VERDICT WATCH MA - Professor Karen Read, 43, charged with murdering police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe by hitting him with car, Canton, 14 Apr 2023 #36 Retrial

[Bishop Black]

Professor Was Accused of Hitting Cop Boyfriend with Car, Leaving Him to Die. Does New Evidence Exonerate Her?

Karen Read has been charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter and leaving the scene of a collision in the death of her off-duty Boston Police Officer boyfriend John O'Keefe.

people.com

Karen Read has been charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter and leaving the scene of a collision in the January 2022 death of her off-duty Boston Police Officer boyfriend John O'Keefe outside a Canton, Mass., home.

She's pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Leading up to his death, the couple of two years reportedly spent the night drinking and bar hopping with friends before Read, 43, dropped O'Keefe, 46, off at the home of a fellow off-duty police officer for an after-party, PEOPLE previously reported.

Prosecutors say as O'Keefe exited the vehicle, Read allegedly proceeded to make a three-point turn during a winter storm, striking her boyfriend in the process before driving off.

After O'Keefe failed to return home hours later, Read allegedly went looking for him, before finding his body in a snowbank outside the home where she allegedly left him.

MEDIA, MAPS, TIMELINE THREAD *NO DISCUSSION*

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[Knitty]

Please continue here.

 

[Spider92]

@less0305
please keep posting. I know some of the responses can be annoying or harsh, but it would be worse to have a board that has only one voice.

 

[Maat99]

I wish I knew for certain where he parked his Jeep. Many have said by the mailbox. But that can't be because Ryan didn't see it. Where did he say he parked it?

I think he really parked it somewhere where KR/JO couldn’t see it.

***
I don’t know how to correctly quote/reply to a comment from the other thread, but the above comment is from Dusty’smom.
I think this is a very interesting point. Like perhaps JOK was told by JM or it was implied that BH wouldn’t be there. In reality, it was an ambush of some sort. I could definitely see trying to cover that up because even if no one meant to kill JOK it shows some sort of premeditation. So maybe JM and crew are trying really hard to show that KR and JOK would absolutely have known BH was there because his car was parked directly in front of the house.

 

[Tortoise]

Thread 'Take the poll: Is Karen Read Guilty'

Apr 29, 2025

Do you think Karen Read is guilty of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of an accident in the death of John O'Keefe?

• Tricia
• Replies: 47
• Forum: On-Trial

Reposting the link to the WS poll

 

[mpnola]

Hey, @less0305 I completely agree. <modsnip: Other members are able to post their own thoughts> I appreciate your logical stance.

 

[Baba O'Riley]

For me, it all comes down to the hardest of the hard facts. There is a dead body in the snow. It belongs to John O'Keefe, who exited Karen Read's car just a few feet away. After exiting the car, KR does a reverse turn at about 24 mph and, probably accidentally, hits JOK. The evidence? JOK's dead body is in the snow. There is no hard evidence JOK ever went into the house. There is no hard evidence that someone in the house murdered JOK. As far as I know, there are no drag marks or footprints in the snow indicating the placement of a body there. All the other testimony, such as about broken tail lights and such, is distracting from the hard facts. Those for and against "guilty or not guilty" can cherry-pick testimony that "proves" their point. I don't know why JOK had cuts on his arm. I don't know why the residents of the house didn't wake up when all the activity was going on later. I don't know where and how the tail light was broken. It doesn't change the fact that JOK's body is lying a few feet away from where KR dropped him off.

I believe that there was no conspiracy among the folks in the house. I probably wouldn't like those people if I knew them. I abhor their drinking culture. I know that culture very well having lived in similar communities. Unfortunately, JOK was part of that culture. I don't think I would have liked him either. He should have known better than to let a very drunk KR drive. If one of the "McAlbert" crowd did kill JOK, there is no way all the others in the house conspired to blame it on KR. They couldn't keep that secret because they are such heavy drinkers it would come out eventually. Alcohol is like a truth serum. They believe KR hit JOK because he is dead on the lawn and they know that no one in the house did it. Therefore, they cooperated in getting the actual facts straight because they wanted justice for JOK. Cooperating on getting the actual facts straight is not a conspiracy to cover up a murder.

