Karen Read Case: Cold Blooded Murderer or Cover-Up? The VERY Controversial Case & A Deep Dive

SERIALously - The Podcast
6 Apr 202492:05

Summary

TLDRIn this episode of Serial, host Annie Elise delves into the controversial case of Karen Reed, who is accused of murdering her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe. The case is complicated by allegations of a cover-up involving law enforcement and a mysterious Google search about dying in the cold. As Karen's trial approaches, new evidence emerges, including the revelation that the lead investigator may have had undisclosed personal ties to key players in the case, casting doubt on the investigation's integrity and raising questions about Karen's guilt.

Takeaways

  • 🔍 The case revolves around Karen Reed, who is accused of hitting and killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, on January 28th, 2022.
  • 👩‍⚖️ Karen Reed's defense team insists on her innocence and alleges a potential cover-up involving state and local police, suggesting that O'Keefe was assaulted inside a house and left outside.
  • 🚨 The prosecution argues that Reed ran over O'Keefe and left the scene after a night of drinking, basing their case on evidence such as matching red plastic from Reed's tail light found at the scene.
  • 🧬 Forensic data and surveillance video information are crucial to the case, with both sides interpreting the evidence differently.
  • 📱 Text messages and voicemails between Reed and O'Keefe reveal a turbulent relationship, with O'Keefe wanting to end the relationship and Reed expressing anger and hate towards him.
  • 🔎 The defense claims that O'Keefe's injuries were consistent with an animal attack and points to the involvement of a German Shepherd owned by the homeowner of the house where O'Keefe was found dead.
  • 📅 The trial has faced multiple delays and legal battles, including a federal investigation into the arrest and prosecution of Reed, and the potential misconduct by the prosecution and lead investigator Trooper Michael Proctor.
  • 🤝 Social connections between Proctor and the Albert family, where O'Keefe's body was found, raise questions about the objectivity of the investigation.
  • 🚗 An accident reconstructionist hired by the FBI found that O'Keefe's injuries were inconsistent with being hit by Reed's car, adding a layer of complexity to the case.
  • 📢 The case has garnered significant public attention and support for Reed, with many people rallying outside the courthouse in her defense.

Q & A

  • What personal struggles was the host of Serial dealing with at the beginning of the episode?

    -The host of Serial was dealing with jaw issues which required a surgical procedure. She mentioned that her jaw pain was finally under control, but she was still experiencing swelling and nerve bruising that affected her speech and made her mouth move differently.

  • What was the controversy surrounding the case of Karen Reed?

    -The controversy surrounding the case of Karen Reed was that she was accused of hitting her boyfriend, John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer, with her car and then leaving him to die in the cold. The case is complex due to conflicting evidence, allegations of a cover-up involving law enforcement, and the fact that mainstream media outlets were openly speculating about a potential murder or cover-up.

  • What happened on the night of January 28th, 2022, according to the prosecution's version of events?

    -According to the prosecution, on the night of January 28th, 2022, Karen Reed and John O'Keefe were bar-hopping and were invited to a fellow police officer's house for an afterparty. Prosecutors allege that Karen, in a drunken rage, reversed her Lexus SUV and hit John, then drove off and left him to die in the cold.

  • What is Karen Reed's defense team alleging happened on the night of John O'Keefe's death?

    -Karen Reed's defense team alleges that John went into the house for the afterparty and something must have happened inside the house after she left. They believe that whatever happened inside escalated quickly and then John was placed outside the house where he was found dead in the morning.

  • The defense and prosecution disagreed on the interpretation of the same video and digital evidence. The defense alleges a cover-up by the Massachusetts State Police, implying that multiple law enforcement agents are involved in a murder and that all of those officers have extremely close ties to a Massachusetts State Trooper who led the investigation into Karen from the start.

    -The defense and prosecution disagreed on the interpretation of the same video and digital evidence. The defense alleges a cover-up by the Massachusetts State Police, implying that multiple law enforcement agents are involved in a murder and that all of those officers have extremely close ties to a Massachusetts State Trooper who led the investigation into Karen from the start.

  • What happened on the night Karen and John went out with their friends?

