
After an eight-week trial and days of deliberation, a jury acquitted Karen Read of the most serious charges against her in John O'Keefe's death — she was convicted only on an OUI charge, prompting a sudden cheer from the hundreds of Read's supporters outside. On this special edition of "Canton Confidential," our experts discuss how the defense created a "relatively soft landing spot" for the jury to convict only on an OUI charge, what part of the acquitted charges prosecutors weren't able to prove, what it was like in court, possible next steps for civil cases and for policing in Massachusetts, and much more. Plus, reaction from Read's family and supporters as well as how John O'Keefe's family is dealing with the verdict.
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And you can take him anywhere.
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Glenn Jones
NBC 10 Boston news worthy of you. Tonight, a conclusion to a case that drew worldwide attention.
Host
Not guilty. Not guilty. Guilty.
Glenn Jones
Not guilty. After days of deliberations, Karen Reed acquitted.
Host
Of most of the serious charges.
J.C. Monahan
I could not be standing here without these amazing supporters who have supported me and my team.
Host
Tonight, our experts go in depth on.
Glenn Jones
The case, the jury and the verdict.
Host
They had a verdict. Before I could even summons everybody into court, they knocked again and said they.
J.C. Monahan
Didn'T have a verdict.
Glenn Jones
Now a special one hour edition of Canton Confidential, the Karen Reed murder trial.
J.C. Monahan
After four days of deliberations and two trials, a jury has found Karen Reid not guilty on all counts except oui. Good evening, everyone. I'm J.C. monahan.
Glenn Jones
And I'm Glenn Jones. We'll take a closer look at the verdict on each charge in just a moment.
J.C. Monahan
But first, let's get to Melody. Melody Mendez. Melody. There was that false start to the jury verdict when they withdrew their initial verdict slip. So nothing went quite smoothly. No, J.C. it didn't.
Host
And I'm glad you mentioned that, because.
J.C. Monahan
Before that kind of fumble happened, it was a really quiet day out here. We didn't hear a single break from the jury. There was not a single question for the judge. In fact, there wasn't a break in their deliberations at all until we started hearing rumblings at about 1:30 in the afternoon. Here's what happened after that. Mutterings came from the courthouse just before 2 this afternoon as court officers started.
Host
Searching for the clerk.
J.C. Monahan
A short time later, the judge called both teams to come to the courthouse. There was excitement but reluctance given the.
Host
Callbacks that went out when there were questions. Once both sides arrived, the judge informed.
J.C. Monahan
Them there was a verdict reached during lunch. But before she had a chance to.
Host
Call them, just minutes later, another knock at her door.
J.C. Monahan
The court officer informed her a verdict.
Host
Had not been reached. I received word from a court officer that the jury had knocked on the.
J.C. Monahan
Door indicating that they had a verdict.
Host
But before I could even summons everybody into court, you know, shortly thereafter, they.
J.C. Monahan
Knocked again and said they didn't have a verdict. Judge Canoni asked the jury to mark their verdict on a verdict slip and place it into a sealed envelope. It was entered as evidence.
Host
30 minutes later. At 2:38pm, the clerk confirmed a verdict was reached. And at 3:00pm that verdict was read aloud.
Judge Canoni
2282 CR 117001. Murder in the second degree. What say you? Is the defendant at the bar guilty or not guilty?
Host
Not gu. Specifically number five.
Judge Canoni
Operating under the influence of liquor by operating a motor vehicle with a blood.
Host
Alcohol level of 0.08 or greater, correct? Yes.
Judge Canoni
So say you, Mr. Foreman. So say you all?
Host
Yes.
Judge Canoni
Leaving the scene after accident resulting in deaths. Defendant not guilty or guilty.
Host
So say you, Mr. Foreman.
Judge Canoni
So say you all?
Glenn Jones
Yes.
J.C. Monahan
Moments later, Reid was sentenced to one year of probation.
Host
Tears flowing from both sides of the.
J.C. Monahan
Courtroom, the o' Keefe family and the Reeds, as a trembling and crying Karen.
Host
Reid embraced the team of attorneys that got her here. Now I had a chance to speak.
J.C. Monahan
To a number of court officers when.
Host
Things had finally settled down, and some.
J.C. Monahan
Local police officers as well. Everyone around here, J.C. and Glenn, has this overwhelming sense of relief that the case is finally over, regardless of the outcome, just relief that the case is over and their community can start healing and getting back to. To life as usual.
