Jury Hears Screams, Accusations in Karen Read's Second Trial

At first glance, it seemed like a tragic accident — a man found unresponsive in the snow outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts. But as investigators pieced together what happened in the early hours of Jan. 29, 2022, the picture became far more complicated.

John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer, was discovered with blunt injuries and signs of hypothermia. His girlfriend, Karen Read, a 45-year-old Mansfield woman, was soon arrested and charged with second-degree murder. She pleaded not guilty. Fast-forward to today, and Read is in the middle of her second murder trial — one that's gripped the public with allegations of conspiracy, cover-ups, and a new batch of emotional voicemails that some say change everything.

'I Hate You': What the Voicemails Reveal

The most recent courtroom developments brought jurors face-to-face with Read's frantic and profanity-laced voicemails — messages she left for O'Keefe as he lay dying in the snow. according to Massachusetts State Police testimony, between 12:33 a.m. and 1:17 a.m., Read called O'Keefe at least 18 times, leaving a total of eight voicemails, as reported by the U.S. Sun.

The messages, some angry and others pleading, painted a portrait of a relationship in turmoil. One voicemail captured her yelling, "John I f------ hate you," while others accused him of cheating and leaving his adopted children alone.

In a 1:10 a.m. voicemail message, Read said, "Yeah, it's one in the morning... f--- you you f------ pervert. You're a f------ pervert."

One voicemail recorded just after 6 a.m. — around the time O'Keefe's body was discovered — reportedly featured a distraught Read screaming, possibly at the scene.

Prosecutors argue these calls show malice. The defense insists they prove confusion and concern.

Competing Narratives: Murder or Cover-Up?

Prosecutors allege Read backed her SUV into O'Keefe, striking him as she dropped him off outside a fellow officer's home after a night of drinking. They claim she then drove off, leaving him to die in freezing temperatures.

But Read's defense team counters with a far different story — one that includes accusations of a cover-up involving local police, missing evidence, and planted taillight fragments. They suggest that O'Keefe was actually attacked inside the house and later moved outside. A shoe found near the scene, blood gathered in a red plastic cup, and questions about the chain of custody for O'Keefe's clothing have only added fuel to their theory.

The prosecution points to forensic analysis showing O'Keefe's DNA on Read's taillight. The defense claims the taillight pieces were tampered with, noting a missing fragment and questioning why proper evidence bags weren't used.

Emotional Testimony and Lingering Doubts

The trial has featured testimony from O'Keefe's niece, who said the couple's relationship had deteriorated and that she heard her uncle say it had "run its course," according to 10WJAR.

She also testified that Read made statements like, "Maybe I hit him," during the chaotic moments after O'Keefe's body was found.

Yet the medical examiner could not definitively say whether O'Keefe's injuries were caused by a vehicle. While the cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma and hypothermia, the manner of death remains undetermined — accident, homicide, or something else entirely.

Why This Case Has Captivated the Country

It's not just the complexity of the evidence or the starkly opposing theories. This case has struck a nerve because it involves a close-knit law enforcement community, a mysterious death, and a woman many see as either a victim of corruption or a cold-hearted killer.

Read's first trial ended in a mistrial in July 2024 after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict. Now, with new evidence on display and emotions running high, this second trial may finally deliver answers — or lead to even more questions.

References: LASHING OUT: Karen Read's Angry Texts and Voicemails to Boyfriend as He Lay Dying Are Read at Murder Trial as She Raged 'I Hate You!' | Niece Testifies About Karen Read's Relationship with John O'Keefe | Karen Read Trial Judge Tells Jury Not to Make Faces, 'No Muttering Under Your Breath' | Karen Read Murder Trial: 2 Forensic Scientists Testify as Attorneys Clash Over New Report