    -Karen and John went out with their friends, including other Boston police officers, to local bars and later to the home of another Boston police officer for a continuation of the party. This was the night before John was found dead outside the house.

  • What was the cause of John O'Keefe's death according to the medical examiner?

    -The medical examiner found that John O'Keefe's death was due to significant blunt force trauma injuries that occurred prior to him becoming hypothermic. The hypothermia was a contributing factor to his death, along with the brain bleeding and possible involvement of a physical altercation or fight.

  • What was the significance of the broken tail light on Karen's Lexus SUV?

    -The broken tail light on Karen's Lexus SUV was significant because it was part of the evidence suggesting that Karen may have hit John with her car. A piece of red plastic matching the tail light was found at the scene where John was found, and shards of a cocktail glass were embedded in the bumper of the SUV.

  • What were the charges against Karen Reed initially and how did they change over time?

    -Karen Reed was initially charged with manslaughter, motor vehicular homicide, and leaving the scene of a collision that caused a death. However, after a grand jury was presented with more information, her charges were upgraded to second-degree murder.

  • What is the main argument of Karen Reed's defense team?

    -Karen Reed's defense team argues that she is innocent and that there was foul play by other parties inside the house where John was found dead. They suggest that John was assaulted before being left outside and that there is a potential cover-up involving state and local police.

  • What was the significance of the Google search made by Jennifer McCabe?

    -The Google search made by Jennifer McCabe, inquiring about how long it takes to die in the cold, was significant because it was made hours before John O'Keefe's body was discovered. This raised suspicions and added to the complexity of the case, as it could potentially suggest foreknowledge of the crime.

  • What was the role of the dog in the case?

    -The defense team suggested that the dog, owned by Brian Albert, might have attacked John O'Keefe. They pointed out that the injuries on John's arm were consistent with an animal attack and that the dog was rehomed mysteriously after the incident. This theory was supported by the fact that Brian Albert admitted the dog was not great with strangers.

  • What was the significance of the phone records and text messages between John and Karen?

    -The phone records and text messages between John and Karen showed that they were having relationship problems and that John wanted to break up with her. This could potentially provide a motive for the crime, as suggested by the prosecution.

  • What was the impact of the federal investigation on the case?

    -The federal investigation added another layer of complexity to the case. It was revealed that the lead investigator, Trooper Michael Proctor, might have had a personal relationship with some of the involved parties, which could potentially bias the investigation. The defense team used this information to question the integrity of the case against Karen Reed.

  • What was the public's reaction to Karen Reed's case?

    -There was a significant amount of public support for Karen Reed. Many people rallied outside the courthouse in her support, which is unusual for a case involving the murder of a police officer. This could potentially indicate a level of doubt about Karen's guilt or a belief in a potential cover-up or conspiracy.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Podcast Introduction and Personal Update

The host welcomes the audience to a new episode of the Serial podcast, disclosing a recent medical procedure that has temporarily affected their appearance and speech. They provide context for the situation, including the nature of their jaw issues, the ineffective Botox treatment, and the more invasive procedure they underwent. Despite still recovering and experiencing swelling and nerve bruising, the host decides to continue recording to share important cases, albeit with more media and b-roll footage due to their current insecurities about their appearance.

05:00

🕵️‍♂️ Case Introduction: The Mysterious Death of John O'Keefe

The host delves into the controversial case of Karen Reed, a finance professor accused of causing the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe. The case began as a conspiracy theory but has since gained mainstream media attention, with discussions of a potential cover-up. The host outlines the events of January 28th, 2022, when Reed and O'Keefe went bar-hopping and were invited to a fellow officer's house party. The details of what happened next are disputed, with prosecutors alleging Reed hit O'Keefe with her SUV in a fit of rage, while Reed's defense team suggests a cover-up involving multiple law enforcement agents.

10:03

🔍 Examining the Evidence: Witnesses and Assertions

The host presents the conflicting accounts from witnesses and the evidence collected from the scene. Friends of Reed and O'Keefe who were present on the night of the incident provide varying testimonies, and the host discusses the forensic data and surveillance video that both the defense and prosecution interpret differently. The case becomes a battle of experts, with the defense alleging a conspiracy and cover-up by the Massachusetts State Police, implying that multiple officers are involved in a murder.