Host
Because of course, it has taken over.
J.C. Monahan
This neighborhood, this town, and for many folks, their lives. Back to you, Melody. Thank you. Joining our conversation tonight is our chief legal analyst, Michael Coyne and defense attorney Morgietta De Russia. As always, thank you both for being with us. The jury once again keeping us all on our toes today after four days of deliberations. You heard. We have a verdict. Second degree murder. The jury found Reid not guilty on manslaughter with the motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor. Again, not guilty. Leaving the scene of an accident causing injury and death. Not guilty.
Glenn Jones
However, Reid was found guilty of OUI with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or greater. This was a subcharge added by the defense right before deliberations. Regieta, you were here on the night that the defense team told the judge this is what they wanted to do, literally adding a new area for their client to be convicted. But at that moment, you said this is a good defense strategy. Do you imagine it worked in exactly the way they wanted it to work?
Morgietta De Russia
Yes. And I think, as Dean Michael Cohen will say too, it was the video clips. Right. As a defense attorney, you're watching these clips play out throughout the trial and you have to do a game change decision and figure out how are you going to smooth this over with the jury, give them an option that they can use these clips for. Because I said it again. Cringe was the word I used.
Glenn Jones
Super cringe.
Host
Super cringe, that's right.
Morgietta De Russia
And it's hard to listen to because it's in a mission.
Alan Jackson
It is.
Morgietta De Russia
And it worked in their favor and the jury wanted to do something, and I feel like they felt accomplished today. That was something they could actually, as they say, sink their teeth into and prove it, because it was right there in their face. And there was no question because it came directly from the defendant.
Glenn Jones
And, Michael, listening to you yesterday when we got those questions, I imagine you're not surprised that this is where we landed. Connect the two for us. Why did what we heard yesterday lead to this?
Host
Well, this is really, as Jenna said, low hanging fruit for them. So what it gives them is a compromise to land on. And those questions yesterday, they wanted to focus in on what time are we talking about for the dui. And can we consider, as Jetta just pointed out, can we consider her statements about in this case now how much alcohol she consumed? The pores were weak. And that she poured extra shots into the alcohol. Couple that with the blood drawer in the morning, that showed a blood alcohol content in excess of what it should have been. And that all tied together and gave the jury really a relatively soft landing spot to find her guilty of something and allow the case then to be resolved.
J.C. Monahan
So let's go through each charge, starting with the first. That was second degree murder. They chose not to convict. What were they missing on this charge, do you think?
Morgietta De Russia
They were missing the intent? Right. And you have to have that intent. She had to have known what she was doing, intended to kill him. And that was missing throughout the whole trial. You cannot have circumstantial evidence for a second degree or first degree murder charge. And that's what we had here, circumstantial evidence.
J.C. Monahan
The prosecutor Brennan even said that. We're not saying she also thought this through, you know, and was thinking that she was going to do this. No, there's no premeditation.
Host
Exactly, exactly. Doesn't require premeditation, but it requires an intent to hurt him, to do serious bodily injury. And the fact is, is that it was never a second degree murder case. And even in attorney Brennan's closing, he sort of distanced himself a little bit from that.
J.C. Monahan
That's what it sounded like. Let's Talk about Charge 2, motor vehicle while operating under the influence of alcohol. Also not guilty. But there were a number of lesser included charges to consider. Involuntary manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide, under the influence. Again, we're just circling back to everything. Again, they found her guilty of OUI with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or greater. She was immediately sentenced to one year probation. Can we talk about how both sides immediately went to sentencing and were fine? The prosecution was fine with the one year probation. Would you have expected that or given everything that was put into this trial, that maybe they would have tried for a slightly heavier sentence?
Host
I think they knew the likelihood is that that's the route she was going to go. Defense counsel said that if we can get this over today, they went to sidebar first, talked about whether the court would be disposed to be able to go with what we call a 24D disposition, which virtually every first time offender in Massachusetts is likely to get. She does have a year's probation, so she's going to have be careful over the course of that year.
J.C. Monahan
What does that mean?
Host
It means that if you commit another crime during that period, you're violated probation and potentially you could be immediately held on that probation violation. It's not, there's not a lot of due process with respect to probation violations.
