-year-old Bill, had settled into a routine. During the day, they saw clients at their chiropractic office in Whitesboro, New York. When Mary wasn't working, she kept busy with her local choir, pottery, and gardening.

But her biggest passion of all was her children. By then, her two older daughters were out of the house and starting their own families. And her youngest child, 21-year-old Adam, had also moved out and was renting a room in someone's basement while he figured out what he wanted to do with his life. And recently, he decided to focus all his attention on his new girlfriend, 17-year-old Katie Conley. After meeting Katie at a party, Adam had fallen head over heels for her. By all accounts, he was completely obsessed.

He even wrote Katie letters professing his feelings for her. In one, he wrote, I love you over 50 times. Adam and Katie's families were supportive. He showered Katie with affection, bringing her gifts and flowers. They even brought Katie's sisters along on some of their dates. Katie was barely out of high school, but Adam was already thinking about marriage. He even wrote Katie a letter complete with a picture of an engagement ring.

Katie was flattered, but at that point in her life, she had other priorities. She was a freshman studying liberal arts at her local community college, community college and looking for a part-time job. Adam suggested she work at his parents' family business. Bill and Mary agreed. It seemed like a no-brainer, and soon Katie was the receptionist at the office. But maybe that was a mistake. Around this time, things started to change between Adam and Katie. Adam wasn't the kind of guy who opened up to his friends or family about his romantic life so we don't know the details. However, it was clear to those around them that their dynamic had shifted. It started as small disagreements, then escalated into loud

fights. They both said things they couldn't take back. At some point, Adam must have realized that their relationship wasn't working out. He told Katie how he felt, and after about a year of dating. He broke up with her. It was difficult, not just emotionally, but because Katie still worked for his parents. Adam told himself he could handle it. And just because they weren't in a relationship didn't mean she couldn't be part of his life. And it seemed doable until Adam got some upsetting news. He learned that soon after their breakup, Katie had slept with one of his good friends. They weren't together at the time, so it wasn't cheating, but it still hurt. For Adam, this was a turning point. He'd probably thought they might get back together eventually. Now,

there was no chance of that ever happening. By 2013, 23-year-old Adam had made good on his word and moved on with his life. To a degree, although he had a new girlfriend, Adam and 19-year-old Katie were still in contact. That was mainly because he'd started working at his parents' chiropractic business as the office manager. This meant regular run-ins with Katie, and since they were co-workers, they still texted from time to time. So it wasn't too surprising when he got a message from Katie one night in October.

However, the content of the message was surprising. according to Katie she'd had a miscarriage and Adam was the father Adam was shocked and upset they hadn't been together for a while now but Katie didn't specify when the miscarriage had taken place so it was certainly possible the baby had been Adams he immediately called Katie and and demanded to know why she hadn't told him earlier. He said he would have taken her to the hospital. He told Katie she was selfish, and he even said he hated her. Katie insisted she'd been in shock, and that's why she hadn't told him.

Besides, they hadn't been together at that point, so she'd tried to handle things on her own. Katie never showed Adam any proof about her alleged hospital visit, and he had doubts about her story, but in the moment, that didn't seem to matter. The thought of losing his child brought up all sorts of emotions for Adam, and just a few weeks after this phone call, he broke up with his girlfriend and rekindled his romance with Katie. The next year or so continued without incident. Adam continued to work as the office manager at his parents' business. which meant he and Katie got to see each other almost every day.

It was certainly an added bonus, but Adam had been thinking about his future. He dropped out of college twice before, and he wanted to give it another shot. So sometime in 2013, he decided to sign up for classes at the local Polytechnic Institute studying computer science, which meant he couldn't work full time anymore, and his parents needed to find a replacement. Adam suggested Katie. She'd already been working as the receptionist for a while. It would be a smooth transition. Bill had mixed feelings about it. Adam hadn't shared too many details about his and Katie's relationship, but Bill and Mary had seen them break up and get back together multiple times by then. And although Bill thought Katie was a good

employee, he worried about bringing any sort of relationship drama further into their family business. Still, Adam begged his parents, and eventually they agreed to give her the job. It ended up being a good business decision for Bill and Mary, but a very bad choice for Adam's relationship. Later that year, they broke up once again. Thankfully, it didn't cause any problems in the office, Despite Adam and Katie's issues, she was good at her job. Mary especially came to rely on her and care for Katie like a daughter. In his own way, Adam continued to rely on Katie, too, both emotionally and financially. He'd borrowed a lot of money from Katie over the years.