15:05

🚨 The Night of January 28th: Sequence of Events

The host reconstructs the sequence of events on January 28th, detailing the night's activities, the arrival at the house party, and the discovery of O'Keefe's body. The narrative includes the testimonies of various witnesses, the timeline of text messages and phone calls, and the actions of Reed and O'Keefe throughout the night. The host also describes the emergency response and the initial police investigation, highlighting the confusion and distress of those involved.

20:05

🩺 John O'Keefe's Autopsy and Injuries

The host discusses the results of John O'Keefe's autopsy, which revealed multiple injuries, including a laceration to the back of his head, skull fractures, and brain bleeding. The medical examiner's findings suggest that the significant blunt force trauma occurred before O'Keefe became hypothermic. The host also describes the condition of O'Keefe's clothing and the potential contributing factors to his death, including hypothermia and the extensive blunt force trauma.

25:08

📱 Analysis of Phone Records and Voicemails

The host examines the phone records and voicemails between John O'Keefe and Karen Reed, revealing problems in their relationship, frequent arguments, and O'Keefe's desire to end the relationship. The analysis of the digital evidence provides insight into the couple's interactions and Reed's emotional state leading up to the incident. The host also discusses the collection and examination of evidence from Reed's vehicle, including broken glass fragments and scratches, as well as the results of tests conducted on the SUV's rear backup camera system.

30:08

👩‍⚖️ Karen Reed's Arrest and Legal Battle

The host outlines the legal proceedings following Karen Reed's arrest, detailing the initial charges and the subsequent upgrading of charges to second-degree murder. The defense's theories and strategies are discussed, including their allegations of foul play by others inside the house and a potential cover-up involving state and local police. The host also mentions the public support for Reed and the impact of the case on the community.

35:09

🔎 Unraveling the Mystery: Defense and Prosecution Theories

The host explores the defense's theory that John O'Keefe was attacked inside the house and moved outside later, and their allegations of a cover-up involving law enforcement. The host also addresses the prosecution's stance, which maintains that Reed ran over O'Keefe and left the scene. The defense's claims about the involvement of a dog and the injuries sustained by O'Keefe, as well as the potential destruction of evidence, are discussed in detail.

40:11

📢 Public Reactions and the Role of Social Media

The host discusses the public's reactions to the case, including the harassment of witnesses and the impact of social media. The district attorney's statement condemning the harassment and the spread of false narratives is highlighted. The host emphasizes the importance of a fair trial and the dangers of trying cases in the court of public opinion.

45:12

🎥 Surveillance Footage and Tail Light Controversy

The host analyzes the surveillance footage that shows Karen Reed backing up her car and the potential damage to the tail light. The defense's claim that the tail light damage could have occurred during the alleged collision with O'Keefe is discussed, as well as the possibility that the damage could have happened at a different time. The host considers the reasonable doubt surrounding the tail light's damage and the implications for the case.

50:14

📱 Further Phone Activity and Investigation Updates

The host delves into the phone activity of Jennifer McCabe, who is accused of searching 'how long to die in the cold' on Google, and the implications of this search for the case. The timeline of events and the potential involvement of other individuals in the case are explored. The host also discusses the district attorney's response to the case and the ongoing investigation.

55:15

🕵️‍♂️ Federal Investigation and Accusations of Conspiracy

The host reports on the federal investigation into the case, the potential involvement of Trooper Proctor in planting evidence, and the allegations of a conspiracy. The host examines the claims made by the defense, the responses from the involved parties, and the impact of these accusations on the case and the community.

00:16

🎥 Spotlight on the Defense and Public Support

The host discusses the defense's strategy, the public's support for Karen Reed, and the unusual nature of this support given the high-profile nature of the case. The host reflects on the implications of this support and the potential influence of public opinion on the case's outcome.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Serial podcast

A podcast that features true crime stories, often presented in a serialized format, allowing listeners to follow the narrative over multiple episodes. In the context of the script, the podcast is discussing a controversial case involving a woman named Karen Reed and her boyfriend, a police officer named John O'Keefe.

