DEDHAM, Mass. — Witness testimony in the Karen Read murder trial resumed Monday morning after jurors traveled on Friday to the scene where the body of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe was found.
Monday’s testimony started with Canton Police Lt. Paul Gallagher on the stand. Upon arriving at the scene of O’Keefe’s death, Gallagher said he spotted “light pink spots in the snow” and that investigators “decided to process the scene with a leaf blower.”
Gallagher was also asked by Read’s attorney Alan Jackson if he looked around the house where O’Keefe was found for signs of a struggle or fight. He said: “No.”
Jackson went on to ask Gallagher about a photo of a Stop & Shop bag containing red Solo cups with blood in them that was placed near Read’s Lexus SUV. Jackson suggested an opportunity for evidence tampering.
Canton Police Lt. Paul Gallagher
When Canton Police Sgt. Sean Goode was called to the stand after Gallagher, Jennifer McCabe’s 911 call was played in court.
Canton Police Sgt. Sean Goode
“There’s a man passed out in the snow,” the caller stated. “There’s a guy unresponsive in the snow...I think he’s dead, you guys got to get here.”
Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally alleged that a distraught Read was the one who could be heard in the background of the call.
Jurors went to 34 Fairview Road in Canton to see the location where O’Keefe was discovered on his back near a flagpole in the front yard about 10 feet from the street, without a pulse, and covered in snow on Jan. 29, 2022.
Karen Read’s Lexus LX SUV was also brought to the scene for the jury The entire right rear tail light housing had been removed.
Karen Read's Lexus SUV
Karen Read's Lexus SUV
Karen Read's Lexus SUV
Karen Read's Lexus SUV
Karen Read's Lexus SUV
Karen Read's Lexus SUV
Karen Read's Lexus SUV
Karen Read's Lexus SUV
Karen Read's Lexus SUV
Once back in court, Canton Fire LT. Greg Woodbury testified he was called back to the scene to evaluate Read. He said a fellow firefighter told him Read repeatedly said “I hit him” before she threatened self-harm.
“She appeared very distraught, very upset. You know initially just trying to explain the situation to her about going to the hospital with the section 12, which is someone having a psychological issue,” Woodbury said.
Canton Fire Lt. Greg Woodbury (Canton Fire Lt. Greg Woodbury)
Also in court on Friday, a picture of O’Keefe’s right arm was shown with injuries on it. The defense said those marks are dog bites.
The state is using Read’s cracked right taillight as evidence she ran down O’Keefe in reverse with her SUV after a night of drinking.
Prosecutors say Read dropped O’Keefe off at a house party 34 Fairview Road just after midnight. As Read made a three-point turn, she allegedly struck O’Keefe and drove away, leaving him to die as a blizzard raged.
Read’s lawyers plan to argue during the trial that someone other than Read was responsible for O’Keefe’s death but have only floated a theory that he was beaten inside 34 Fairview Road and left for dead outside. The defense has criticized investigators for failing to search the house where the party was held to see if a fight had occurred and argued his injuries were consistent with being beaten up.
Read, 44, of Mansfield, faces several charges including second-degree murder in O’Keefe’s death.
Fatal hit-and-run: Karen Read, 41, of Mansfield, Mass., is charged with manslaughter in the Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, death of Boston police Officer John O’Keefe. O'Keefe, 46, was off duty at the time of his death. (Boston 25 News, Boston Police Department)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial FILE - Karen Read sits in court during jury selection for her murder trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. Read's trial is scheduled to begin Monday, April 29. (David McGlynn//New York Post via AP, Pool,File) (David McGlynn/AP)
Karen Read trial Day 1
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, left, leaves Norfolk Superior Court with her attorney Alan Jackson, right, after the opening day of her trial, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by intentionally driving her SUV into him. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
APTOPIX Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, right, is flanked by Massachusetts State Police while leaving Norfolk Superior Court after the opening day of her trial, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by intentionally driving her SUV into him. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read leaves Norfolk Superior Court after the opening day of her trial, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by intentionally driving her SUV into him. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial FILE - Karen Read, of Mansfield, Mass., center, departs Norfolk Superior Court following a day of jury selection, April 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. Read's trial is scheduled to begin Monday, April 29. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read leaves Norfolk Superior Court after the opening day of her trial, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by intentionally driving her SUV into him. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Karen Read opening statements begin
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Karen Read
Aidan Kearney, seen here in the green shirt, attends an August hearing in the Karen Read case
Aidan Kearney, seen here in the green shirt, attends an August hearing in the Karen Read case
Karen Read supporters
Karen Read Karen Read, facing a murder charge in the death of an off-duty Boston police officer, was ordered held on $100,000 bail.
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read
U.S. Attorney ‘does not object’ to release of letters with feds in Karen Read case
Karen Read
Karen Read new in court
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read
read boston officer
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read
Karen Read
Officer John O'Keefe
Karen Read John O'Keefe High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer
Karen Read John O'Keefe High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer
Karen Read John O'Keefe High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer
Karen Read John O'Keefe High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer
Karen Read John O'Keefe High bail for girlfriend charged with manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston police officer
Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe (Boston Police Department)
Karen Read is arraigned in Stoughton District court accused of manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston Police officer John O'Keefe Karen Read is arraigned in Stoughton District court accused of manslaughter in death of off-duty Boston Police officer John O'Keefe