In the early morning hours of January 29, 2022, Boston Police Department Officer John O'Keefe was found dead outside the home of Boston Police Officer Brian Albert in Canton, Massachusetts. O'Keefe had been dropped off the night before by his girlfriend, Karen Read, to join a party hosted by Brian Albert and Jennifer McCabe. Upon being discovered, he was transported to a local hospital where cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma and hypothermia.[1]
Three days later, Read was arrested and charged with manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide, and leaving the scene of a deadly crash. The Norfolk County District Attorney's Office alleged that Read hit O'Keefe with her SUV and left the scene.[2] Read pleaded not guilty. Four months later, on June 9, 2022, she was indicted by a grand jury for second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of a deadly crash.[3] Read pleaded not guilty again and her defense attorney, David Yannetti, accused the Massachusetts State Police of manufacturing evidence in the investigation. He also alleged that the lead investigator, Trooper Michael Proctor, had a conflict of interest due to his family's relationship with some of the prosecution's witnesses.[4]
Background
John J. O'Keefe, III, nicknamed "JJ"[5][6] or "Johnny"[7] (born December 8, 1975), grew up in Braintree, Massachusetts and graduated from Braintree High School and Northeastern University. He also earned a master's degree in criminal justice from UMass Lowell[8] and had lived in Canton since 2014, where he was raising his niece and nephew following his sister and brother-in-law's deaths.[9] O'Keefe was a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department.[10] John O'Keefe's former partner, the deceased Pat Rogers, was featured on the reality television show, Boston's Finest. Rogers' then-girlfriend Laura Sullivan, who had a child with him, was also long-time friends with John; she met Karen during a trip to Aruba and testified as a witness for the Commonwealth. John's brother Paul, also a witness for the Commonwealth, was Captain and Quarterback of the Stonehill College Football team and teammates with Lieutenant Brian Tully, Michael Proctor's supervisor at the Norfolk Country District Attorney Mass State Police Investigative Unit.[citation needed]
Brian Albert, owner of the Canton home outside of which O'Keefe was found dead, is a retired Boston Police Sergeant, last assigned to BPD Fugitive Unit until his retirement on September 4, 2023.[16] He was also featured on 2013 reality television series Boston's Finest. His brothers are Chris Albert, who serves on the Canton Select Board and owns a pizzeria in Canton, and Kevin Albert, who serves in the Canton Police Department as a detective. In June 2024, Kevin was suspended from Canton Police pending an internal investigation based on phone text conversations with Michael Proctor that became public record during the cross-examination of Michael Proctor's testimony. Kevin was alleged by Proctor's text conversations to have lost his badge and gun while on duty after a night out drinking while on duty working a cold case on Cape Cod. Chris and his wife, Julie, and their son Colin, were neighbors with O'Keefe. The Albert family are also long-time friends with Michael Proctor, lead investigator on the case.[citation needed]
Locations of the bars, Brian Albert residence, and O'Keefe residence
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34 Fairview Road, Brian Albert residence
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Waterfall Bar & Grille
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C.F. McCarthy's
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1 Meadows Avenue, O'Keefe residence
On the night of January 28, 2022, O'Keefe and Read visited two bars in Canton: C.F. McCarthy's and Waterfall Bar & Grille.[14] At the second bar, they met up with several acquaintances including fellow police officer Brian Albert. Shortly after midnight Albert invited a group of people, including the couple, back to his home on Fairview Road in Canton.[9][1]
The two drove to the home in Read's SUV.[1] Read claims to have dropped O'Keefe off in front of the home and left because she wasn't feeling well.[17]
A snow storm hit Canton in the early morning of January 29. Read reported that when she woke up the next day, O'Keefe had not returned home. After he did not respond to calls or texts, she contacted an acquaintance from that night, Jennifer McCabe, who agreed to join her and another woman, Kerry Roberts, in looking for him.[14] The three women returned to Fairview Road in Roberts's vehicle, where they saw O'Keefe lying unresponsive in the snow.[9] Read exited the car and began CPR. McCabe called 911 at approximately 6:04 am and Canton Police, Fire, and EMS responded to the scene.[18]
O'Keefe was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, where he was pronounced dead.[14] A medical examiner later reported that O'Keefe had abrasions to his right arm, several lacerations to the face, two black eyes, and skull fractures which would have contributed to brain bleeding. They determined that hypothermia was a contributing factor to O'Keefe's death.[9][1]
Read theorizes that O'Keefe was beaten inside the home, and his body was then left outside; however, there are 11 witness statements that say O'Keefe never entered the home.[1][19]
Investigation
Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael D. Proctor, of the Norfolk State Police Detective Unit, was the lead investigator for this case. He produced a series of written reports (Case # 2022-112-0033) to Detective Lieutenant Brian P. Tully of the Massachusetts State Police.