💡Karen Reed

A 42-year-old finance professor from Mansfield, Massachusetts, who is at the center of a legal case being discussed in the podcast. She is accused of running over her boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in the cold.

💡John O'Keefe

A 46-year-old Boston police officer and the boyfriend of Karen Reed. He was found dead outside a house after a night of bar-hopping, and the circumstances of his death are the subject of the legal case discussed in the podcast.

💡Legal case

A formal accusation or set of accusations brought against a person or organization in a court of law. In the context of the script, the legal case revolves around the allegations against Karen Reed and the various testimonies, evidence, and theories presented by both the prosecution and the defense.

💡Forensic data

Evidence collected and analyzed through scientific methods, often used in legal investigations to determine facts about a crime. In the podcast, forensic data includes the autopsy report, DNA analysis, and other physical evidence that may help establish what happened to John O'Keefe.

💡Conspiracy theory

A belief that harmful or sinister actions are being secretly carried out by a group of people, often involving complex and secretive plots. In the context of the podcast, the defense team is suggesting a conspiracy theory that law enforcement officers are involved in a murder and cover-up related to the death of John O'Keefe.

💡Mainstream media

Refers to the dominant and widely consumed news outlets, such as newspapers, television, and online platforms, which are known for shaping public opinion and disseminating information to a broad audience. In the script, the mainstream media's coverage of the case is described as unusually bold, suggesting a high-profile and controversial case.

💡Surveillance video

Video footage recorded by monitoring devices, often used for security purposes and as evidence in legal proceedings. In the context of the podcast, surveillance video is a key piece of evidence that both the prosecution and defense interpret differently, leading to conflicting narratives about the events surrounding John O'Keefe's death.

💡Hearing

A legal proceeding where evidence is presented, and testimonies are heard in court. In the context of the script, hearings are part of the legal process where the case against Karen Reed is being examined, and various witnesses and experts provide their accounts and insights.

💡Medical examiner

A forensic pathologist who performs autopsies to determine the cause of death and other medical facts related to a deceased person. In the podcast, the medical examiner's findings are crucial in understanding the injuries sustained by John O'Keefe and in forming the basis for the legal case against Karen Reed.

💡Hypothermia

A medical condition that occurs when a person's body temperature drops below the normal range, usually due to exposure to cold temperatures. In the legal context of the podcast, hypothermia is considered as a contributing factor to John O'Keefe's death, adding complexity to the case.

Highlights

The case revolves around Karen Reed and her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, and the controversial circumstances surrounding O'Keefe's death.

Karen Reed has been struggling with jaw issues and underwent a more invasive procedure which has left her swollen and affecting her speech.

The night of January 28th, 2022, Karen and John went bar hopping and were invited to a fellow officer's house for an afterparty, leading to a night of conflicting accounts and allegations.

Prosecutors claim Karen, in a drunken rage, hit John with her Lexus SUV and left him to die in the cold.

Karen's defense argues that John went into the house for the afterparty and something must have happened inside, leading to his death outside the house the following morning.

The case has sparked a media frenzy, with mainstream sources questioning if it's a cold-blooded murder or a cover-up, highlighting the complexity and controversy of the situation.

Karen Reed is a 42-year-old Finance Professor with no prior criminal history, and her defense team alleges a potential cover-up involving Massachusetts State Police.

The defense suggests a possible connection between John's death and other parties at the afterparty, including the homeowner and his dog.

The case lacks clear-cut evidence such as surveillance video or DNA, leading to a reliance on witness testimonies and creating a 'fog of gray' around the events.

John O'Keefe was a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department and his death has left many in the community shocked and devastated.

The investigation into Karen Reed's case has uncovered a series of inconsistencies, potential cover-ups, and a federal probe into the conduct of the lead investigator, Trooper Michael Proctor.

The trial has been pushed back multiple times due to ongoing investigations and the uncovering of new evidence that could potentially be exculpatory for Karen Reed.

An independent accident reconstructionist hired by the FBI found that John O'Keefe's injuries were inconsistent with being hit by a car, casting doubt on the prosecution's case.

