Tragedy at the Xtra Mart: The Betty Conley Story
Paired Wine: Galway Rock Winery Rosé
This week on Murder Through the Grapevine, we travel to (stay in) the quiet town of Charlton, New York, for a Capital Region cold case that has haunted Saratoga County for more than three decades.
The case centers around a tragedy that took place at the once Xtra Mart convenience store along Route 67 — the kind of place where everyone once stopped for coffee and a quick bite to eat, but now serves as a chilling reminder of the night one woman’s life was stolen.
As we unpack the mystery, we sip a crisp Rosé from Galway Rock Winery, a local favorite in the Capital Region known for producing clean, unfiltered wines. Not only is it a bright contrast to the darkness of the story, but it is also a few miles away from the tragic scene.
A Cold Case That Still Echoes Through the Capital Region
Charlton is a small, rural town in Saratoga County, surrounded by farmland and backroads that rarely make headlines. But on one summer night in 1993, everything changed.
A beloved woman was working the overnight shift at a gas station when she was killed in what appeared to be a robbery. Decades later, no one has been held accountable — and her family is still searching for justice.
In this episode, we talk about who Betty Conley was, the strange details that still don’t add up, and how her daughter continues to fight for answers.
Keeping Betty’s Story Alive
Betty’s daughter, Linda Conley, has become the driving force behind bringing attention back to her mother’s case. Her heartfelt video tribute and appeal for information reignited public interest and reminded the Capital Region that someone, somewhere, still knows something.
You can learn more about Betty’s story and the ongoing investigation here:
Times Union: Someone knows something — daughter of 1993 murder victim speaks out
Vocal Media: Mother killed during robbery at convenience store
If you have information that could help solve this Charlton homicide, please contact the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office at 518-885-2409 (ask for Investigator Bouyea) or email JBouyea@saratogacountyny.gov.
You can also visit justice4bettyconley.com or follow @justice4bettyconley for updates.
The Wine: Galway Rock Rosé
This episode’s pairing came from right here in the Capital Region — a beautifully made Rosé from Galway Rock Winery in Ballston Lake, NY.
Known for crafting clean, vibrant, and approachable wines, Galway Rock’s Rosé delivers crisp notes of strawberries and citrus, making it the perfect companion to an episode that balances heartache and hope.
Explore their collection at galwayrockwines.com.
Listen & Sip
The Betty Conley case remains one of the most heartbreaking and puzzling unsolved murders in Saratoga County. On Murder Through the Grapevine, we revisit this story with empathy, curiosity, and — of course — a glass of wine in hand.
🎧 Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts or at the player below, and join us as we explore the lives behind the headlines and the mysteries that still linger through the grapevine.