According to police, pieces of a cocktail glass and patches of blood were found alongside O'Keefe's body. They also found pieces of a broken taillight, said to match a broken light on Read's car.[1]
Read was arrested on February 1, 2022.[14] Her phone was taken into custody.[9] She was charged with manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide, and leaving the scene of a collision in the lower Stoughton District Court on February 2, 2022.[14]
In April 2023, Read's attorneys presented a theory that implicated Brian Albert, who owned the home outside of which O'Keefe was found dead, and his sister-in-law Jennifer McCabe, who had been drinking with Read and O'Keefe on January 28, and helped Read find O'Keefe's body the morning of January 29.[1][20] Evidence showed that Brian Albert sold his house and got rid of his dog after the incident, and Jennifer McCabe made a Google search "hos[sic] long to die in cold" at 2:27 a.m.[9]
In November 2023, residents of Canton voted to mount an independent investigation into the town's police department.[1]
In January 2024, letters between the General Counsel for the Department of Justice and Norfolk District Attorney, Michael W. Morrissey, were released, confirming a federal investigation was mounted into the Norfolk District Attorney's office.[21][22][23]
In March 2024, the Massachusetts State Police launched an internal investigation into the lead investigator in the case, Trooper Michael Proctor, due to potential violation of department policy, but have not said whether that investigation relates to a specific case.[24]
Court proceedings
On February 2, 2022, Read was arraigned in Stoughton District Court on charges of manslaughter, leaving the scene of a serious accident, and motor vehicle homicide. She pleaded not guilty and was released on $80,000 bail.[25]
In June 2022, a Norfolk County grand jury indicted Read for second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a collision.[26]
On March 12, 2024, Read's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case due to alleged conflicts of interest and federal crash reconstruction experts determining that O'Keefe's injuries were "inconsistent" with the damage to Read's car.[28][29] The judge denied the motion on March 26 due to "extensive evidence supporting the indictments", such as O'Keefe's DNA being found on the broken taillight of Read's car.[30][31]
In early April 2024, ahead of the trial date, the prosecutors filed a motion requesting special restrictions during the trial to keep demonstrations back at least 500 feet (150 m) from the courthouse to maintain an unbiased jury pool; Judge Cannone ruled that 500 feet was excessive, and ordered a 200-foot (61 m) buffer zone with no protesters allowed. This ruling came after the ACLU filed a memorandum opposing the prosecution's request, citing freedom of speech, and urged the court to consider more narrowly tailored restrictions. Read's attorney said the defense takes no position on the motion.[32][33] The judge also approved the prosecution's request to prohibit anyone inside the courtroom from wearing any attire that says "Free Karen Read" and also prohibit law enforcement officers, whether they be testifying or attending the trial, from wearing their uniforms.[34] The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court approved the judge's ruling, and on May 2 formally approved the buffer zone. The SJC ruled that the Judge "struck a balance between the right to protest or demonstrate and the defendant's right to a fair trial".[35]
Read's first trial started on April 16, 2024, with the jury selection, which was completed on April 24.[36][37][38][39]
Prosecutors previously asked the Judge to block Read's lawyers from arguing that others are to blame for O'Keefe's death, also known as third-party culprit defense. The judge instead offered the defense a chance to develop their argument through "relevant, competent, admissible evidence", but still barred them from using the third-party culprit defense during opening statements.[40]
On April 28, the prosecutors and the defense presented opening statements. Prosecutors outlined circumstantial evidence that pointed to Read's guilt, while the defense told jurors that Read is being framed and that O'Keefe was beaten and attacked by a dog inside the home of another Boston police officer.
