Karen Read Trial: Full Timeline & Developments (2022-2025) in the John O’Keefe Investigation

The Karen Read trial case has captivated Massachusetts and beyond, a complex and contentious legal drama unfolding in Norfolk County. At its heart is the tragic death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe on a snowy January morning in 2022, and the subsequent murder trial of his girlfriend, Karen Read, a case now widely known as The Karen Read Case.

This case is a labyrinth of conflicting narratives, intense public scrutiny, and an ongoing investigation that has seen shocking twists, including a hung jury in the first trial and serious allegations of police misconduct. As Karen Read faces a retrial, we delve into the detailed timeline and legal developments from the incident’s inception through May 2025.

The Incident and Initial Investigation (January 29, 2022)

The chain of events began in the early, frigid hours of January 29, 2022. John O’Keefe was found unresponsive in the snow outside a Canton, Massachusetts home, belonging to fellow Boston police officer Brian Albert. The previous evening, January 28, O’Keefe and Karen Read had been socializing at a bar with friends before Read drove O’Keefe to an after-party at Albert’s residence. Read later stated she felt unwell and did not enter the house, leaving O’Keefe there.

As a heavy snowstorm raged, between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., Karen Read grew alarmed by O’Keefe’s failure to return home. Accompanied by two friends, she began a search. During this search, Read reportedly noticed a crack in her Lexus SUV’s taillight and mused aloud whether she might have struck O’Keefe with her vehicle. Around 6 a.m., they made the grim discovery: John O’Keefe, badly injured, lying in the snow outside Brian Albert’s house. A first responder later testified to an “hysterical” Karen Read repeatedly exclaiming, “I hit him. I hit him.”

Police at the scene observed broken glass, believed to be from a cocktail glass, and pieces of a vehicle’s taillight near O’Keefe’s body. The investigation quickly focused on Karen Read‘s SUV, which had a shattered rear taillight, fueling suspicion that O’Keefe had been hit by her vehicle. An autopsy completed on January 31, 2022, concluded that John O’Keefe died from blunt impact head injuries and hypothermia.

The medical examiner found no obvious signs of a physical altercation, suggesting trauma consistent with a vehicle impact followed by exposure to the severe cold. A subsequent toxicology analysis estimated Karen Read‘s blood alcohol content at the time of the incident could have been significantly above the legal limit (approximately 0.13–0.29%), indicating heavy drinking.

Initial Charges and Indictment (February–June 2022)

The investigation moved swiftly. On February 2, 2022, Karen Read was arrested and formally charged in connection with John O’Keefe’s death. At her arraignment in Stoughton District Court, she pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of a collision causing death.

Prosecutors from Norfolk County alleged that Read, after a night of drinking, had struck O’Keefe with her SUV while making a three-point turn outside the Canton home, then left, only to return hours later. The initial prosecution theory framed it as a tragic drunk-driving accident where O’Keefe exited the vehicle, and an impaired Read accidentally hit him, perhaps unaware of the collision. The medical examiner’s report supported this scenario. Read was released on $50,000 bail.

As the investigation continued, more evidence surfaced. Laboratory analysis reportedly matched fragments from Karen Read‘s broken taillight to pieces found at the scene and on O’Keefe’s clothing. Crucially, John O’Keefe’s DNA was identified on the damaged taillight of Read’s Lexus. These findings significantly bolstered the prosecution’s case that O’Keefe had been struck by her vehicle.

On June 10, 2022, a Norfolk County grand jury indicted Karen Read on more serious charges: second-degree murder, in addition to manslaughter (OUI) and leaving the scene resulting in death. Prosecutors now argued Read’s actions demonstrated malice, alleging she had intentionally backed into O’Keefe with deadly intent. (Second-degree murder in Massachusetts implies a knowing or reckless act showing disregard for life, even if not premeditated.) Read was arraigned on these new charges in Norfolk County Superior Court, again pleading not guilty. Her bail was set at $100,000, which she posted, remaining free pending The Karen Read Trial.

