A Date With Dateline · Kimberly and Katie - ADWDL

Poison Twist S.33 Ep.20

·1 hr 40 min·5 clips

Andrea Canning reveals Bill was dating Mary's sister—was it before or after the murder?

This episode revisits the 2015 poisoning death of chiropractor Dr. Mary Yoder in Central New York. Hosts Kimberly and Katie, who originally covered the case years ago, analyze the updated Dateline episode hosted by Andrea Canning. The hosts are longtime commentators on the true-crime series, known for their conversational and often humorous recaps. The episode details how the 60-year-old, healthy Mary Yoder died from a mysterious illness that baffled doctors. A specialist from the New York Poison Center suggested testing for colchicine, a gout medication, which was found in lethal quantities. Mary's husband, Bill, is scrutinized for discussing an open marriage before their wedding decades prior and for cremating Mary quickly. An anonymous letter to police shifts suspicion to the couple's son, Adam, alleging he bought the poison online to inherit money. Detectives find the colchicine and receipt in Adam's messy Jeep, exactly where the letter said it would be. Adam's then-girlfriend, Katie, who worked at the family clinic, is revealed as the letter's author, claiming Adam confessed to her. Katie tells police Adam said, "I poisoned my mom," and the poison was under her car seat. During a six-hour interrogation, detectives confront Katie with evidence that her computer accessed the email account used to buy the drug and that her phone searched for colchicine. Katie maintains her innocence while exhibiting a calm, hard-to-read demeanor, at one point becoming physically ill. Her parents wait outside, and her mother faints upon learning Katie will be held. Police ultimately release Katie that night without charges, and her father asks her directly if she killed Mary during the drive home. The investigation leaves both Bill and Adam under suspicion, with Mary's daughters believing their father framed their brother. A surprising claim is that a doctor confided to Mary's sister that her case was a medical mystery none of the specialists had ever seen. The hosts note the oddity that basic toxicology wasn't automatic, requiring a family request. They find it striking that the obscure poison colchicine was identified only due to one doctor's hunch. The hosts are amused by the dramatic interrogation tactic where detectives casually ask Katie, "How are the chickens?" before accusing her. They also highlight the visceral reaction to a photo of Adam's disgustingly cluttered car, which contained the evidence. The tone is conversational, humorous, and informal, with the hosts frequently digressing into personal anecdotes and lighthearted banter. The style blends recap with comedic commentary, featuring playful speculation and sarcastic asides about the people and events covered. True-crime fans who enjoy detailed case analysis with a heavy dose of humor and host chemistry will love this episode. Listeners who prefer a strictly serious, straightforward narrative or are sensitive to comedic takes on tragic events might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A poison case revisit that turns tiny clues and strange behavior into a very human mess.

Poison Twist returns to an old poison case with hindsight and a pointed, slightly teasing tone about how rough the earlier coverage was. The episode works best when it stays close to the small, stubborn details: Katie's hard to read affect, office access, the shared email login,…

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A special Date with Dateline update episode revisiting Poison Twist and the old poison case behind it.

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