The trial of Karen Read captured national attention not only for its tragic circumstances—the death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe—but also for the storm of controversy that followed.
Prosecutors alleged that Read, O’Keefe’s girlfriend, struck him with her SUV and left him to die in the snow outside a fellow officer’s home.
The defense countered with a bold claim of conspiracy, accusing local law enforcement of a cover-up, evidence tampering, and corruption.
The case polarized communities, sparked social media movements, and put the criminal justice system under intense public scrutiny.
On June 18, 2025, Read was acquitted of all serious charges, including second-degree murder.
This page compiles comprehensive trial coverage, key evidence analysis, timeline breakdowns, expert commentary, and post-verdict developments in one of Massachusetts’ most divisive legal battles in decades.
When Norfolk County released invoices showing that Karen Read’s second trial cost taxpayers more than $1.4 million, critics pounced. But is that number really excessive? Not when you compare it with other high-profile, expert-heavy prosecutions. Here’s why the expense...
Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden | Image Credit: (Boston Globe)The fallout from Dever’s testimony in the Commonwealth v. Karen Read trial has sparked a new wave of outrage from Free Karen Read (FKR) supporters, even stating that Kelly Dever "already has a Brady file"....
Image Credit: (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald/File)“The Quiet Phase”: How the Karen Read Leak Strategy Unfolded—and What Comes Next While media and social chatter are focused on the recent indictment of juror Jessica M. Leslie, and her plea deal, the story’s real juju lies...
Image Credit: (Boston Police News)When Boston Police Officer Kelly Dever took the stand in the Karen Read trial, she became an unexpected flashpoint in one of Massachusetts’ most high-profile cases. Called by the defense as an “opposition witness,” Dever testified...
When Post-Trial Spotlight Meets Social Media Backlash The Karen Read trial ended—but the drama didn’t. As the dust settles, one juror has stepped into the public arena and struck a pose squarely in the spotlight: Paula Prado, known on X (formerly Twitter) as...
Well, the first juror from the Karen Read trial has spoken—and I’m going to need a blood pressure cuff and a sarcasm detector. Because what we just heard wasn’t just a peek behind the jury room curtain; it was a masterclass in intellectual laziness sprinkled with the...
When defense attorney Alan Jackson stood to deliver his closing argument in the Karen Read trial, expectations were sky-high. Jackson has a reputation as a legendary trial lawyer, but his performance was oddly rigid, as he remained glued to the podium and read from a...
“We don’t know exactly how this happened, but we have a good idea.” That line from Hank Brennan’s closing in the Karen Read trial raised some Twitter eyebrows — and not in a good way. Several responded sarcastically: “Yes, f**ing brilliant lawyering. 🥴”* "Yes amazing....
In a trial already saturated with technical debates and digital data drama, defense expert Matthew DiSogra took the stand to unpack the now-infamous 1162–2 reverse maneuver vehicle event in the Karen Read case. A specialist in accident reconstruction and infotainment...
🎙️ Picture this: the drama is thick in a Massachusetts courtroom. Defense expert Dr. Daniel Wolfe, of ARCCA, strides in defending Karen Read—leaning heavily on a series of vehicle‑impact experiments. His mission? Show that it wasn't John O’Keefe’s head, arm, or center...
Judson Welcher is an Executive Vice President of Accident Resonstruction and Biomechanics at Aperture, a company that provides forensic science and expert analysis. Judson holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from California Polytechnic University and...
Ian Whiffin is a Senior Digital Intelligence Expert and Decoding Product Manager at Cellebrite, with over 20 years of experience in digital forensics and law enforcement. Formerly a Digital Forensic Examiner with the Calgary Police Service and a patrol officer in both...
Degrees of Separation: The CV Controversy Before defense attorney Robert Alessi discussed a single algorithm or time offset, the prosecution's digital forensic witness from Aperture, Shanon Burgess, faced intense scrutiny over a surprisingly contentious issue—his...
As the Karen Read trial enters its most heated chapters, a pivotal moment arrived in the form of expert witness Shanon Burgess — and with it, a spectacle that had little to do with data and much to do with degrees. Burgess, a digital forensics expert with the forensic...
While the prosecution in Karen Read’s first trial leaned heavily on the idea that John O’Keefe was struck and killed by Read’s SUV, several elements of the physical evidence and expert testimony leave room for a more nuanced — and plausible — scenario. 🍸The...