Defense Allegations and Pre-Trial Motions (2023)

Throughout 2022 and 2023, Karen Read‘s defense team, led by attorneys Alan Jackson and David Yannetti, launched an aggressive counter-investigation. By 2023, they publicly asserted that Read was framed and that John O’Keefe was a victim of a cover-up involving individuals present at the Canton house.

In a dramatic pre-trial hearing on May 3, 2023, the defense argued O’Keefe was not killed by a car impact but was beaten to death inside Brian Albert’s house and then dumped outside. They highlighted unexplained injuries on O’Keefe’s arm, contending they were defensive wounds or bite marks from Albert’s German Shepherd dog, suggesting a violent indoor altercation. Attorney Alan Jackson proclaimed, “We’ve got a fish on the hook, we just need the court to help us reel it in,” vowing to prove others were responsible.

The defense theory evolved, accusing multiple individuals present at the gathering—including Brian Albert, his relative Colin Albert, and family friend Jennifer McCabe—of conspiring to cover up the true circumstances of John O’Keefe‘s death. Jackson alleged that everyone in the house was involved at some level. The defense suggested investigators targeted Karen Read as a “convenient outsider” to avoid scrutinizing O’Keefe’s law enforcement colleagues.

Norfolk County prosecutors, led by Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally, vehemently denied these claims, stating there was “no evidence” O’Keefe ever entered the house or was assaulted there, dismissing the third-party culprit theory as a “fanciful story.” This set the stage for intense legal battles over evidence admissibility. Both sides filed extensive pre-trial motions.

The defense sought broad discovery, alleging evidence was withheld, and pushed for forensic testing. The prosecution moved to limit defense arguments about alternative suspects, arguing they were speculative. A key issue was whether the defense could present a “third-party culprit” defense naming specific individuals, permissible under Massachusetts law only with some linking evidence.

Pre-Trial Developments and Evidence Disputes (Early 2024)

As the murder trial neared in early 2024, significant developments emerged. In March 2024, it was revealed that a federal investigation (U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI) was examining aspects of John O’Keefe’s death and the police handling of the case. On March 12, 2024, Karen Read‘s defense announced that an FBI forensic expert, after reviewing evidence, concluded that the physical evidence did not support O’Keefe being fatally struck by Read’s SUV, finding the damage “inconsistent with [having] made contact with John O’Keefe’s body.” Prosecutors countered this as “defense by obfuscation.”

Attention also turned to the lead state police investigator, Trooper Michael Proctor. On March 13, 2024, Massachusetts State Police opened an internal affairs investigation into Proctor for a “potential violation of department policy.” The defense alleged Proctor had undisclosed personal ties to individuals involved in the case, potentially compromising his objectivity. Proctor’s attorney denied wrongdoing.

In late March 2024, the defense filed a motion to dismiss the entire case against Karen Read, alleging tainted indictments and lack of evidence. Judge Beverly Cannone, presiding over the Norfolk County case, denied this motion on March 26, 2024, finding “extensive evidence supporting the indictments.” BostonGlobe.com

An April 12, 2024, marathon pre-trial conference addressed numerous motions, including the defense’s request to present a third-party culprit defense naming Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe. The defense cited O’Keefe’s injuries and a controversial Google search by McCabe (“how long to die in cold”) as supporting evidence. ADA Lally argued this was speculative. While Judge Cannone’s specific evidentiary rulings weren’t fully detailed, it was clear the murder trial would feature vigorous arguments about the investigation‘s quality and a potential cover-up.

Jury selection for Karen Read‘s murder trial began in mid-April 2024 in Norfolk County Superior Court. Given intense media coverage and polarized public opinion (with “Free Karen Read” campaigns), selecting an impartial jury took about five days (April 16–24, 2024). A panel of 18 jurors was finally impaneled on April 24, 2024.