Commonwealth rested the case on June 21, 2024, after eight weeks of testimony from 68 witnesses. Defense completed its list of witnesses and rested the case on June 24.[41] Closing arguments were delivered on June 25 and jury deliberation started on the same day.[42]
On July 1, after 25 hours of deliberation, the jury was unable to come to a unanimous decision. Judge Cannone declared a mistrial.[43]
Read's second trial is scheduled for April 1, 2025. Hank Brennan, Whitey Bulger's former defense lawyer, will lead the prosecution.[44][45]
Laura Sullivan, O'Keefe's friend who were on the Aruba trip in December 2021 with Read and O'Keefe[67]
Marietta Sullivan, Laura's sister, who were on the same trip to Aruba
O'Keefe's niece and nephew, who were on the Aruba trip[68]
Trooper Michael Proctor, Massachusetts State Police trooper, acquaintance of the Albert family
Yuri Bukhenik, Massachusetts State Police trooper
Jessica Hyde, digital forensics examiner
Ian Whiffin, forensics software expert from Cellebrite[69]
Detective Lt. Brian Tully, State Police Detective Supervisor
Lt. Kevin O'Hara, Team Commander, Massachusetts State Police SERT
Sgt. Brian Gallerani, Needham Police Sergeant, DNA Sample Collector
Nicholas Bradford, DNA Analyst, Bode Technology
Tess Chart, DNA Analyst, Bode Technology
Andre Porto, Forensic Scientist, Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab[70][71]
Maureen Hartnett, Forensic Scientist, Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab[72] She also testified that no DNA testing was ever done on the two swabs taken from the Solo cups.[73]
Ashley Vallier, Forensic Scientist, Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab[74]
Dr. Frank Sheridan, Retired Forensic Pathologist and Former Chief Medical Examiner
Dr. Marie Russell, Retired Emergency Room Physician and Forensic Pathologist
Dr. Daniel Wolfe, Accident Reconstruction Expert, ARCCA
Dr. Andrew Rentschler, Biomechanics Expert, ARCCA[86][nb 2][nb 3]
The prosecution argued that Karen Read intentionally ran over her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV after a night of heavy drinking on January 29, 2022. They presented the pieces of Read’s broken taillight were found at the scene,[89] suggesting her vehicle was involved in the incident, and a hair from O’Keefe was found on Read’s car,[90] indicating contact between her car and O’Keefe. Multiple witnesses reported hearing Read say “I hit him” several times after O’Keefe was discovered. Testimonies highlighted the couple’s troubled relationship, including an argument during the couple’s trip to Aruba in December 2021,[91] and angry texts and voicemails on the night of January 29.[92][93][75]
The prosecution noted Read’s behavior on the morning O’Keefe’s body was found, and the Commonwealth’s experts testified about the injuries sustained by O’Keefe, which were consistent with being struck by a vehicle.[94]
The defense argued that Karen Read was being framed as part of a law enforcement coverup to protect the real perpetrators, suggesting that O’Keefe was beaten inside the house of another Boston police officer, Brian Albert, and then left outside to die in the snow. The defense highlighted the close relationships between the lead investigator, Trooper Michael Proctor, and the Albert family, suggesting bias and a conflict of interest and arguing that these relationships compromised the investigation.
The defense exposed the lack of integrity of the investigation, highlighting the use of Solo cups and Stop & Shop grocery bags during evidence collection[95][50][96] and the inappropriate text messages about Read between Trooper Proctor and his coworkers.[97][75] The defense showed Read’s taillight intact after midnight on January 29,[98] in contrast to the evidence of shattered taillight, accusing the investigators of planting evidence.[99]
The defense argued that the injuries on O’Keefe’s body was not consistent with a car collision, which was confirmed by a number of experts.[100]
A mistrial was declared by the judge on July 1, 2024, due to the jury being deadlocked after several days of deliberations. After writing twice to the Judge that they could not reach a verdict, the jury sent a final note, writing that "fundamental differences" in their beliefs made it impossible to reach a unanimous verdict.[101]
Post-trial motions
Read's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss two of the charges, second-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident, saying that several jurors have reached out after the mistrial was declared. They indicated that the jury found Read not guilty on both of these charges.[102][103]Martin G. Weinberg, a new attorney for the defense, argued for dismissal of the charges.[104] On August 23, Judge Beverly Cannone denied the motion to dismiss the charges.[105] Read's attorneys have filed an appeal to Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.[106]
Civil lawsuit
On August 23, 2024, the O'Keefe family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Read and two bars in Canton, Massachusetts. They accused Read of hitting and killing O'Keefe and alleged the bars overserved her.[107] In the civil case, Read is represented by three civil lawyers from the Boston law firm Melick & Porter, LLP. [108]
The case has caused divisions in Canton, as town residents have debated whether O'Keefe was killed by Read, or whether Read was framed by the police. Social tensions and old family feuds have reportedly been inflamed by the case.
