Crime House Daily: First Watch

Episode Title: The Karen Read Jury Leak & An Attempted Playground Kidnapping
Host: Katie Ring
Date: October 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this morning’s “First Watch,” host Katie Ring delves into two breaking true crime stories making national headlines:

• The dramatic developments in the Karen Read case in Massachusetts, including a jury leak scandal, new lawsuits, and questions of conspiracy.
• The controversial case out of Colorado where an attempted schoolyard kidnapping suspect, suffering severe mental illness, was found unfit to stand trial.

Katie provides the latest need-to-know updates while exploring the complexities and ongoing questions surrounding both cases.

1. The Karen Read Case: Jury Leak and Civil Lawsuits

Background Recap ([04:12]–[16:44])

• Incident: On January 28, 2022, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe was found dead outside a Canton, Massachusetts home after a night of drinking and an afterparty.
• Prosecution’s Theory: Karen Read, O'Keefe’s girlfriend, allegedly ran him over in a fit of rage after an argument.
• Defense Narrative: Read claimed she was framed and pointed to potentially corrupt relationships among local law enforcement and partygoers.
• Trial Outcomes:
  • First trial (July 2024): Mistrial due to hung jury.
  • Retrial (June 18, 2025): Read acquitted of all serious charges, convicted only of DUI.

High-Level Details:

• Suspicious behavior among partygoers, mysterious disappearances of evidence (cell phones, family dog), and controversial witness statements plagued the investigation.
• The lead investigator, Michael Proctor, was exposed for bias and inappropriate remarks about Karen Reed, as well as close ties to involved parties.
• “The trial was like a never ending web of personal relationships and accusations.” ([07:45] Katie Ring)

New Civil Actions ([05:50], [15:00])

• Karen Read’s Announcement: At a September 22, 2025 hearing, Read’s attorney, Damon Seligson, declared intentions to sue party hosts (the “McAlberts”: Brian and Nicole Albert, Jennifer and Matthew McCabe), Brian Higgins, and members of the Massachusetts State Police for civil conspiracy and civil rights violations.
• Quote – Judge O’Shea: “Not how the court system likes this stuff to work folks.” ([15:30] Katie Ring quoting Judge Daniel O’Shea)
• The wrongful death lawsuit by O'Keefe's family against Read proceeds, with both sides now escalating fights into civil court.

Jury Leak Scandal ([16:45]–[18:07])

• Grand Jury Secrecy Breached: Jessica Leslie, a grand juror in the Reed case, admitted to leaking confidential information about witnesses and testimony over nearly two years.
  • Leaks included “the names of various witnesses appearing before a federal grand jury, the substance of witness testimony, and other evidence presented to the grand jury.” ([16:45] Katie Ring)
  • Monitored from August 2022 through March 2024.
• Legal Consequences:
  • Charged with criminal contempt (July 11, 2025), pleaded guilty (August 4), sentenced to one day in jail (served) and 24 months of supervised release (September 26).
• Impact: Potentially wasted resources and cast further doubt on the integrity of proceedings.

Notable Quotes

• On the wild trial saga:
  “The trial was like a never ending web of personal relationships and accusations.” ([07:45] Katie Ring)
• On the judge’s response to cross-suits:
  “Not how the court system likes this stuff to work folks.” ([15:30] Judge Daniel O'Shea, as quoted by Katie)
• On the grand juror’s transgressions:
  “Jessica had been disclosing privileged information over the course of almost two years …” ([17:05] Katie Ring)

2. Colorado Playground Kidnapping Attempt: Mental Competency and Legal Loopholes

Incident Details ([19:06]–[26:15])

• Suspect: Solomon Galligan, a transgender woman known as Carmen.
• Event: On April 19, 2024, Galligan entered Black Forest Hills Elementary, attempted to grab an 11-year-old boy, but stumbled and was unable to get away with a child.
  • Children yelled “stranger danger” and ran to safety. Alcohol and substance use suspected.
• Arrest: Located at a nearby Walgreens, Galligan was detained and later charged with second-degree kidnapping.

Legal Proceedings and Mental Health Context

• Galligan’s History: Extensive mental illness diagnoses (ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) and criminal history, including repeated competency questions and psychiatric admissions.
• Competency Hearings: Subjected to four mental evaluations (2024–2025); ultimately found not competent or restorable.
• Colorado Law: Under new law (summer 2024), judges must dismiss cases if defendants are not and cannot be rendered competent.
  • On August 7, 2025, charges dismissed and Galligan ordered to short-term civil commitment.
• Family and Legal System Frustrations:
  • “Galligan’s family has spoken up about how much they love her but don’t have the capabilities of helping her the way she needs to be helped.” ([23:28] Katie Ring)
  • Parents of victims voiced outrage at the lack of obligation to inform them upon Galligan’s future release.
  • Calls underway to revisit Colorado competency statutes.

Notable Quotes

• On treatment gaps:
  “Her wish for Galligan is that if she qualifies for release from the state hospital, she’ll be put into a facility that can and will treat her long term.” ([25:32] Katie Ring on defense attorney Becca Butler Dines’ stance)
• On systemic failures:
  “This is at least the fourth time that charges have been brought against her and had to be dropped for similar reasons.” ([24:55] Katie Ring)
• On legal dilemmas for victims’ families:
  “When Galligan is released, there is no requirement to notify the parents of the kids who were on the playground that day…” ([25:46] Katie Ring)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:12] – Karen Read trial summary recap
• [05:50] – Announcement of Read’s civil suits, including targets named
• [07:45] – Trial “web” and police connections
• [10:10] – Suspicious actions and evidence by partygoers
• [13:40] – Notable police investigation misconduct
• [15:30] – Judge O'Shea’s response to civil case methods and “McAlberts”
• [16:45] – Revelation and breakdown of jury leak; grand juror Leslie’s sentence
• [19:06] – Start of Colorado playground kidnapping attempt
• [22:00] – Galligan’s mental health history and criminal background
• [24:55] – Competency, repeated cycle of unprosecutable offenses
• [25:46] – Parents’ fear and legal notification gaps

Memorable Moments & Episode Tone

Katie maintains a sharp, analytical, and empathetic tone throughout. She traces each case’s tangled timelines and isn’t afraid to point out legal inconsistencies and system failures while highlighting the trauma experienced by victims and accused alike.

Call to Listeners: Katie encourages feedback, discussion, and following for updates:

“What did you think of today’s cases? Drop your thoughts and theories in the comments…” ([27:10])

Summary

This episode of Crime House Daily weaves two stories of legal systems under stress: one where flawed investigations and leaks have battered public trust, and another where mental health failures thwart both justice for victims and care for the accused. Each case raises pressing questions for listeners—about accountability, transparency, and the limits of our systems as they exist today.