Morgietta De Russia
And I think the other thing that we didn't see in court today, there's still some civil implications. She's going to have to pay some fines, she's going to have to pay penalties, she's going to have to take classes, she's going to have to take retraining courses. So there's a lot that goes into this disposition, which is why they keep it open for a year. But as Michael Coyne says, if she violates that, even with just failing to stop for a red light or running a red light or, you know, running from the police, she could be violated on that probationary term and could be sentenced up to two and a half years. We'll see if that happens.
Glenn Jones
But when we slice through the clutter. This is a win despite that, that penalty you just talked about for the defense, 110%.
Host
When you think about the mandatory minimums on the other more serious charges, you're talking about doing hard time in Framingham State Prison. This is a complete victory for the defense.
Glenn Jones
All right. Lastly, the jury found Karen Reed not guilty of leaving the scene of a collision resulting in injury and death. It seems the battle of experts favored the defense who argued there was no collision. So when you take the collection of these verdicts, Michael, do you think that the jury believed what the defense was telling them? That she was not? She did not. Well, not. He was not hit by a car. Maybe that's the best way to ask it, that.
Host
I'll just change it slightly. That the government did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was hit by her vehicle. The experts didn't prove either way what actually happened. But the defense used their experts to prove reasonable doubt exists with respect to whether the car actually hit him or not.
Glenn Jones
And based on where we landed on all of this Morgieta, do you think you could say objectively whether or not Karen Reid was overcharged?
Morgietta De Russia
I think a lot of experts say that Karen Reid was overcharged. And I think it's interesting that on the second case, the retrial, that the commonwealth chose not to amend their charges because they could have had that option before they started the second case, but really believed that they had all of the evidence to charge her with with the exact same charges. I think there was a slight misstep on their part. They could have just charged her with oui or any of. There's a number of lesser included offenses they could have charged her with as well. But as Michael Coyne said, there wasn't enough evidence, even with the experts to prove to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt and with a moral certainty that she was guilty of the offenses that they charged her again the second time around.
J.C. Monahan
All right. And when the verdicts came down, you could hear the crowd's reaction outside the courthouse. We were over that area earlier, and as you can see, a sea of pink worn by Karen Reid supporters. Mary Marcos was in the crowd when that verdict was announced.
Glenn Jones
She joins us now live outside the courthouse in Dedham. Mary, we could hear through the courtroom camera what was happening outside. What did it sound like to you standing right there?
J.C. Monahan
It's not even just the sound. You could really feel the energy when that crowd erupted.
Host
And it's a moment that many people have been waiting for.
J.C. Monahan
So naturally, we had a Lot of questions for the people in the crowd. How are we feeling? It doesn't feel real.
Host
We were hoping.
Glenn Jones
We were hoping everyone was talking about it, but it's better than what we expected.
J.C. Monahan
Three years is a long time, and.
Host
We'Re just her supporters.
J.C. Monahan
Think of what she's gone through.
Host
I dedicate this to Karen Reed. It's called she Stands. She stands when the tide is low. She stands when the tide is.
Glenn Jones
Is high.
Host
She stands through the day. She stands through the night. She stands in the time of war.
Glenn Jones
She stands in the time of peace.
Host
She stands for America. She stands to be free. She stands for the glory of the brave who came before me. She stands for the freedom which I dearly believe in.
Glenn Jones
Did you write that yourself? I did.
Host
I did.
J.C. Monahan
What are some questions that you still.
Glenn Jones
Have about the case?
Host
Where's the dog, you know, and why didn't. Why didn't they do. Why didn't they investigate it from the start?
J.C. Monahan
What makes it so emotional for you?
Host
Having a daughter the same age, knowing that that could be me in there.
Morgietta De Russia
My brother's going through the same, exact same thing. So that's pretty much my drive. Honestly. I feel her. I know exactly what she's going through. And it could be any one of.
J.C. Monahan
Us standing right here while acknowledging that. You guys don't think Karen did this. Do you think that John o' Keefe deserves justice for whoever did?
Host
Absolutely. Yes. Absolutely.
J.C. Monahan
Absolutely.
Host
And that is a very good point. My heart bleeds and goes out to the family.
J.C. Monahan
Is that what you have on there?
Host
Justice for 2490 was his badge number. I made sure I put that on.
Morgietta De Russia
There because justice does have to come to them.
Host
I hope they go after the people that really did this.
J.C. Monahan
Almost everyone we spoke to today says.
Glenn Jones
It does not end here.
J.C. Monahan
There is still a lot of corruption they say, that needs to be addressed live and dead. I'm Mary Marcos, NBC 10 Golf. All right, Mary. Don't go anywhere. Our conversation continues after the break, including more reaction to today's verdict.