KR will probably get acquitted or maybe there will be mistrial. There were too many paid experts on both sides, which created a lot of noise and distracted from the hardest of the hard facts: that JOK's dead body is on the lawn after exiting KR's car just a few feet away from where a very drunk and angry KR then reversed the car, probably accidentally hit him, and drove away in a huff. But she couldn't escape the thought during moments of lucidity that she may have hit him, and that dictated her actions through the wee hours to come. If she is acquitted, I hope his loved ones find some solace in that she has spent the last three years in a punishing purgatory.

IMO.

 

[MerlinFalcon]

For me, it all comes down to the hardest of the hard facts. There is a dead body in the snow. It belongs to John O'Keefe, who exited Karen Read's car just a few feet away. After exiting the car, KR does a reverse turn at about 24 mph and, probably accidentally, hits JOK. The evidence? JOK's dead body is in the snow. There is no hard evidence JOK ever went into the house. There is no hard evidence that someone in the house murdered JOK. As far as I know, there are no drag marks or footprints in the snow indicating the placement of a body there. All the other testimony, such as about broken tail lights and such, is distracting from the hard facts. Those for and against "guilty or not guilty" can cherry-pick testimony that "proves" their point. I don't know why JOK had cuts on his arm. I don't know why the residents of the house didn't wake up when all the activity was going on later. I don't know where and how the tail light was broken. It doesn't change the fact that JOK's body is lying a few feet away from where KR dropped him off.

I believe that there was no conspiracy among the folks in the house. I probably wouldn't like those people if I knew them. I abhor their drinking culture. I know that culture very well having lived in similar communities. Unfortunately, JOK was part of that culture. I don't think I would have liked him either. He should have known better than to let a very drunk KR drive. If one of the "McAlbert" crowd did kill JOK, there is no way all the others in the house conspired to blame it on KR. They couldn't keep that secret because they are such heavy drinkers it would come out eventually. Alcohol is like a truth serum. They believe KR hit JOK because he is dead on the lawn and they know that no one in the house did it. Therefore, they cooperated in getting the actual facts straight because they wanted justice for JOK. Cooperating on getting the actual facts straight is not a conspiracy to cover up a murder.

KR will probably get acquitted or maybe there will be mistrial. There were too many paid experts on both sides, which created a lot of noise and distracted from the hardest of the hard facts: that JOK's dead body is on the lawn after exiting KR's car just a few feet away from where a very drunk and angry KR then reversed the car, probably accidentally hit him, and drove away in a huff. But she couldn't escape the thought during moments of lucidity that she may have hit him, and that dictated her actions through the wee hours to come. If she is acquitted, I hope his loved ones find some solace in that she has spent the last three years in a punishing purgatory.

IMO.

The 3 people in the car behind her had just seen her at the intersection and the driver blinked his lights at her to give her the right of way. They arrived behind her seconds after she and John did. They were behind her for a good amount of time as Julie Nagel came out to talk to them. She didn’t have time for a 3 point turn and also wouldn’t have had a reason to do so. She parked in front of 34 Fairview.

 

[Wishbone]

For me, it all comes down to the hardest of the hard facts. There is a dead body in the snow. It belongs to John O'Keefe, who exited Karen Read's car just a few feet away. After exiting the car, KR does a reverse turn at about 24 mph and, probably accidentally, hits JOK. The evidence? JOK's dead body is in the snow. There is no hard evidence JOK ever went into the house. There is no hard evidence that someone in the house murdered JOK. As far as I know, there are no drag marks or footprints in the snow indicating the placement of a body there. All the other testimony, such as about broken tail lights and such, is distracting from the hard facts. Those for and against "guilty or not guilty" can cherry-pick testimony that "proves" their point. I don't know why JOK had cuts on his arm. I don't know why the residents of the house didn't wake up when all the activity was going on later. I don't know where and how the tail light was broken. It doesn't change the fact that JOK's body is lying a few feet away from where KR dropped him off.