By 2014, she'd given him about $20,000. He used it to help pay off. as student loans and credit card debt. It seemed like even though they couldn't make it work as a couple, well, they could continue to support each other as friends. But that all came to an end on October 19th of that year. That day, Katie, now 20 years old, texted Adam. She said she had remembered an incident from earlier that summer

and was finally ready to talk about it. in a series of messages katie accused adam of violently sexually assaulting her she even sent pictures of intense bruising that he'd allegedly caused during the attack adam was horrified and very confused he had zero memory of the incident he knew they'd been intimate the day after the alleged attack. So why hadn't Katie confronted him then? And why did he have no memory of the bruises? None of it made sense. Adam thought back to the miscarriage Katie claimed to have had. He started to wonder if either of these events had ever happened. And by this point, Adam probably felt like Katie was dangerous and a liability. He remembered thinking that he needed to keep her close in case

she went public with the story of the supposed assault. A few weeks later, Adam's worst fears came true. Katie filed a report for sexual assault. She also claimed that Adam had tried to kill her. She told the county sheriff that Adam strangled her, telling her he'd break her wrist and snap her fingers. Adam had made a lot of mistakes in his life, but he would never do something like that. Adam didn't know what he'd done to make Katie so angry, but he felt sure she was trying to punish him, and he wasn't going down without a fight. After Katie filed the report, the police orchestrated something called a controlled call. The idea was for Katie to call Adam on a recorded line and try to get him to admit to assaulting her.

That conversation took place on November 18th, 2014. But it didn't go according to plan. Adam insisted he was innocent and accused Katie of being diluted, telling her that she was, quote, lying to herself. Afterwards, Katie decided to drop the charges against Adam. Sometime later, she texted him to say it wasn't because her allegations were false, but because she simply wanted to move past it. Adam was happy to get on with his life.

In fact, he never wanted to talk about it again. But before long, he would learn just how serious Katie was when it came to holding a grudge. And she had no intentions of forgiving or forgetting what Adam had done. If you're a fan of true crime, horror, or creepy encounters, you've got to listen to Disturbed True Horror Stories. Each episode shares the terrifying experiences of real people, retold by professional actors. I bit down on his hand and he pulled back,

but he puts the knife a little harder against my sweatshirt. I began to hear the breathing and growling of what could only come from a monster. Find disturbed true horror stories wherever you enjoy your podcasts. In 2015, the Yoder family was making some big changes. Bill was now 70 years old and more than ready to retire, so his wife, Mary offered to take over some of his hours at their chiropractic office in Whitesboro, New York. It would be a lot of work, but Mary was only 60 and still full of energy, plus she had 21-year-old Katie Conley to help her.

Although Katie and Mary's son Adam were no longer dating, Katie had continued to work at the office. She had been there for three years now, and while she could sometimes come off a bit cold, Mary had come to accept her flaws. More than anything, Mary trusted Katie. Of course, Mary probably had no idea about the allegations Katie had made against Adam. In Mary's mind, Katie was reliable, which was important. because around this time, Mary even started a second job. She was selling Shackley protein powder, a nutrient-dense meal supplement to help clients reach fitness goals. They advertised

their products as clinically proven to fuel a longer, healthier life, which aligned perfectly with Mary's own wellness values. Mary used the product herself, often drinking a Shackley protein shake with almond milk in lieu of lunch. And while Mary's life seemed to be flourishing, Adams would soon take a turn for the worse. In April of 2015, 25-year-old Adam Yoder was struggling with school. He was still working towards his undergraduate degree but was having trouble concentrating on his finals. Katie, who he'd stayed in contact with despite his many threats to cut her off, offered him a solution. Alpha Brain Supplements.

These over-the-counter supplements promised to improve memory, mental speed, and focus. Adam didn't think they would work, but Katie kept insisting, so he agreed to give them a try. On April 14, 2015, they met up at a restaurant, and Katie gave Adam some of the product. The first time he took the pill, Adam didn't think it made much of a difference, so he decided to double his job. dose. Soon, Adam felt sick. His symptoms came out of nowhere. He was throwing up and had diarrhea. Bill ended up rushing him to the emergency room that same day. Over the next few weeks, Katie continually checked up on Adam. Adam found it a bit strange. She seemed obsessed with the specifics of his symptoms. Eventually, Adam sent Katie a text. It read, quote,