Evidence	Prosecution's Interpretation	Defense's Interpretation / Challenge
Broken Taillight Fragments (Read's SUV)	Fragments at scene & on O'Keefe's clothing match Read's SUV; indicate vehicle struck O'Keefe.	Taillight could have broken innocently (e.g., hitting O'Keefe's parked car or another object); questions if fragments definitively prove impact with O'Keefe's person.
John O'Keefe's DNA on Taillight	Confirms contact between O'Keefe and Read's damaged taillight, supporting impact theory.	Does not necessarily prove malicious impact or the exact mechanism of DNA transfer.
O'Keefe's Injuries (Head Trauma, Hypothermia)	Consistent with being struck by a vehicle (blunt impact) and left in the snow (hypothermia). Medical Examiner found no signs of altercation.	Argues some injuries (e.g., on arm) are defensive wounds or from a dog attack, suggesting an indoor altercation. Questions if all injuries are solely from vehicle impact.
Read's Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Estimate	Estimated 0.13-0.29% BAC indicates significant impairment, supporting reckless operation or OUI.	While not denying drinking, focuses on lack of intent to harm O'Keefe; impairment doesn't equal murder.
Jennifer McCabe's Google Search ("how long to die in cold")	Searched at 6:23 a.m. *after* O'Keefe was found, out of shock/concern.	Cites federal forensic analysis suggesting search occurred at 2:27 a.m., *before* O'Keefe was "officially" found, implying foreknowledge and cover-up.
Damage to Read's SUV	Consistent with striking a pedestrian (O'Keefe), as per their accident reconstruction experts (e.g., Dr. Welcher).	Inconsistent with striking a human; damage pattern doesn't match. FBI expert reportedly found inconsistencies. Defense experts offer alternative analyses.

The First Trial (April–July 2024)

The first Karen Read Trial commenced in late April 2024. Prosecutors argued Read, angry and intoxicated after an argument with John O’Keefe, intentionally backed her SUV into him and left him to die. They highlighted motive (angry text messages and a voicemail from Read to O’Keefe: “you are a f—ing loser… I f—ing hate you”) and physical evidence like taillight fragments with O’Keefe’s DNA. The medical examiner’s findings were presented as consistent with this scenario. Read’s alleged statements (“I hit him”) were emphasized.

The defense countered that Karen Read loved O’Keefe and was scapegoated. They argued O’Keefe died at others’ hands inside the Albert house, and witnesses like the Alberts and Jennifer McCabe were lying. They suggested an innocent explanation for the taillight (e.g., hitting O’Keefe’s parked car). The “how long to die in cold” Google search by McCabe became a focal point. Prosecutors claimed it occurred at 6:23 a.m. after O’Keefe was found; the defense, citing federal forensic analysis, argued it was at 2:27 a.m., implying foreknowledge.

Over two months, jurors heard from dozens of witnesses. Jennifer McCabe testified about the timeline and the Google search, maintaining her innocence. Trooper Michael Proctor faced intense cross-examination regarding his investigation and potential conflicts. Defense experts, including accident reconstructionists, opined the SUV damage didn’t match striking a human. They highlighted O’Keefe’s arm injuries as inconsistent with a car impact, suggesting a fight or dog attack. The defense posited a rushed judgment by police and pointed to potential evidence destruction (e.g., a Canton Police officer, an Albert family member, using a leaf blower at the scene).

After five days of deliberation in late June 2024, the jury declared itself deadlocked. Despite an Allen charge, they remained “deeply divided.” On July 1, 2024, Judge Cannone declared a mistrial in The Karen Read Trial due to a hung jury, a major setback for the Norfolk County prosecution in the John O’Keefe case.

Player	Primary Role	Brief Note
Karen Read	Defendant	Accused of striking John O'Keefe with her SUV.
John O'Keefe	Victim	Boston Police Officer found deceased.
Brian Albert	Homeowner / Witness	Boston Police Officer; O'Keefe was found outside his Canton home. Defense alleges O'Keefe was attacked inside.
Jennifer McCabe	Witness	Friend of Read and Alberts; present during search for O'Keefe. Her Google search ("how long to die in cold") is a key point of contention.
Colin Albert	Witness	Nephew of Brian Albert; present at the house party. Named by defense as a potential third-party culprit (limited by judge).
Trooper Michael Proctor	Lead Investigator (former)	Massachusetts State Police lead on the initial investigation; later investigated internally and terminated. Defense alleged bias and misconduct.
Adam Lally	Prosecutor	Norfolk Assistant District Attorney; led the prosecution in the first trial and co-leads the retrial.
Hank Brennan	Special Prosecutor	Former federal prosecutor; joined the Norfolk County DA's office to co-lead the retrial.
Alan Jackson	Defense Attorney	Lead counsel for Karen Read.
David Yannetti	Defense Attorney	Co-counsel for Karen Read.
Judge Beverly Cannone	Presiding Judge	Norfolk Superior Court Judge overseeing both trials.

