Neurosurgeon Testifies in Karen Read’s Murder Trial on O’Keefe’s Injuries

DEDHAM, Mass. — Neurosurgeon Dr. Aizik Wolf testified Wednesday in the murder trial of Karen Read, claiming that Boston police officer John O'Keefe died from head injuries sustained when he fell backward and hit his head on frozen ground. Read is accused of hitting O’Keefe with her SUV on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him to die in the snow during a blizzard.

In his testimony at Norfolk Superior Court, Wolf emphasized the nature of O’Keefe’s injuries. He explained that the head trauma and hypothermia wouldn’t have caused an immediate death. “The only way he could get this type of injury was to fall backwards, hit the back of his head, and then the resulting energy forces going into his brain and to the base of his skull,” he said. This process could have left him vulnerable for a period before dying.

O’Keefe, 46, sustained a “classic blunt-trauma injury” that resulted in skull fractures and “raccoon eyes,” indicative of significant head trauma. According to Wolf, swelling in the brain from such injuries typically kills victims within 24 to 48 hours, but O’Keefe’s dire situation was exacerbated by the severe cold; his body temperature was found to be just 80 degrees when paramedics discovered him the following morning.

The prosecution argues that Read’s alleged reckless actions—striking O’Keefe and leaving him incapacitated—led to his death. According to Massachusetts defense attorney Grace Edwards, the commonwealth will argue that if the jury cannot confirm that Read caused O’Keefe’s death intentionally, they should still find her guilty of a lesser charge related to her actions that day.

Dr. Wolf, who has treated many similar injuries in his career in Minneapolis, noted that the circumstances under which O’Keefe’s injuries were sustained matched those commonly seen with individuals suffering falls on harsh winter surfaces. His testimony aligns with prior assessments made by the medical examiner, Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, who also linked O’Keefe’s death to blunt impact injuries and hypothermia.

After Dr. Wolf’s testimony, forensic scientist Christina Hanley from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab outlined the analysis of glass and plastic fragments connected to Read’s Lexus. Hanley affirmed that some debris found on O’Keefe’s clothing matched materials from Read’s vehicle, although she could not definitively link them to the night in question.

As the trial gears up for more witness testimony, Karen Read, 45, of Mansfield, could face life in prison if convicted on charges of second-degree murder, reckless conduct, and driving under the influence. Her initial trial ended with a hung jury last year, and she has remained adamant about her innocence.

Testimony is set to continue next week as jurors navigate the complexities surrounding O’Keefe’s tragic death.