MA - Professor Karen Read, 43, charged with murdering police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe by hitting him with car, Canton, 14 Apr 2023 #21 Retrial

[Linda7NJ]

The yard is not near as large as photos make it seem. I measured from the front door to the edge of the road with google maps and it was about 52 ft. I then measured that same distance on my own home for viewing reference and it’s only 2ft difference. That yard is not big at all.

I agree

 

[Forest_Wood]

I can agree that it was about 72 ft from front door to where the body was found. When I said 52 ft I was only pointing out the width of the yard from front door to curb straight out, his body was to the side though.

52 feet is not a long distance, and neither is 72 feet. 72 feet is close enough to view a six foot body on the ground. And then when you see where his body was lying, close to the road, even more peculiar nobody leaving that afterparty saw a body there IMO.

 

[PamCake]

I think it sounds juvenile to call someone your bf or gf when you're an older person.
Lots of people call their partners their wife or husband even if not married.
As others have pointed out though, she likely just wanted to elevate her status to gain information.
Remember she kept asking virtually everyone what was happening with John and nobody was giving her information.

Yes. And, as MA law does not recognize domestic partnerships, many individuals in close relationships use the terms husband/wife so they will not be barred from being with a loved one in medical care.

 

[Forest_Wood]

Hi everyone! I'm just now getting a chance to catch up on this retrial ... I've watched all of the testimony, and the text exchange was very disturbing to me ... their relationship was so toxic, and I guess I always assumed that it was his idea to go out that night, but according to the texts ... she was pushing to go out ... one thing that did not get addressed, at one point it appeared the texts didn't make sense like there may have been a few messages missing ... I do know that software that dumps data from cells can be problematic ... I guess I was just wondering if anyone else caught that or am I overthinking it

Yes, I caught one place where the flow didn't make sense unless you knew what they had talked about previously. I also agree very toxic from both sides. At least Karen was empathetic to his situation and willing to try to make it work but sensed he was interested in someone else and wanted him to be truthful. The messages implied she felt stifled in the confines of his home playing Mom and wanted a change of scenery. He made it clear he wanted her to drive him home, using her as the designated driver. (I mean, are there no such things as Ubers there?!) He said he was just sobering up from last night even at 14:30 or 15:00 hours. Their conversation was like a game of cat and mouse, chasing each other and not being straightforward. Games.
MOO

 

[waldojabba]

Same with JOKs texts. Very manipulative.

Yes both true - they were certainly involved in a "dance" - a lot of push and pull. Mostly from what I know on John's part. Closeness then withdrawal ..on repeat. No conflict resolution skills it seems plus add the alcohol and you get a merry go round.
Let's break up but btw are we seeing each other this weekend?

But this is just more "noise" imo - trying to paint Karen as a "psycho".

They seemed to be close that night and getting along per everyone at the bar.
Nothing rising to the level certainly that would make someone kill someone -

If I'm Karen I'm just more angry at myself for not just going directly home after the bar that night, like she wanted. John was the one wanting to go to Fairview. John gets out of the car and says he's going to call her after he goes in - he doesn't call her- she is pissed bc this type of behavior has happened a thousand times in the past, so she thinks "blank it" and takes off. I can see it.

I do not see her thinking 'blank it" I've had enough so I'll back my "blankity blank" svu into him. .

JMO

 

[minazoe]

people generally disassociate themselves from their actions committed when inebriated. as though they are different people when they are in that state. " that was drunk me, not really me, I'm not like that"

maybe the Karen that got mad and made a scene with her car accidentally killing her boyfriend.
and in her mind it didn't happen. she sure doesn't think she deserves to pay for it when they can't even prove it. I think there is some reasonable doubt because of the fact that there was a snowplow.

I honestly feel like she could use a little jail time but the case has completely fallen apart and none of the people involved are reliable because everyone was tanked. mOO

 

[keek]

Yes both true - they were certainly involved in a "dance" - a lot of push and pull. Mostly from what I know on John's part. Closeness then withdrawal ..on repeat. No conflict resolution skills it seems plus add the alcohol and you get a merry go round.
Let's break up but btw are we seeing each other this weekend?

But this is just more "noise" imo - trying to paint Karen as a "psycho".

They seemed to be close that night and getting along per everyone at the bar.
Nothing rising to the level certainly that would make someone kill someone -

If I'm Karen I'm just more angry at myself for not just going directly home after the bar that night, like she wanted. John was the one wanting to go to Fairview. John gets out of the car and says he's going to call her after he goes in - he doesn't call her- she is pissed bc this type of behavior has happened a thousand times in the past, so she thinks "blank it" and takes off. I can see it.