I believe that there was no conspiracy among the folks in the house. I probably wouldn't like those people if I knew them. I abhor their drinking culture. I know that culture very well having lived in similar communities. Unfortunately, JOK was part of that culture. I don't think I would have liked him either. He should have known better than to let a very drunk KR drive. If one of the "McAlbert" crowd did kill JOK, there is no way all the others in the house conspired to blame it on KR. They couldn't keep that secret because they are such heavy drinkers it would come out eventually. Alcohol is like a truth serum. They believe KR hit JOK because he is dead on the lawn and they know that no one in the house did it. Therefore, they cooperated in getting the actual facts straight because they wanted justice for JOK. Cooperating on getting the actual facts straight is not a conspiracy to cover up a murder.

KR will probably get acquitted or maybe there will be mistrial. There were too many paid experts on both sides, which created a lot of noise and distracted from the hardest of the hard facts: that JOK's dead body is on the lawn after exiting KR's car just a few feet away from where a very drunk and angry KR then reversed the car, probably accidentally hit him, and drove away in a huff. But she couldn't escape the thought during moments of lucidity that she may have hit him, and that dictated her actions through the wee hours to come. If she is acquitted, I hope his loved ones find some solace in that she has spent the last three years in a punishing purgatory.

IMO.

Where the Lexus was when the alleged collision happened has not been proven in addition to so many other missing facts that have been discussed repeatedly. For myself, it comes down to evidence of a collision actually taking place. IMO the Lexus damage does not support that happening nor do the injuries to JO show he was hit by a car.

 

[Forest_Wood]

@lohrtabitha
"BA testified that he didn't know JOK that well in which it made it easier for him to lie in bed." Moo

I messed up trying to copy your post to this new thread...

Brian Albert was trying to distance himself from Brian Higgins too.
He testified in Trial 1 that he didn't consider himself close friends with Brian Higgins.
But Higgins OTOH testified he was close friends with both Brian Albert and his brother Kevin Albert. Higgins said he knew Eddie Hernandez the longest out of the three of them and then became friends with the Alberts.

 

[Tortoise]

The 3 people in the car behind her had just seen her at the intersection and the driver blinked his lights at her to give her the right of way. They arrived behind her seconds after she and John did. They were behind her for a good amount of time as Julie Nagel came out to talk to them. She didn’t have time for a 3 point turn and also wouldn’t have had a reason to do so. She parked in front of 34 Fairview.

Karen was still there near the flagpole after RN & friends had gone. She didn't reverse while they were there, so it had to have been after they'd gone.

 

[Wishbone]

Karen was still there near the flagpole after RN & friends had gone. She didn't reverse while they were there, so it had to have been after they'd gone.

I have not seen any proof that the car was anywhere near the flagpole. It's supposition. JMOO

 

[keek]

Karen was still there near the flagpole after RN & friends had gone. She didn't reverse while they were there, so it had to have been after they'd gone.

Would of smashed into B.Higgins jeep, that turns out was not there as he said, of course. NO collision to any human being nor dog even, shown by extensive DNA testing, injuries. Nothing, actually. Never happened there. IMO

 

[Tortoise]

I have not seen any proof that the car was anywhere near the flagpole. It's supposition. JMOO

It's not supposition. It's in Ian Whiffin's testimony regarding John's cellphone location data when the Lexus came to a stop, and Ryan Nagel's testimony.

2.16.08

1.15.50

And Karen's own words:

Clip 17

[...] Like he’s he’s roughly where I left him so yeah when I found him I was thinking did I like clip him somehow.