The defense alleges that Karen Reed's phone was seized as part of a witness intimidation conspiracy involving a blogger known as Turtle Boy, and that she was selectively targeted due to her public profile.

The district attorney's office has been accused of misconduct for not disclosing the federal investigation into the case and the lead investigator's personal connections to witnesses.

The case has garnered significant public interest and support for Karen Reed, with many rallying outside the courthouse in her defense.

Transcripts

00:00

[Music]

00:02

hey True Crime besties welcome back to

00:04

an all new episode of Serial

00:24

asly hey everybody welcome back to an

00:27

all new episode of Serial asly with me

00:30

Annie Elise boy oh boy do we have a case

00:34

to talk about today however before we

00:37

get into that I just wanted to jump on

00:40

and kind of do an announcement

00:42

disclaimer something like that you might

00:44

notice that my mouth is moving a little

00:46

bit differently and that I look a little

00:49

bit swollen don't worry it's not Botox

00:51

it's not filler I know you guys love to

00:53

say that but truth is I haven't gotten

00:55

Botox or filler in like well over a year

00:57

actually I take that back I did get

00:59

botox for my jaw and my masser muscles

01:01

before I had my most recent procedure um

01:04

as a last Stitch effort before having

01:06

surgery but anyways that kind of brings

01:08

me to that so basically most of you know

01:11

I have been struggling with a lot of jaw

01:13

issues since fall of last year I had a

01:15

small procedure done in December and it

01:18

seemed to have helped but it only really

01:20

helped for about 6 to 8 weeks and then

01:23

the pain came back and it was even more

01:25

severe so we did the master Botox hoping

01:27

that if we relaxed the muscle that maybe

01:29

that would fix it it didn't big surprise

01:32

so recently I went in and I had a more

01:34

invasive procedure now the good news in

01:37

all of this is that my jaw pain is

01:38

finally under control like I think we

01:41

finally figured it out fingers crossed

01:44

the bad news is I'm very swollen still I

01:47

have some nerve bruising as well and so

01:51

it's making my mouth move a little bit

01:53

differently it's also affecting my

01:55

speech a little bit it's getting better

01:57

and better every single day but it it's

02:00

not 100% I thought that the recovery was

02:02

only going to be a few weeks but it's

02:04

proving to take a little bit longer I

02:07

was going to take a break and just not

02:08

record until it got better but I was

02:10

like you know what no I can speak a lot

02:13

of these cases need to be known I'm

02:14

going to just do it anyway but that

02:16

being said you might notice that things

02:19

look different and I just wanted to come

02:20

on here and be transparent with what's

02:22

going on a lot of you I saw from my most

02:25

recent video on the Ruby Frankie case

02:26

you already knew that and knew that I

02:28

had surgery cuz I had talked about it in

02:30

one of my episodes I think and I had Amy

02:32

my sister actually do headline

02:34

highlights for me the week I had the

02:36

surgery cuz I couldn't speak at all I

02:37

was like closed shut but anyways long

02:40

story short things are swollen my mouth

02:42

is there's some nerve issues which will

02:45

get better it's just going to take time

02:47

and so because of that yeah look I'm

02:52

insecure like so many other people I'm

02:54

self-conscious about things like other

02:56

people so until things get better and

02:59

there's improve movement I am going to

03:00

be adding in more media and more b-roll

03:02

footage over these videos just because I

03:05

personally don't even like seeing the

03:06

inflammation and how how weird it makes

03:09

me look when I'm talking which call me

03:10

vain I it's not vain it's just like it's

03:12

something that bothers me and I'm

03:14

insecure about it I get insecure too

03:15

guys so um but anyways I know that

03:17

there's been some questions about what's

03:19

been going on I noticed um some people

03:21

have noticed that there are some

03:23

differences happening with my mouth and

03:24

so before everybody kind of runs rampant

03:27

and starts talking about all these crazy

03:29

rumors and bring up Botox and fillers

03:30

it's not that it's just I finally got my

03:33

jaw corrected but it is taking longer

03:35

than planned to heal so that's really

03:38