Mistrial and Post-Trial Motions (July–August 2024)

The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office immediately announced its intent to retry Karen Read. A new murder trial date was tentatively set for January 27, 2025. Hours after the mistrial, Trooper Michael Proctor was relieved of duty and later suspended without pay, lending credence to defense criticisms of the investigation.

On July 8, 2024, Karen Read‘s defense moved to dismiss the murder and leaving-the-scene charges on double jeopardy grounds. They revealed that jurors had told counsel they unanimously agreed Read was “not guilty” of these two counts, only splitting on manslaughter. Prosecutors argued these post-verdict accounts were legally irrelevant hearsay, as no formal verdict was recorded.

On August 23, 2024, Judge Cannone denied the defense motion, ruling that since no verdict was announced in open court, jeopardy had not terminated. She also declined to recall jurors. Meanwhile, news emerged that a second juror corroborated the partial acquittal claim, and another juror filed an affidavit expressing safety fears due to public scrutiny.

Preparing for Retrial (Late 2024 – March 2025)

The retrial date was eventually rescheduled to April 1, 2025. Karen Read‘s defense appealed the double jeopardy ruling to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC), which heard arguments on November 6, 2024. On February 11, 2025, the SJC denied the appeal. Subsequent federal court appeals also failed, with the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately declining to hear the case in April 2025, clearing the way for the retrial of Karen Read for the death of John O’Keefe.

Evidentiary disputes continued. The prosecution sought to exclude expert testimony about an alleged dog attack. They also successfully subpoenaed unedited audio and notes from media interviews Karen Read gave, but Judge Cannone denied a request for Read’s elderly parents’ phone records, calling it a “fishing expedition.”

In late February 2025, Karen Read‘s defense filed another sweeping motion to dismiss for “extraordinary governmental misconduct,” alleging mishandling of evidence (like lost surveillance video from the Canton Police Department) and witness coordination. Judge Cannone heard arguments but ultimately denied this motion on March 25, 2025, ruling issues could be addressed during The Karen Read Trial.

The parallel federal investigation into O’Keefe’s death concluded in February 2025 with no charges filed, as announced in court on March 4, 2025, by newly appointed special prosecutor Hank Brennan (a former federal prosecutor joining the Norfolk County team). This was a blow to defense claims of a grand cover-up.

The role of blogger Aidan Kearney (“Turtleboy”), an outspoken Karen Read supporter, also came under scrutiny. Prosecutors subpoenaed his communications with Read, suspecting improper coordination. Judge Cannone protected communications involving Read’s attorneys.

In final pre-trial rulings, Judge Cannone, on March 31, 2025, limited the defense’s third-party culprit presentation, specifically barring them from directly blaming Colin Albert for John O’Keefe’s death without sufficient proof.

The 2025 Retrial: Jury Selection and Opening

Jury selection for the retrial in The Karen Read Trial began April 1, 2025, in Dedham, Norfolk County. The process was arduous, with a “buffer zone” established outside the courthouse due to intense public interest. By April 15, 2025, a panel of 18 jurors was seated. The defense notably added a former juror from the first trial to their legal team as a consultant.

Opening statements on April 22, 2025, set the stage. The prosecution, now co-led by Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan, promised new evidence and a streamlined case, arguing Karen Read drunkenly and angrily hit John O’Keefe with her SUV. They planned to present scientific accident reconstruction, including experiments with an identical Lexus. They acknowledged Trooper Proctor’s firing but maintained it didn’t negate core evidence.

