Boston police officer John O’Keefe is dead—and Massachusetts vs. Karen Read trial prosecutors say his girlfriend is to blame. In the highly anticipated RE-TRIAL unfolding in Massachusetts, Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan delivered a powerful opening statement, laying out a case built on forensic data, digital footprints, and emotional testimony.
Here’s what the Commonwealth of Massachusetts says happened that snowy night in January 2022.
🕰️ The Morning It All Began
At 6:04 a.m. on January 29, 2022, firefighter-paramedic Timothy Nutall responded to a call: cardiac arrest at 34 Fairview Road, Canton.
In near-blizzard conditions, he arrived to find a man—later identified as John O’Keefe—unconscious in the snow. Karen Read was screaming nearby.
According to Nutall, Read blurted out:
“I hit him, I hit him, I hit him.”
Despite resuscitation efforts, O’Keefe could not be saved. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
📱 The Digital Footprint: Phone and Vehicle Data
Prosecutor Brennan emphasized that “the science and the data will tell the truth.” Here’s how:
-
O’Keefe’s phone was running Waze, providing second-by-second location data.
-
Health data from his phone showed no movement after 12:32 a.m.
-
The phone’s battery temperature dropped rapidly—indicating it had been left out in the cold.
Meanwhile, Read’s Lexus SUV “black box” recorded a sudden hard reverse at 75% acceleration, moving about 70 feet backward. According to Brennan, that’s when she struck O’Keefe.
đź’” The Relationship Behind the Tragedy
John O’Keefe wasn’t just a Boston cop—he was a guardian to his late sister’s two orphaned children. He was known for his big heart and community spirit.
Karen Read, the woman now on trial, had been dating O’Keefe. Their relationship started strong but began to unravel in early 2022, marked by arguments, emotional texts, and excessive drinking.
“When he would try to push away, she would come closer.” —Prosecutor Hank Brennan
🍸 The Night Out: A Timeline
➤ 8:50 p.m. – Arrive at McCarthy’s Bar
Karen drinks seven vodka drinks in under an hour.
➤ 10:00 p.m. – Head to The Waterfall Bar
They meet friends. More drinking. More tension.
➤ 12:12 a.m. – Leave for 34 Fairview Road
On the way to a birthday afterparty.
➤ 12:34 a.m. – O’Keefe exits the car
Moments later, the Lexus reverses forcefully. O’Keefe is hit.
🧬 Forensic Evidence Tells the Story
-
O’Keefe’s body was found lying on his phone.
-
Tail light pieces from Read’s Lexus were scattered near the body.
-
His DNA was recovered from the back of her SUV.
-
A neurosurgeon will testify that his skull fracture is consistent with falling backward from a collision.
🧠What Read Did After the Crash
Instead of calling 911, Karen Read:
-
Left angry voicemails, saying: “I f**ing hate you.”*
-
Called friends, not first responders.
-
Allegedly returned later and “discovered” the body right where she’d left him.
🧾 The Charges
-
Second-Degree Murder
Intentional act showing disregard for human life. -
Manslaughter While Operating Under the Influence
Prosecutors say she was severely intoxicated. -
Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Accident
She didn’t seek help. She left O’Keefe in the snow.
🎙️ Read’s Own Words May Seal Her Fate
In later interviews, Read said:
“Could I have tagged him in the knee?… He didn’t look mortally wounded…”
Prosecutors say her post-arrest media campaign only reinforces her guilt. “Her words,” Brennan said, “confirm what the data already tells us.”
⚖️ The Prosecution’s Final Message
Brennan’s closing in the opening statement was clear:
“Follow the evidence. Follow the data. Ignore the speculation. It will lead you to the truth.”