Karen Read’s second trial in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police officer John O’Keefe, continues Thursday in Dedham’s Norfolk Superior Court before Judge Beverly Cannone.
This story will be updated throughout the day with the latest testimony.
A Canton firefighter who responded to the scene of O’Keefe’s death is expected to continue his testimony Thursday.
People to know:
Hank Brennan, special prosecutor for the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office
David Yannetti, lawyer for Read
Daniel Whitley, Canton firefighter/paramedic
Michael Camerano, friend of O’Keefe
Nicholas Guarino, Massachusetts State Police digital forensics expert
10:20 a.m. – Cannone calls morning recess
As Brennan meticulously introduced O’Keefe and Read’s calls and texts into evidence with Guarino on the stand, Cannone called for the morning recess.
Guarino has yet to testify about the substance of any of those communications.
10:03 a.m. – Brennan recalls Guarino
After Camerano’s testimony concluded, Brennan called Guarino back to the stand. Guarino testified on Wednesday and is the State Police trooper who conducted extractions of both Read and O’Keefe’s phones.
9:58 a.m. – ‘Do you know if there was any jealousy?’
On re-direct from Brennan, Camerano testified that Read didn’t want other women around O’Keefe.
He said he didn’t know what was going on “behind closed doors.”
9:50 a.m. – Yannetti cross-examines Camerano
On cross-examination from Yannetti, Camerano testified about his daughter’s relationship with Read.
He confirmed his kids went on vacation with Read and O’Keefe and that his daughter occasionally visited Read at her home in Mansfield.
Yannetti asked Camerano if O’Keefe ever suggested he wanted to break up with Read. Camerano said he hadn’t.
Camerano testified that in the month leading up to O’Keefe’s death his relationship with Read appeared normal and affectionate.
9:47 a.m. – Camerano testifies about morning of O’Keefe’s death
On the morning of O’Keefe’s death, Camerano said he woke up to several missed calls from his wife and from Read.
He said he went to O’Keefe’s house that morning to pick up O’Keefe’s niece.
“She looked distraught,” Camerano said.
A couple hours later, he received a phone call from O’Keefe’s brother, Paul. At that point, he said he knew O’Keefe had died.
Camerano teared up as he recalled driving O’Keefe’s niece home. He said he returned to the home the next day.
9:40 a.m. – Camerano takes the stand
Camerano, a friend of O’Keefe’s, was the next witness called by the prosecution.
He said he grew close to O’Keefe and his family when his children began playing sports with O’Keefe’s niece and nephew.
Camerano testified about meeting up with O’Keefe on the night of Jan. 28, 2022. The pair went out to C.F. McCarthy’s to celebrate his daughter and O’Keefe’s niece getting into Bishop Feehan for high school.
While they were at the bar, they met up with another friend, Curt Roberts, and Read. Camerano left the bar around 9:30 p.m., he said.
9:35 a.m. – Brigid Meehan takes the stand
Meehan works at the Waterfall Bar and Grille in Canton, another bar visited by O’Keefe and Read.
She confirmed the bar has video surveillance cameras inside and that she turned over footage to the Massachusetts State Police.
Brennan played a video clip from inside the bar on Jan. 28, 2022 and asked Meehan if it was accurate. She confirmed it was and concluded her testimony.
Yannetti did not cross examine her.
9:30 a.m. – Jean DeMulis takes the stand
The next witness to take the stand, Jean DeMulis, said she had been the general manager at C.F. McCarthy’s, a restaurant and bar in Canton, for six years. McCarthy’s is one of the bars O’Keefe and Read visited before his death.
Brennan began his direct examination by asking DeMulis about the bar’s video system. She recalled two detectives coming to the bar seeking video footage from Jan. 28, 2022.
DeMulis said she remembered Sgt. Yuriy Bukhenik downloading videos from the bar. Brennan then played a video clip from inside the bar, which DeMulis confirmed was an accurate depiction of its interior.
Brennan ended his questioning of DeMulis there, and Yannetti declined to cross examine her.
9:25 a.m. – Brennan conducts re-direct of Whitley
On re-direct examination, Whitley said he distinctly remembered the conversation with Read where she asked if a person could survive in the snow for many hours without a jacket.
Whitley said he and other paramedics were telling stories to Read to try and give her hope. He said such a remark would not be typically included in a report.
Brennan asked Whitley if he had “secret meetings” with Kerry Roberts, another witness and a neighbor, to “corroborate some conspiracy” at a block party.
Whitley chuckled and said he hadn’t.
Canton firefighter and paramedic Daniel Whitley on the witness stand during the second murder trial of Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court Wednesday, April 23, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)AP
9:15 a.m. – Whitley pressed on grand jury testimony
Yannetti forcefully questioned Whitley about his testimony before a grand jury in April 2022.
Before the grand jury, Whitley did not say Read repeatedly asked first responders if a person could survive outside in the snow for many hours. He mentioned the remark both at the first trial and under direct examination Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Whitley testified Read asked if a person who was sitting outside could survive in the snow without a jacket.
“Was that the first time that you testified under oath that Ms. Read said or asked about him sitting outside?” Yannetti asked.
Whitley appeared confused by the line of questioning, and said he was not quoting Read verbatim.
“It could’ve been a different word,” he said.
9:10 a.m. – Yannetti resumes cross-examination of Whitley
When Whitley returned to the stand, Yannetti questioned him about Read’s behavior when she arrived at the hospital on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.
Specifically, Yannetti pressed Whitley on his perception that Read was unwilling to give a urine sample. Yannetti asked Whitley if he was aware Read was on her period. Whitley said he was.
9 a.m. – Cannone allows prosecution to play clip
Before bringing the jury in Thursday morning, Cannone allowed Brennan’s request to play a clip of an interview Read conducted for a docuseries covering the case.
In it, Read appears to mock O’Keefe’s mother, Peggy, and describes a conversation she recalls having on the morning of O’Keefe’s death.
Jackson had argued against the introduction of the clip, saying its only purpose was to vilify Read.
8:30 a.m.
Read, 45, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of O’Keefe, who was found outside the home of a fellow Boston police officer in Canton on Jan. 29, 2022.
Norfolk County prosecutors say Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV while driving intoxicated. Read’s attorneys say her car never struck O’Keefe and that others are to blame for his death.
Karen Read murder case
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