that so the case that we are talking

03:39

about today guys is one that is very

03:41

very controversial it is one that I

03:43

talked about several several months ago

03:46

very briefly it started kind of as like

03:48

a conspiracy case not a lot of people

03:51

were talking about it because it felt

03:53

very heavy into the conspiracy but

03:55

what's crazy is now mainstream media

03:58

sources are even talking about it and

04:01

they're full out point blank on their

04:03

headers while they're talking about it

04:04

they're saying is this a cold-blooded

04:07

murder or is this a cover up now

04:09

generally in any cases that we've seen

04:11

before where there is discussion of

04:13

possibly a cover up or possibly some

04:15

conspiracy media Outlets especially

04:18

mainstream ones never are bold enough to

04:20

like put that point blank as the header

04:22

on their coverage but it has become so

04:25

controversial and there are so many

04:28

different elements to this case that

04:30

could make you side one way or another

04:32

that they're calling it that it's pretty

04:33

wild to see so the case we're talking

04:36

about today is the one of Karen Reed on

04:39

January 28th 2022 Karen Reed and her

04:43

boyfriend Boston police officer johon

04:45

o'keef spent the night bar hopping and

04:48

then later that night they were invited

04:49

to a fellow police officer's house for

04:51

an Afterparty this was in Canton

04:53

Massachusetts so when Karen and John

04:55

arrived at the house Karen decided not

04:57

to get out of the car but Jon did now

05:00

what happened next is Up For Debate

05:02

prosecutors say that Karen was mad at

05:05

John and that in a drunken rage she

05:07

reversed her Lexus SUV and hit him then

05:10

drove off and left him to die in the

05:12

cold Karen on the other hand has a

05:15

completely different story she and her

05:18

defense team say that Jon 100% went into

05:21

that house for the Afterparty and that

05:23

something must have happened inside that

05:25

house after she left they believe that

05:28

whatever happened inside escalated

05:30

quickly and then Jon was placed outside

05:33

of the house where he was then found

05:35

dead in the morning now it's not

05:37

uncommon for criminal cases to have a

05:39

lot of gray areas meaning the jurors are

05:42

tasked with deciding The credibility of

05:44

witnesses to figure out the full story

05:46

right maybe there's some conflicting

05:48

eyewitness testimony or in some cases

05:51

jurors must decide if they believe the

05:52

defendants testimony from the stand but

05:55

typically this is coupled with some

05:57

black and white hard facts surveillance

05:59

video DNA digital evidence all of this

06:02

is pretty standard we see this all the

06:04

time right well imagine a scenario that

06:07

completely defies logic and just throws

06:10

all of that out the window and it turns

06:12

what should be black and white into a

06:14

massive gray area and that's exactly

06:17

what the Karen Reed case is just a deep

06:21

fog of gray now the reason that this

06:23

case is so polarizing with both sides

06:26

having such strong beliefs stems from a

06:28

few issues

06:30

this case has forensic data as well as

06:32

surveillance video information typically

06:34

seen as black and white it either exists

06:37

or it doesn't the video shows something

06:39

or it doesn't right well the defense and

06:41

the prosecution believe that the same

06:43

video shows two different things same

06:46

with the digital evidence I mean the

06:48

literal receipts they can't agree on

06:50

what that shows either and it's kind of

06:52

turned into this like Battle of the

06:54

experts on what the digital evidence

06:56

actually says see the defense is

06:58

alleging a cover up by the Massachusetts

07:01

State Police implying that multiple law

07:03

enforcement agents are involved in a

07:05

murder and that all of those officers

07:07

have extremely close ties to a

07:09

massachusett State Trooper the same

07:11

trooper that led the investigation into

07:13

Karen from the get-go there's a missing

07:16

dog there's missing flooring and on top

07:19

of that the US attorney's office of

07:21

Massachusetts has launched a federal

07:23

investigation into Karen's arrest and

07:26

prosecution now you might be wondering

07:28

what are you even talking about Annie

07:29

how on Earth did we get here so let me

07:33

break it down for you because this is a

07:34

pretty wild case Karen Reed is a

