Forensic Expert’s Testimony Challenges Defense in Karen Read Murder Trial

DEDHAM, Mass. — Testimony continued Wednesday in the murder trial of Karen Read, who is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, by running him over with her SUV and leaving him in the snow. In a twist, expert witness Jessica Hyde contradicted the defense’s claims during her testimony.

Before the lunch break, Hyde, a digital forensic analyst, revealed that a Google search regarding hypothermia made on Jennifer McCabe’s phone occurred at 6:24 a.m., after O’Keefe’s body was found. This conflicts with the defense’s assertion that the search was made hours earlier, suggesting a premeditated intent to cover up the incident.

Hyde explained to prosecutor Hank Brennan that McCabe’s phone logged 200 calls between January 29, 2022, and its imaging. She speculated that the phone system automatically deletes older calls, indicating no manual deletions were made by McCabe.

As testimony resumed, Hyde maintained that the hypothermia search was not made at 2:27 a.m. as claimed. Instead, she reaffirmed that it occurred later, stressing the forensic significance of such timestamps in digital evidence.

“There’s no actual option to delete a tab,” Hyde clarified, explaining how digital records function and reinforcing her findings with scientific backing.

Read, 45, of Mansfield, stands trial for second-degree murder and related charges. Prosecutors argue she struck O’Keefe, 46, following a night of drinking and left him to die outside a party in Canton as a blizzard hit.

During the morning session, State Police Trooper Connor Keefe testified about the evidence collected, including pieces of a broken taillight allegedly from Read’s vehicle, stating that they were found near O’Keefe’s body.

As the case unfolds, key witnesses, including McCabe, have faced intense scrutiny, with defense attorneys questioning their credibility. Read’s team has pointed to inconsistencies in witness accounts as they attempt to establish a narrative of police conspiracy against her.

The jury is expected to hear further testimony as the trial continues, with both sides preparing for a lengthy legal battle.