Massachusetts murder suspect Karen Read appeared in court again on Monday as her trial continued. She faces charges related to the death of her ex-boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. During the proceedings, DNA experts and a digital forensic scientist provided testimony for the prosecution, establishing a connection between Read and a single strand of hair found on her SUV. They also reinforced the timeline of the events leading up to O’Keefe’s death.
But under cross-examination, a witness with key new evidence for the state revealed what appears to be an exaggerated resume.
O’Keefe, aged 46, was discovered deceased on January 29, 2022. Authorities allege that Read, who is now 45, drove her 2021 Lexus SUV into him and abandoned him to succumb to the winter elements during a blizzard in Canton, a suburb approximately 20 miles from Boston.
Read took her car out of reverse between 12:32:04 and 12:32:12, Burgess testified, based on computer logs recovered from her Lexus.
John O’Keefe (Boston Police Department)
Burgess is set to continue his testimony on Tuesday. Should Read be found guilty of the most serious charge, second-degree murder, she could face a life sentence. In addition, she is charged with driving under the influence, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a fatal incident.
She has pleaded not guilty, and her defense denies her vehicle collided with O’Keefe at all.