07:38

42-year-old Finance Professor from

07:40

Mansfield Massachusetts Karen started

07:42

dating John o'keef a Boston police

07:44

officer back in

07:45

2019 they actually had first dated in

07:48

their 20s before then later reconnecting

07:51

now Karen has a home in Mansfield but

07:53

once she and John became more serious I

07:55

mean for the most part she always stayed

07:57

at his house so it was almost as though

07:58

they lived together now let's get right

08:01

to the night in question which is

08:02

January 28th 2022 it was supposed to be

08:06

a normal Friday night typical the normal

08:08

kind of thing they would do JN and Karen

08:10

planned to just go to some local bars

08:12

have some drinks and meet up with some

08:14

of Jon's friends some of whom were also

08:16

fellow Boston police officers and that's

08:19

when the events in this case began to

08:21

unfold do you remember the massive

08:23

snowstorm that hit most of the US but

08:26

especially parts of the Northeast back

08:28

on January 9th 2022 this storm it had it

08:32

all I mean just insane amounts of snow

08:34

hurricane force wind gust and here along

08:36

the coastline just south of Boston we

08:38

had incredible waves that were banging

08:40

up against this newly reinforced seaw

08:42

wall and up over this this road and

08:44

these homes completely intuned encased

08:47

in ice and it's just a surreal scene

08:50

here storm after storm single digit

08:52

temperatures here again but looking at

08:54

this just a surreal scene that

08:56

highlights just how explosive and

08:58

historic this storm was well earlier

09:00

that morning at 6:04 a.m. a frantic

09:02

police call came into the department in

09:04

Canton Massachusetts a small suburb of

09:07

Boston the caller on the other end said

09:09

that a man John O'Keefe a Boston police

09:12

officer was lying in the middle of the

09:14

street and not responsive and that this

09:17

was outside of a home at 34 Fair viiew

09:19

Road officers sarif and meany were then

09:22

dispatched to the chilling scene when

09:25

they arrived they were met with three

09:28

distressed women in the front yard area

09:30

of the house waving desperately for

09:32

attention two of them were hunched over

09:34

JN trying to revive him with CPR the

09:38

women were identified as Karen Reed

09:40

Jennifer McCabe and Carrie Roberts

09:43

officer sarif felt Jon's lifeless body

09:46

and he was cold and he wasn't breathing

09:49

Canton Fire and EMS arrived just moments

09:52

later and Jon was rushed to the Good

09:54

Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton but

09:57

despite all of their efforts hours later

09:59

John O'Keefe was declared dead so let's

10:02

talk about John for just a minute here

10:04

because John was a 16-year veteran of

10:07

the Boston Police Department he was

10:09

known for his dedication not just to his

10:11

work but also to his family and his

10:14

friends Beyond his role as a police

10:16

officer he played a pivotal role in his

10:18

personal life as the sole caregiver to

10:21

his niece and nephew and he was only 46

10:23

years old when he died his tragic death

10:26

left not only his family but many people

10:29

in the Community just shocked and

10:30

completely devastated and more than that

10:33

the night before he was with Karen and

10:35

they had met up with Jon's friends a

10:38

huge group of people which included many

10:40

fellow Boston police officers and some

10:43

of their wives some of whom were even

10:45

related to each other and the house

10:46

where John was lying outside of where he

10:48

was found was owned by another Boston

10:51

police officer so how could this have

10:53

happened who would do this that's a

10:55

pretty Brazen move to kill a police

10:58

officer outside the home of another

11:00

police officer with a house full of more

11:03

police officers so naturally the next

11:05

thing that the Canton police officers

11:07

had to do was start their investigation

11:09

and get to the bottom of this who was

11:11

responsible what happened as other

11:14

Canton officers arrived at the scene

11:15

where Jon was found they started sifting

11:18

through the Mounds of snow they found a

11:20

broken cocktail glass and there were

11:22

splashes of red by the snow near it

11:25

thinking this was blood officers began

11:27

to process the cocktail glass as

11:29

evidence they began to question one of

11:31

the women Jennifer McCabe who was one of

11:33

