Karen Read’s Murder Trial Continues with Key Witness Testimony

Dedham, Massachusetts — The retrial of Karen Read continued Wednesday, focusing on key witness testimony regarding the death of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe. Read is accused of striking O’Keefe with her vehicle in January 2022 and leaving him outside to die.

On the stand for a second day, Jennifer McCabe, a small-town mother of four, provided crucial details about the events leading up to O’Keefe’s death. McCabe recalled the night of January 28, when friends gathered at a Canton bar before heading to her sister’s home as a snowstorm approached.

McCabe described seeing Read’s SUV parked outside the Albert residence while attempting to contact O’Keefe, who never replied to her texts. “He never texted me again,” McCabe testified. She explained that O’Keefe arrived at the party, and around midnight, the group left the bar for her sister’s house.

According to prosecutors, Read allegedly struck O’Keefe with her SUV after he exited the vehicle. McCabe testified she saw Read’s car move before the tragic incident but stated that O’Keefe did not enter the house that night.

After returning home around 1:30 a.m., McCabe received a call from O’Keefe’s niece around 5 a.m. “I could hear Read screaming in the background,” McCabe said, recalling Read’s claims of a fight with O’Keefe and her denial of being present at the house earlier.

Read’s behavior raised concerns, as McCabe described her as “hysterical” and “erratic.” When Read arrived at McCabe’s home, she expressed doubts about hitting O’Keefe and mentioned a broken taillight. McCabe and others searched for O’Keefe, ultimately discovering his body in the snow outside the Albert home.

McCabe described her shock upon finding O’Keefe and calling 911 as they attempted CPR. During this chaotic moment, she testified that Read was repeatedly asking if O’Keefe was dead and if she had hit him.

“I was frozen. I was shocked,” McCabe said regarding the moment they found O’Keefe’s body. Police later arrived on the scene, and McCabe attempted to comfort Read, who continued expressing confusion and anxiety about the situation.

The defense has alleged that law enforcement officers present during the incident framed Read, claiming she is a victim of a cover-up. McCabe’s testimony, however, supported the prosecution’s narrative of Read’s erratic behavior on that fateful night. As the cross-examination continued, questions emerged regarding the credibility of McCabe’s recollections.

The trial proceeds as both sides prepare for further testimonies, with McCabe’s account remaining a pivotal point in this high-stakes case.