Glenn Jones
Our courtroom insider, Sue o' Connell, one of the few people inside that courtroom, joins us to go over what it was like when the verdict was announced. This is a special edition of Canton Confidential, The Karen Reed murder trial. Hey, this is Jeff Lewis from Radio Andy, live and uncensored. Catch me talking with my friends about my latest obsessions, relationship issues and bodily ailments.
Host
With that kind of drama that seems.
Glenn Jones
To follow me, you never know what's going to happen.
Morgietta De Russia
You can listen to Jeff Lewis live.
Glenn Jones
At home or anywhere you are download.
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Alan Jackson
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Glenn Jones
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J.C. Monahan
The Karen Reed murder trial is officially over. We saw Reid hugging members of her defense team in the moments that followed the verdict this afternoon.
Glenn Jones
One of the people inside that room, just a few feet from what we saw right there is our courtroom insider, Sue o' Connell. Thanks for being here with us tonight. So kind of paint a picture for us, especially that moment when the jury filed into the room and all of us knew a verdict will be read.
Alan Jackson
Yeah, well, just before that, Glenn, the tension in there, whatever people were feeling watching at home or outside, it was 100 times that there was this nervous energy that the Reid team and their family and friends had. And then when the jurors walked in, there was just this somber feeling. And even with the press, we were saying just beforehand, we did this before, but we still still feel all of the weight of this, what this result will be. And then of course, you know, there was a little misfire with reading the second charge, not being able to hear it. And the, the foreman, you know, again, just a regular civilian person answered, I think sure, instead of yes or, you know, because they're not rehearsed, they're just brought out here. And then out came the verdict. And the crowd outside, outside was so loud, we couldn't hear the rest of the verdicts being read inside. The courtroom. And then it just erupted. And then just like in the last trial, then back to business. We have to have a little quick schedule meeting about when the sentencing is going to be. So there's just this amazing amount of different emotions all over the place. And then it was over. And then we're kicked out immediately. The press has kicked right out. And then they just came out later.
J.C. Monahan
Okay. The roller coaster, of course, began when they said they had a verdict and then said they didn't have a verdict. We'll talk more about that, but right now we want to go to our John Maroney because he has been following not just this trial, but he was there for the first trial as well, and he was there when Karen walked out and addressed the crowds outside.
Glenn Jones
John, tell us the day from your vantage point.
Host
Well, the crowds, they are gone now. Jay, Scott and Glenn, of course, much different than it was earlier today. It was interesting to listen to sue talk about sort of that tension that was in the air, and you felt that as well outside the courthouse. Karen Reed, she left this afternoon. The courthouse, the Norfolk Superior Courthouse, perhaps for the last time. She left surrounded by a phalanx of police officers as she made her way to those SUVs that she and her entourage get into and take off. And of course, made this brief statement to her supporters before she did that. There were hundreds of people who were kept back by law enforcement. Some of those supporters, they have been coming here for years. She was again here with her regular entourage. That's her father, her brother, her mother, her lawyers. She did seem relieved. Now, the o' Keeffe family, which they've been in court for the last two trials as well, they left without comment. But tonight we are hearing from a friend of theirs who says it was a very disappointing day for them.
Judge Canoni
It is what it is.
J.C. Monahan
Right.
Host
Verdict is 12 people decided, and we'll move forward.
Judge Canoni
It's not.
Host
It's not what we wanted, but it's.
Judge Canoni
What they came up with.
Host
How is the family doing?
Judge Canoni
Not good.
Host
Have a good day.
Judge Canoni
It's not a good day.
Host
What do you think the difference was between this trial and the last one, Mr. Reeves? Another year of information circulating in the public, and people are aware of what's happened. Is there any concern that the person who killed Joan Keith won't be held accountable?
Glenn Jones
There's always that concern, of course.
Host
Now, we did hear from a lot of people outside of the courthouse today after the verdict was read, and Karen Reed and the o' Keeffe, they came out. We have not heard from the Norfolk County District Attorney, Michael Morris. It will be interesting to hear what he has to say about this verdict planning. JC Back to you, John Maroney.
Glenn Jones
Thank you. We're also hearing from a lifelong family friend of the o' Keeffe family who did not want to be named, writing quote, Today's verdict was a devastating end to a three and a half year nightmare. Joan o' Keeffe was a great person who died unnecessarily. And despite all, all of the evidence pointing to one and only one person, she will not face any repercussions for her actions.