I do not see her thinking 'blank it" I've had enough so I'll back my "blankity blank" svu into him. .

JMO

ALL of it is noise. There are those that are very much enjoying being voyeurs into another couple's relationship. One is not able to speak for himself. It's just so gross. I don't mean the texts, I mean that it's out there like this. There are couples and there are couples, some humdrum or just not passionate in their feelings etc , fine, calm. We all have different personalities and so does the person we are having the relationship with. NO ONE knows the core of anyone's. Yes, cw wants to show a reason.. soooo absurd. TRUST ME, feeling in an unstable relationship, but both seem to want to keep the person in it, leads to making one crazy, this seemed to be all it was at the time. Who knows how it would of ended up. NOT our business.

 

[Forest_Wood]

Yes both true - they were certainly involved in a "dance" - a lot of push and pull. Mostly from what I know on John's part. Closeness then withdrawal ..on repeat. No conflict resolution skills it seems plus add the alcohol and you get a merry go round.
Let's break up but btw are we seeing each other this weekend?

But this is just more "noise" imo - trying to paint Karen as a "psycho".

They seemed to be close that night and getting along per everyone at the bar.
Nothing rising to the level certainly that would make someone kill someone -

If I'm Karen I'm just more angry at myself for not just going directly home after the bar that night, like she wanted. John was the one wanting to go to Fairview. John gets out of the car and says he's going to call her after he goes in - he doesn't call her- she is pissed bc this type of behavior has happened a thousand times in the past, so she thinks "blank it" and takes off. I can see it.

I do not see her thinking 'blank it" I've had enough so I'll back my "blankity blank" svu into him. .

JMO

Yes, you described that very well like a dance, a push and pull and an alcohol-fuelled merry-go-round. John kept her hanging on by not coming out and stating unequivocally that he wanted to continue the relationship. He said he just wanted the arguing to stop. He used coercive control tactics on her when he refused to be honest with her or treat her as an equal. He wouldn't answer her calls, which made her obsessive. He kept her on a very fine string wrapped around his finger. And after all that song and dance they did all afternoon, they still decide to meet up. Drinking was their only coping mechanism.
Then he decides he wants to go to Brian Albert's after party. Why!?!?
She definitely didn't want to go, knowing B Higgins would be going. She even suggested going to Chris's restaurant for pizza but her idea was nixed. And she was his designated driver ... It was a relationship bound to fail even without the way it ended.
MOO

 

[TIGER0822]

The point is Kerry Roberts said she HEARD the statement when she IN FACT did not hear the statement. She was fed that information by Jenn McCabe and she testified to having heard it herself. Anything else you're trying to feed us about that means nothing at this point.
ETA: How many other statements did she make that she did not hear herself or see herself then? Remember JMc's famous text to her group, "She's telling them EVERYTHING!"

And ‘tell them the guy was not in the house”. Would like them to explain that on the stand

 

[TIGER0822]

Praying for justice.

Praying for a new judge.

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1915930824895049910

 

[keek]

Yes, you described that very well like a dance, a push and pull and an alcohol-fuelled merry-go-round. John kept her hanging on by not coming out and stating unequivocally that he wanted to continue the relationship. He said he just wanted the arguing to stop. He used coercive control tactics on her when he refused to be honest with her or treat her as an equal. He wouldn't answer her calls, which made her obsessive. He kept her on a very fine string wrapped around his finger. And after all that song and dance they did all afternoon, they still decide to meet up. Drinking was their only coping mechanism.
Then he decides he wants to go to Brian Albert's after party. Why!?!?
She definitely didn't want to go, knowing B Higgins would be going. She even suggested going to Chris's restaurant for pizza but her idea was nixed. And she was his designated driver ... It was a relationship bound to fail even without the way it ended.
MOO

It would of been healthier for Karen and she knew it would be, she asked him. You stated it very well. Hearts are hard to have. No blame on JO or KR.

 

[arielilane]

“‘The guy never went in the house,’” Yanneti said. “... Mr. McCabe, who is the guy you are referring to? Does he have a name?”



“That would be John. John O’Keefe,” Yanneti replied.



“When you told the group, ‘Tell them the guy never went in the house,’ that was you talking about how you should all get your stories straight, correct?”



“No,” McCabe said. “... John never went in the house. It’s not a story, it’s a fact.”



“... And in response to you saying, ‘The guy never went in the house,’ Brian Albert’s response was, ‘Exactly.’ Correct?” Yannetti asked. McCabe once again confirmed.



The “them” McCabe was referring to was WBZ-TV, McCabe told Yannetti.