Defense attorney Alan Jackson reiterated the theory of innocence via third-party culpability, claiming O’Keefe met foul play inside the Albert house, followed by a frame-up. He pointed to inconsistencies, McCabe’s Google search, O’Keefe’s arm injuries, and investigative mishandling. The first witnesses included John O’Keefe’s mother, Peggy O’Keefe, who testified emotionally on April 23, 2025, her first public remarks on her son’s death.

Prosecution’s Case in the 2025 Retrial (April–May 2025)

Over 23 days (April 22 – May 29, 2025), the Norfolk County prosecution called nearly 40 witnesses. Friends testified about heavy alcohol consumption and tension between Karen Read and John O’Keefe.

Jennifer McCabe began her tense testimony on April 29, 2025, facing intensive cross-examination over several days about the Google search timing (“how long to die in cold”). She maintained she searched after O’Keefe was found, while the defense presented FBI forensic analysis suggesting a 2:27 a.m. search. McCabe finished testifying on May 2, 2025.

Canton firefighter-paramedic Katie McLaughlin testified on May 5, 2025, that a distraught Karen Read said, “What if I hit him? I hit him” at the scene. Retired Canton Police Lt. Paul Gallagher recounted using a leaf blower to clear snow, which the defense suggested could have contaminated the scene.

On May 6, 2025, jurors heard Karen Read’s angry, profanity-laden voicemails to John O’Keefe from that night, establishing motive or reckless emotional state. Digital forensics expert Jessica Hyde testified on May 7, 2025, about McCabe’s phone, with her analysis supporting the defense’s 2:27 a.m. Google search timeline.

Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik testified (May 8–12, 2025) about evidence collection and acknowledged Trooper Proctor’s termination. Crime lab forensic scientists and medical examiner Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello testified on May 15-16, reaffirming autopsy findings of blunt head trauma and hypothermia, with no clear signs of assault or dog bites, countering defense theories about John O’Keefe‘s injuries.

The prosecution’s key expert, Dr. Judson Welcher, an accident reconstructionist, began testimony on May 27, 2025. He presented results from experiments with an identical Lexus, showing how O’Keefe’s injuries (hip scuff mark, eye laceration) aligned with impact points on the SUV’s rear. He concluded Read’s SUV struck John O’Keefe near the Albert house. Despite rigorous cross-examination on May 28 about last-minute report edits, Welcher’s testimony scientifically anchored the prosecution’s theory.

The prosecution rested its case against Karen Read on May 29, 2025. Their final piece of evidence was a video clip from an Investigation Discovery interview Read gave on April 10, 2024, where she speculated: “So I thought, could I have run him over? … I’ve always got my music blasting, it’s snowing… did he come and hit the back of my car and I hit him…?” This allowed prosecutors to argue that even Read considered her own culpability.

Current Status and Defense’s Case (as of May 30, 2025)

As of May 30, 2025, the retrial of Karen Read in Norfolk County has moved to the defense phase. The defense began presenting its case on this day, with their first witness expected to be Matt DiSogra, an engineering director from an accident reconstruction firm, likely to counter Dr. Welcher’s findings regarding the death of John O’Keefe.

Karen Read’s attorneys anticipate their defense case will last 1.5 to 2 weeks. They have signaled intentions to call witnesses like the now-fired Trooper Michael Proctor, homeowner Brian Albert, and friend Brian Higgins. This strategy aims to directly challenge the integrity of the investigation and suggest alternative suspects had motive and opportunity. The defense will likely present their own crash reconstruction experts and potentially medical or veterinary experts, if permitted, to subtly support theories of a physical altercation or dog involvement.

Whether Karen Read herself will testify remains uncertain. The retrial is ongoing, and the central question persists: Did Karen Read unlawfully cause John O’Keefe’s death, or is she a victim of a flawed investigation and a cover-up? The answer now rests with the second Norfolk County jury in The Karen Read Trial. The eyes of many remain fixed on Dedham, awaiting the resolution of a case that has deeply divided a community and raised profound questions about justice and the conduct of law enforcement.