the women at the scene when that 911

11:35

call came in Jennifer said that the

11:38

night before she was at the waterfall

11:40

bar and grill with her husband Matthew

11:42

Karen and John met up with them and with

11:44

a group of friends and they were all

11:46

hanging out at the waterfall around

11:48

11:00 p.m. she said that there were

11:50

several people in the group at the bar

11:52

and later on at the home on 34 Fairview

11:55

she said that Karen looked fine and

11:56

appeared to be happy and she said they

11:58

were AC very normal they weren't arguing

12:01

and nothing stood out to her it wasn't

12:03

just Jennifer who noticed this every

12:05

witness that the Troopers later

12:07

interviewed echoed the same sentiment

12:09

the night was calm it was friendly and

12:12

everyone seemed to be in a really good

12:14

mood so as the bar was beginning to

12:16

close around midnight Jennifer invited

12:18

JN and Karen to continue the party over

12:20

at her sister Nicole Albert's home right

12:23

there on 34 Fairview Road as Jennifer

12:26

was walking up to her car she received a

12:28

text message from John asking where to

12:31

this was at 12:14 a.m. Jennifer replied

12:35

with the address of 34 Fair viiew Road

12:38

at 12:18 a.m. John called Jennifer to

12:40

ask more specifically where the house

12:42

was located on Fair viiew while inside

12:45

the house she looked out the window and

12:47

saw a black SUV consistent with Karen's

12:49

car which is a 2021 black Lexus SUV pull

12:53

up in front of the house Jennifer then

12:55

texted John at 12:31 a.m. saying hello

12:59

and again at 12:40 a.m. saying pull up

13:01

behind me referencing to her vehicle's

13:04

parking spot within the driveway to the

13:05

home located right there on the right

13:07

side of the property while looking out

13:10

the window Jennifer said she saw the

13:12

black SUV shift from its original spot

13:14

on the street near the driveway to the

13:16

left side of the property which is where

13:19

Jon's body was found the following

13:21

morning at 12:45 a.m. Jennifer texted

13:24

John again saying hello and shortly

13:27

after she saw the black SUV depart part

13:29

from the property around 4:53 a.m.

13:32

Jennifer got a call from Karen Karen was

13:35

searching for John the call came in from

13:38

Jon's niece's phone though because Karen

13:40

asked her to call Jennifer for her

13:42

Jennifer picked up and chatted briefly

13:44

with the niece and then Karen got on the

13:46

phone Jennifer told the officers that

13:49

Karen sounded extremely distraught and

13:51

said that she was driving to Jennifer's

13:53

house apparently she told Jennifer that

13:56

her last memory of Jon was back at the

13:59

waterfall bar Jennifer corrected her by

14:02

saying that she had seen them leave the

14:03

bar together and that she saw Karen's

14:06

black Lexus outside the fair viiew house

14:09

well then being confronted with that

14:11

information Karen's story changed a

14:13

little bit Karen told Jennifer that the

14:15

last time that she had seen John maybe

14:17

they had an argument Karen made it over

14:20

to Jennifer's place around 5:30 a.m.

14:23

shortly after she got there Carrie

14:24

Roberts showed up because she also got

14:26

some frantic phone calls that morning

14:28

from Karen freaking out about not being

14:30

able to find JN so because of how upset

14:33

Karen was when she arrived at Jennifer's

14:34

house Jennifer decided to drive Karen's

14:37

vehicle back to Jon's house with Carrie

14:39

also following in her own car on the way

14:42

to Jon's house Jennifer said that Karen

14:44

suddenly blurted out could I have hit

14:47

him did I hit him then as they were

14:49

pulling up to Jon's house Karen

14:51

mentioned a broken tail light on her SUV

14:55

and when they got out of the car Karen

14:57

was quick to show Jennifer the damage

14:59

Jennifer saw the right rear tail light

15:01

was smashed and missing some pieces then

15:04

the two of them hopped into car's car to

15:06

keep searching for John Karen squeezed

15:09

into the back seat and Carrie took the

15:11

wheel and Jennifer rode shotgun Jennifer

15:14

said while they were driving down Fair

15:15

viiew Road the snow was coming down very

15:18

hard and the wind was no joke making it

15:21

very tough to see much of anything at

15:23

that moment just before they reached the

15:25

street number 34 on Fair viiew Road

15:28

Karen sh it out that she saw Jon by a

15:30

group of trees this caught Jennifer and