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In a significant development in the Kaitlyn Conley legal case, prosecutors are set to present new evidence to a grand jury concerning the 2015 poisoning death of Mary Louise Yoder in Whitesboro. Conley, who was Yoder's employee and the girlfriend of her son, was previously convicted of manslaughter in 2017 but had her conviction overturned by a state appellate court in January due to mishandling of evidence and ineffective defense counsel.
The Oneida County District Attorney's Office, led by Todd Carville, announced the decision to review and re-evaluate the evidence following the appellate court's ruling. The court found that the Oneida County Sheriff's Office improperly handled evidence from Conley's cell phone, which was crucial to the prosecution's case. The phone contained search terms like "poison" and "colchicine," the latter being the substance that caused Yoder's death.
Conley, who served about seven years of a 23-year sentence, has consistently maintained her innocence. The district attorney's office is now seeking to determine if any charges should be filed against her once more. Carville stated, "We just felt, after reviewing and re-evaluating the evidence that we have in this case, that it was imperative that a grand jury have the opportunity to decide if any charges should be filed."
The decision to present the case to a grand jury marks a potential third trial for Conley. The district attorney's office has not disclosed when the evidence will be presented. According to Syracuse.com, Yoder's family remains divided on Conley's guilt, with some family members previously expressing doubt over her involvement.