J.C. Monahan
We also heard from the McCabe and Albert families who wrote in a joint statement, quote, today our hearts are with John and the entire o' Keeffe family. They have suffered through so much and deserve better from our justice system. While we may have more to say in the future, today we mourn with John's family and lament the cruel reality that the prosecution was infected by lies and conspiracy theories spread by Karen Reid, her defense team and some in the media. The result is a devastating miscarriage of justice.
Host
Do not let the commonwealth get away with this. Don't let them get away with this. Do not endorse and sanction an investigation.
Alan Jackson
That is broken and corrupted top to bottom.
Host
But just as importantly, do not let.
Alan Jackson
Michael Proctor get away with it. And make no mistake about it, folks.
Host
If you convict Karen Reid of anything, if you convict her of anything, science, the physics, the data, they lose. But tragically, Michael Proctor wins.
Glenn Jones
That was defense attorney Alan Jackson during closing arguments last week, urging the jury not to side with the commonwealth, all while drawing attention to Michael Proctor, the former state police trooper fired from the force in part for his conduct while leading the investigation. In this case, he was often called the boogeyman, yet we never saw him during the trial. But his impact on the investigation still resonates.
J.C. Monahan
And you see we have Joining us Now is Todd McGee, a retired Massachusetts State Police trooper. Todd, thank you for coming in. Listen, the prosecution could not land this case. The jury could not find it beyond a reasonable doubt. How much of the police investigation and the criticism around it in this case do you think played into today's verdict?
Judge Canoni
Well, certainly the inadequacies of the investigation were early and often, unfortunately. That being said, the defense, in protecting Karen's rights, used and leveraged some of those inadequacies and highlighted those areas that created reasonable doubt. So in this particular case, we'd like to think that investigations here in Massachusetts are conducted in a more professional and a more Fashion with integrity and honor. And that's usually the case in this particular trial. All of those inadequacies are pointed out as they should have been.
Glenn Jones
You know, we spoke earlier, JC and I, to Dan Conley, the Suffolk County District Attorney, former district attorney, and I think he agrees with you on how inadequate the police investigation was. He also said to us that he thought Karen Reed was overcharged. I wonder if you agree with him on that point and maybe help us understand if you do believe that's the case, why that might have happened.
Judge Canoni
I believe the charges were, were consistent with being overcharged. From this perspective. We went through trial 1.0. All of this information, although we saw a new strategy, a lot of it was the same information that we already knew. And ARCA had a very powerful testimony in basically saying that if a 6,000 pound vehicle struck John O' Keeffe's arm, we should see broken bones. We didn't even see a bruise. The medical examiner, the Commonwealth key witness, said that she saw no collision evidence of collision. So based on that information, the Commonwealth had an opportunity to file new charges. They were going to retry the case, but there was a chance for them to bring new charges and they did.
Glenn Jones
Not take that chance. When you explore that in your mind, do you have any explanation as to why they did not?
Judge Canoni
They felt they had a strong enough case and they were going to move forward. They thought bringing in Hank Brennan as a special prosecutor, a different strategy, of course, would have given him that edge.
J.C. Monahan
A lot has been made of how evidence was collected. We've talked about red solo cups, we've talked about leaf blowers to unveil some of the evidence of the tail light that they say were there. So there have been talk out there of, well, now my, my confidence in our system, in the police is lower or I have questions. If, if you were leading the team at this point, what do you do now that the trial is over and you can put that behind you? Is there work to be done to repair any damage that may have come from the trial?
Judge Canoni
Well, whether I'm a civil service agency or I'm an accredited agency, you go in and you look at your records, you look at your documents and you do an internal audit. Are we in compliance with all of the things we need to be a professional contemporary law enforcement agency in the 21st century, not that difficult. But if agencies are not going to go through that painstaking process to make sure they cross all the T's and dotted all the I's, you're going to come up with some discrepancies in investigation.
Glenn Jones
And that's really what Kenton Police Department did, what you just described.
J.C. Monahan
What about the training that they get just for being a witness? Because we did see some of the police officers there. Difficult would be one adjective that was used. And, you know, not being able to give straight answers, it seemed like perhaps different, better training. Would that have helped? In other words, same evidence, but perhaps a different presentation by those in authority.
