The first trial of Kaitlyn Conley ended with a hung jury. In her second trial, she was acquitted of the most serious charge of second-degree murder but convicted of the lesser crime of manslaughter. However, in January, there was a surprising development in Conley’s legal battle. A New York appellate court overturned her 2017 conviction for the fatal poisoning of her boss, Mary Yoder. The court found that Conley’s defense had not adequately prevented prosecutors from introducing crucial evidence from her cellphone, which had been obtained through a flawed warrant.
Conley was released from prison earlier this year, and the Oneida County District Attorney, Todd Carville, is considering whether to pursue a third trial. Meanwhile, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department, responsible for investigating Yoder’s death, did not provide comments upon request.
Here are three key moments in the case:
1. Mysterious Illness and Death of Mary Yoder
On July 21, 2015, Mary Yoder, a respected chiropractor known for her dedication to health and fitness, was hospitalized with severe symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Despite efforts by specialists, she passed away the following day. Yoder’s daughter, Tamaryn, expressed confusion over the sudden and unexplained decline in her mother’s health. An autopsy later revealed that Yoder had died from colchicine toxicity, a drug used to treat gout.
2. Anonymous Letter Alleging Poisoning
In November of the same year, the sheriff’s office received an anonymous letter accusing Yoder’s son, Adam, of poisoning her. The letter claimed Adam had purchased the drug online, added it to his mother’s vitamins, and concealed the bottle in his car. Adam denied the allegations, suggesting that the evidence had been planted. Detectives found the container in the exact location described in the letter, leading to suspicions about its authenticity.
3. Legal Proceedings and Acquittal
Following Conley’s release from prison, the case has raised questions about a potential third trial. The appellate court’s decision to overturn her conviction highlights the importance of proper legal procedures and defense strategies in criminal cases. District Attorney Carville’s review of the case will determine the next steps in seeking justice for Mary Yoder’s death.
After discovering that Mary Yoder’s mother had been poisoned, investigators learned that the suspect, Kaitlyn Conley, was a receptionist at Mary Yoder’s clinic and the ex-girlfriend of Adam Yoder. Conley was indicted on charges including second-degree murder, forgery, and larceny. She claimed that Adam Yoder had confessed to the crime, but authorities found evidence on her phone linking her to the purchase of the poison used in the murder.
During Conley’s trial, prosecutors argued that she poisoned Mary Yoder in an attempt to win back Adam Yoder. Conley denied the allegations, and her defense attorney suggested that Mary Yoder’s husband, Bill Yoder, had the motive and opportunity to commit the crime. The first trial ended in a mistrial, but in the second trial, the defense focused on Adam Yoder as a possible suspect.
Despite the conflicting theories and testimonies, no one else was charged in Mary Yoder’s death. The case remains unresolved, with different parties pointing fingers at each other as the possible culprit.
The accusations were denied by Conley, who also faced suggestions from the prosecution that he may have been poisoned before his mother’s death. Adam Yoder testified that after Conley provided him with supplements to enhance his memory, he ended up in the emergency room with symptoms similar to his mother’s. Conley’s lawyer refuted any involvement in Adam’s illness, implying that he may have made himself sick with colchicine, the same substance he used to harm his mother. After two days of deliberation, Conley was acquitted of second-degree murder but found guilty of manslaughter, resulting in a 23-year prison sentence.
Following a successful appeal, Conley’s manslaughter conviction was overturned by a state appeals court in New York. This decision came after she obtained a new attorney who argued that the warrant authorizing access to Conley’s cellphone was not properly challenged by her previous lawyer, Pelli. The new attorney, Melissa Swartz, highlighted the warrant’s deficiencies, leading to the court ruling in Conley’s favor due to the egregious error by Pelli compromising her right to a fair trial. Conley was released shortly after the appeals court’s decision.
Swartz clarified that the focus of the appeal was not to determine Conley’s innocence or solve the crime but to ensure the correctness of the criminal justice system. The ruling emphasized that the warrant lacked specificity regarding the investigation into Mary Yoder’s death, prompting Conley’s release.