If you poisoned me, I'm afraid we can no longer be friends. She ignored the poisoning part. Instead, she wrote, I think of you often and hope you're happy. Then she continued asking what he thought had made him so sick. Adam's symptoms continued for months. By June, Adam was still on the mend. But his illness wasn't the only thing on his mind. That month, Katie reminded Adam of the $20,000 she'd lent him. She decided that she wanted it back with interest. Adam told Katie he would pay her back what he owed, but beyond that, he wasn't interested in being a part of her life anymore. It seemed like Bill and Mary had no clue. any of this was going on, let alone that Adam suspected Katie of poisoning him. And so they carried on

with their lives as usual. On the morning of July 20, 2015, Mary got ready to head into the office. When she arrived a little past 8 a.m., Katie was already at her desk. Mary had a long day ahead of her. Since taking over Bill's hours, she was responsible for most of their patients. And that day, she had about 40 to see. And she saw several that morning, then headed off for her lunch break. She typically had a protein shake instead of a meal, which she probably drank on her way to visit her elderly mother at her sister's home nearby. When Mary returned to the office at around 4 p.m., her next client, Lorraine Crymeyer,

was waiting for her. Lorraine suffered from migraines and had been coming to chiropractic family care for decades now. Mary was usually able to ease her symptoms and would even drive Lorraine home if she felt like she couldn't get behind the wheel. After their session that day, Lorraine asked Mary for a ride. But for the first time, Mary refused. Lorraine was caught off guard, not just because Mary had said no, but because of her tone. It was totally devoid of Mary's usual warmth. Lorraine left the office, a funny taste in her mouth.

She decided to check in with her friend later. The last patient Mary saw that day was another regular named Lucian Gould. Like Lorraine, Lucian also noticed that Mary seemed off. She usually loved talking with her patients, but that afternoon she hardly spoke. She also kept leaving the room to use the bathroom. Lucian didn't pry, but she found it a bit strange. On her way home from work, Mary called Bill and told him she wasn't feeling well. When she walked into the house, she immediately ran to the bathroom and threw up.

Bill was alarmed. Mary was incredibly health conscious and rarely ever got sick. But now she literally looked green. Mary slept on the couch that night. When Bill came downstairs the next morning, she still looked pale. Mary told him she hadn't gotten any sleep. She'd spent the whole night vomiting. At that point, Bill knew something was very wrong.

He helped her into the car and drove to nearby St. Luke's Hospital. Not long after they arrived, she was taken in for testing. Mary's doctors couldn't seem to figure out what was wrong with her. They thought it was some kind of stomach bug, even though she wasn't testing positive for any common infection. infections. Bill thought her symptoms were similar to what his son Adam had experienced just a few months ago. He wondered if maybe they were dealing with the same illness. The doctors thought it was possible too. They would keep running tests, but in the meantime, they wanted to keep Mary at the

hospital overnight. Mary made him promise to go into work the next day to see her patients. Bill agreed and said he would be back at the hospital the next day to check on her. He was sure she'd be feeling better by then the following morning july 22nd bill got the news that would change his life forever mary was in the ICU he rushed to the hospital and found his wife lying in a bed hooked up to several ivs she was unresponsive and on life support bill was beside himself but still no one could tell him what was wrong mary's three children rushed over to be with their mother so did katie and she wasn't part of the family but she was the next closest thing and whatever lingering animosity remained between her and adam seemed to evaporate

at the sight of mary's suffering most of the yoder family was in shock but mary's eldest daughter worked in the medical field she knew that her mother wouldn't make it out of the i see you alive by then she'd already gone into cardiac arrest over five times it was a slow and painful death one that took nearly two days mary continued to put up a fight each time her heart stopped it fluttered back to life but at two 23 p.m. on july 22nd mary yoder's heart stopped for the last time she was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later Mary's family was devastated. Bill cried for nearly six hours, but through their grief, the family also wanted answers. Days later, there was a sliver of hope, a chance to finally learn what happened to Mary. The family had all agreed that they wanted an autopsy done. The results were truly shocking.

It turned out Mary's death wasn't a tragic accident. She'd been poisoned, and now it was up to the Yoder family to figure out what or who had killed her and why. Thanks so much for listening. I'm Carter Roy, and this is Murder True Crime Stories. Come back next time for part two on the murder. of Mary Yoder and all the people that affected. Murder True Crime Stories is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios

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Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Murder True Crime Stories. Story's team, Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benadon, Natalie Pertzowski, Rachel Engleman, Lori Marinelli, Sarah Camp, Lauren Gould, Honeya Saeed, and Russell Nash. Thank you for joining us. and Corinne Vienne. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season, from Crimes of the Paranormal, Unsolved Murders, Mysterious Disappearances, and more. Their first season is Crimes of Infamy, the true stories behind Hollywood's most iconic horror villains, and coming up next is Crimes of Paranormal, real-life cases where the line between the living and dead gets seriously blurry.

Listen to Crimes of Every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.