In July 2023, a "rolling rally" of around 50 cars in support of the coverup theory drove through Canton, stopping at the homes of key figures relating to the case and protesting with a bullhorn.[9]
In November 2023, Canton held a Special Town Meeting where residents voted in favor (903–800) of an independent audit of the Canton Police Department due to the ongoing investigation of this case.[1][110]
Impact on Read's supporters
Local blogger Aidan Kearney, nicknamed Turtleboy, has covered the case extensively on his website under the headline "Canton Coverup" since the defense released their affidavit in April 2023. The case has received little media attention until Kearney started covering the case. He would go to Canton and film himself confronting witnesses, and post the videos on YouTube.[9][20] Kearney was indicted on "eight counts of witness intimidation, three counts of conspiracy to intimidate witnesses, and five counts of picketing a witness" in December 2023. In February 2024, he was also indicted on two new charges of harassing a witness and intercepting wire or oral communication. Kearney pleaded not guilty to all those charges, citing freedom of speech.[111]
Before the last week of the trial, Kearney was dining with his girlfriend at C.F. McCarthy’s, one of the bars O’Keefe and Read went to. He got into a heated confrontation outside with a few people, one of them was close to the Alberts and the Proctors. Two were charged with assault and battery of the blogger.[112] Shortly after the trial ended, Kearney also found a dead turtle hanging outside his parent's home in Worcester, and the local police are investigating the incident as harassment and animal cruelty.[113]
Three Canton residents and Read’s supporters, who have spoken at Canton select board meetings calling for accountability, saw their lawn vandalized with bleach-filled balloons.[114]
Repercussions for witnesses
Following the mistrial declared on July 1, 2024, Trooper Proctor was relieved of duty and formally transferred out of the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office State Police Detective's Unit due to sending inappropriate and offensive text messages about Read to family and friends.[115]
Trooper Proctor was suspended without pay on July 8, 2024.[116]
On July 10, 2024, Canton Police placed Det. Kevin Albert on leave based on testimony from the trial.[117]
In popular media
In July 2024, Netflix announced a new three-part documentary is currently in production.[118]20/20 released an episode about the case in September 2024.[119]Dateline NBC aired an episode on the case on October 18, 2024.[120] A ten-part narrative podcast series, 34 Fairview Road, was released October 17, 2024.[121]
Connection to other cases
Lawyer of Brian Walshe, the Cohasset man accused of murdering his wife Ana, said he would file a motion naming Proctor, suspecting that Proctor's bias played a role in his client's case.[122][123]
Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old woman from Stoughton, was found dead in her Canton apartment in February 2021. Her death was initially ruled a suicide, but later federal prosecutors contradicted initial findings by local authorities, alleging foul play was involved. Matthew Farwell, detective with the Stoughton Police Department, allegedly groomed her and had a sexual relationship with her when she was underage, and eventually impregnated her in 2020; Farwell then tried to silence her by strangling her to death and staged her death as a suicide while a snow storm hit the area. Birchmore's case draws parallel to O'Keefe's death investigation as federal intervention in both cases led to different conclusions from state prosecutors.[124]
Notes
^Prosecutors wanted to introduce evidence of Read's "DUI attorney" Google search at 1:27 p.m. of January 29, to prove "consciousness of guilt". The evidence was not included in the trial.[83][84]
^Judge Cannone had a voir dire day with the last three witnesses called by the defense before testimony when both prosecution and defense could assess the qualifications of the witnesses without the jury present. Prosecutors had previously tried to exclude these witnesses.[87]
^ARCCA was not retained by the defense or prosecution, but by the Department of Justice and FBI as part of a federal investigation into Massachusetts state law enforcement's handling of this case.[88]