2.04.16

 

[Tortoise]

Would of smashed into B.Higgins jeep, that turns out was not there as he said, of course. NO collision to any human being nor dog even, shown by extensive DNA testing, injuries. Nothing, actually. Never happened there. IMO

Do you have a link for B Higgins' Jeep being by the flagpole where John was lying?

 

[Florida_marlin]

For me, it all comes down to the hardest of the hard facts. There is a dead body in the snow. It belongs to John O'Keefe, who exited Karen Read's car just a few feet away. After exiting the car, KR does a reverse turn at about 24 mph and, probably accidentally, hits JOK. The evidence? JOK's dead body is in the snow. There is no hard evidence JOK ever went into the house. There is no hard evidence that someone in the house murdered JOK. As far as I know, there are no drag marks or footprints in the snow indicating the placement of a body there. All the other testimony, such as about broken tail lights and such, is distracting from the hard facts. Those for and against "guilty or not guilty" can cherry-pick testimony that "proves" their point. I don't know why JOK had cuts on his arm. I don't know why the residents of the house didn't wake up when all the activity was going on later. I don't know where and how the tail light was broken. It doesn't change the fact that JOK's body is lying a few feet away from where KR dropped him off.

I believe that there was no conspiracy among the folks in the house. I probably wouldn't like those people if I knew them. I abhor their drinking culture. I know that culture very well having lived in similar communities. Unfortunately, JOK was part of that culture. I don't think I would have liked him either. He should have known better than to let a very drunk KR drive. If one of the "McAlbert" crowd did kill JOK, there is no way all the others in the house conspired to blame it on KR. They couldn't keep that secret because they are such heavy drinkers it would come out eventually. Alcohol is like a truth serum. They believe KR hit JOK because he is dead on the lawn and they know that no one in the house did it. Therefore, they cooperated in getting the actual facts straight because they wanted justice for JOK. Cooperating on getting the actual facts straight is not a conspiracy to cover up a murder.

KR will probably get acquitted or maybe there will be mistrial. There were too many paid experts on both sides, which created a lot of noise and distracted from the hardest of the hard facts: that JOK's dead body is on the lawn after exiting KR's car just a few feet away from where a very drunk and angry KR then reversed the car, probably accidentally hit him, and drove away in a huff. But she couldn't escape the thought during moments of lucidity that she may have hit him, and that dictated her actions through the wee hours to come. If she is acquitted, I hope his loved ones find some solace in that she has spent the last three years in a punishing purgatory.

IMO.

“Probably accidentally hit him” and BARD are incompatible.

 

[keek]

Do you have a link for B Higgins' Jeep being by the flagpole where John was lying?

HE said it was parked in front of the mailbox in testimony.

 

[Tortoise]

HE said it was parked in front of the mailbox in testimony.

So the Lexus hitting John near the flagpole would not have smashed into a vehicle which wasn't parked by the flagpole.

 

[keek]

So the Lexus hitting John near the flagpole would not have smashed into a vehicle which wasn't parked by the flagpole.

..at a GREAT speed which would of had her smashing into Higgin's jeep..trial 2 I believe. His testimony was trial 1, which we are done with. Shown to be allll wrong, impossible and all that. Lots on that if you rewatch both trials concerning his jeep and then someone from the cw that showed did not happen as the NAGLES said no jeep in the first place. How did the great speed backwards to 'hit JOK' happen then, if it didn't.. no collision, all set. BH, JMc did not think their stories through and got caught. IMO

 

[Wishbone]

It's not supposition. It's in Ian Whiffin's testimony regarding John's cellphone location data when the Lexus came to a stop, and Ryan Nagel's testimony.

2.16.08

1.15.50

And Karen's own words:

Clip 17

[...] Like he’s he’s roughly where I left him so yeah when I found him I was thinking did I like clip him somehow.

2.04.16

It may be his opinion but it is not Proof IMO