“None of us in the house had any idea what happened to John O’Keefe, so we instructed — I was saying, ‘We don’t know what happened, he never came in the house,’” McCabe continued.



At this point, Yannetti cut him off and asked if he asked for that response from McCabe.



“OK. So, your answer to my question is the ‘them’ was — you were saying that Channel 4 be told that the guy never went in the house. Yes or no?” Yannetti said.



“Channel 4 is who I was referring to, yes,” McCabe said before he was allowed to step down.



Karen Read trial: Jennifer McCabe testifies about when John O’Keefe was found dead

 

[Forest_Wood]

I can't believe that Brennen stood there and made that speech with a straight face.

KR wasn't removing the "murder weapon" from the "scene"
She was collecting her things because she didn't feel welcome in John's house any longer.

JOK's house wasn't a "scene". Interesting that Brennen used that word. Was he trying to make out it was a crime scene?

Oh, good catch! Did he call John's house a crime scene?

 

[arielilane]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1915780672746131757

 

[TIGER0822]

Best way to beat a murder rap, have an unlimited budget to find attitude bias in witness and investigators… so the jury looks at that and not the evidence. Karen Read = OJ.

Not even close.

 

[arielilane]

Agree w/both. moo

@CourtTV


Prosecutors say Read interview clip that appears to mock Peggy O'Keefe shows consciousness of guilt. Defense says it paints her as unlikeable.

2:34 PM · Apr 25, 2025

 

[waldojabba]

Ms. Rex asking the hard question.

Timestamp: 1:35

Reporter Kristina Rex@wbz: You previously said “come at me” "Why dont you want that clip played?"

I think its great they are playing the tapes. Ianal but ...I am finding some ( I have not seen all of them all ) prejudical with no evidentiary value. It could well create appellate issues. And I am all for those in the unlikely event the jury gets it wrong.

Its odd to me that you cannot say that the FBI requisitioned the ARCCA study in front of the jurors bc its too predjudical but this stuff isn't ?

Also I had a thought about John's sneakers. It's always bothered me that one sneaker was not on his foot. Well all the fuss by Brennan again about him being Mr Neat and a stickler for taking shoes off in his house ...made me think he probably did the same thing at Fairview. Took his shoes off on the way in. Habit.
And then of course Its really hard to get a sneaker/shoe on someone else's foot who is passed out.
The sneaker very likely fell off when he was brought out to the lawn - to the very same area where the Ford Edge was parked earlier that morning. Lucky saw the Ford Edge parked right in front of the space where John was found. ( Another Proctor miss never interviewing Lucky).
I think the "boys" wanted to make it look like John had been hit by the plow. Lucky dodged a bullet it seems when they settled on "the girl" as the perp.

John likely went in the front door( he had never been to the house before) and then took the stairs to the right of the door down to the man cave/weight room. Maybe there was a playful sucker punch gone wrong etc . And it went from there. Not intentional but an alcohol fueled narrative ensued. Poor choices all around and here we are.

JMO

 

[Linda7NJ]

Yes, you described that very well like a dance, a push and pull and an alcohol-fuelled merry-go-round. John kept her hanging on by not coming out and stating unequivocally that he wanted to continue the relationship. He said he just wanted the arguing to stop. He used coercive control tactics on her when he refused to be honest with her or treat her as an equal. He wouldn't answer her calls, which made her obsessive. He kept her on a very fine string wrapped around his finger. And after all that song and dance they did all afternoon, they still decide to meet up. Drinking was their only coping mechanism.
Then he decides he wants to go to Brian Albert's after party. Why!?!?
She definitely didn't want to go, knowing B Higgins would be going. She even suggested going to Chris's restaurant for pizza but her idea was nixed. And she was his designated driver ... It was a relationship bound to fail even without the way it ended.
MOO

There’s zero healthy boundaries in this relationship & a total lack of mutual respect.
I do feel she was far more manipulative.
It seems John wanted boundaries around the children and Karen just ignored those and kept crossing the line.
He couldn’t talk on the phone as there was people around, his niece and his father. Instead of respecting that - she just kept calling & calling.
She didn’t want kids, or to be a mother. That’s okay but then don’t hook up with a man that’s responsible for two.
I feel like she wanted desperately for him to chose HER over those kids


They both should have ended it long ago.

IMO

 

[arielilane]

The night John O'Keefe is dead; and she is more concerned about not having to take care of any kids.
Speaks volumes. moo

Testimony by DW: "she kept saying, I can't take care of these kids. I can't take care of these kids. They're not my kids, and they're not they're not his kids.”