Judge Canoni
2 thoughts for that training for police officers, for courtroom testimony happens in the academy. So if you're on the job 10 years or 20 years, you go way back in your memory and also on the job experience as far as what you're experiencing and how you testify. The other side of the coin is the. The education that happens in service training. Maybe that's something that needs to be ramped up. But again, you have certain police officers that are in court all the time. They're very good at what they do. They know how to testify, they understand the protocols within the courtroom, and it's a non issue. So it's a delicate balance. When you start talking about training, and.
J.C. Monahan
This is one trial we remember, it's highlighting certain aspects, but it's certainly getting dialogue going, as many of these types of moments in our culture do.
Glenn Jones
Yeah. All right. This case cannot be tried again. It's done. But what are the next steps, in your opinion, for police? How do you clean up the mess created and bring back trust and integrity?
Judge Canoni
I think it's all about transparency. I think if. If there are shortcomings for investigations, you have to get out in front of them and you have to be able to say to your community, here's where we are with this particular investigation. There was some shortcomings on our end and get out in front of it. That's always the best measure and the best protocol when you're trying to maintain your credibility as an agency. It's just we make mistakes, we're not perfect. And generally, the general public, if you're out front with that information, they're forgiving.
Glenn Jones
Sue, sometimes I bring you these very difficult moral questions. I'm going to try to do that again right now because I always enjoy your insight. But when I look at that video of Karen Reid, who's emotional, you can see a weight lifted off of her shoulders as an impartial witness to what's going on. Sometimes I'm conflicted about being happy for this person who may have been wrongly prosecuted and also being sad for the o' Keefe family who really got no justice after two terrible ordeals of trials.
Alan Jackson
Yeah, both of those things are true. And that is one of the main problems with the results of this investigation and this case. The o' Keefe family is never going to know what happened to John o' Keefe. They are never going to be able to find anyone to hold responsible for, for the death of John o' Keefe. And that is from the roots of the investigation in the first three days, the first week. Okay, so whether Karen did it or didn't do it, if there was enough evidence to find her guilty or not guilty, there are so many unanswered questions and so many things that went wrong that you have to feel some relief for her because the government, remember the government has the power to take our freedom away. They have a high standard they have to meet. They didn't do it. All right.
J.C. Monahan
It goes to a viewer question that we have from Jeanette. She asks, if Karen is acquitted, will this case become a cold case? Todd, we now know Reid was found not guilty on most of the charges against her. There's still a big question, as we've just been talking about, of what happened to John o' Keefe. Is it that she is innocent or is it that she was found not guilty?
Judge Canoni
Innocent, certainly of count one, count three, and the lesser included charge we saw in the oui, which was, if you think about a great strategy by the defense to have that added in the issue there was the videos. The videos were not favorable in her, in her defense of that. So better to pick a charge that you can kind of live with and move on as far as the future. You know, to Sue's point, not being able to have justice, true justice with John o' Keefe is going to be a tragedy here. We don't know if the DA is going to open up this case in pursue a new angle, a new investigation. Another angle that I'm speculating on is the federal investigation. Is that going to come back in and what results are we going to see out of that investigation? So that could be a catalyst for more of this investigation.
Glenn Jones
And for the time being, state police consider this case solved because they brought a suspect before the judicial system. Todd McGhee, Sue O' Connell, thank you both very much for joining us. We really appreciate having you here.
J.C. Monahan
Coming up tomorrow night, there is a special all new dateline all about the Karen Reid case.
Glenn Jones
It's a two hour special and dateline's Andrea Canning spoke with lead investigator and former Massachusetts state trooper Michael Proctor, who responded to accusations he Framed Reid.
J.C. Monahan
What do you want to say to anyone who believes the narrative, the defense's narrative, that you are corrupt, that you framed Karen Reid?
Glenn Jones
I laugh because it's such a ridiculous accusation. There's not one piece of evidence or fact to support that because it did not happen. Tune in tomorrow night for the center of the Storm. It airs at 9:00, right here on NBC 10 Boston.
J.C. Monahan
As we go to break, here are some images taken today after the verdict was read. You are watching Canton Confidential, the Karen Reed murder trial.
Glenn Jones
Karen Reed has been acquitted in the murder of her boyfriend John O' Keefe. Nobody covers the Karen Reed trial like NBC 10 Boston.
J.C. Monahan
I could not be standing here without these amazing, amazing supporters in the courtroom.
Host
And outside the courthouse.
J.C. Monahan
This is nothing like we saw in the first trial.
Alan Jackson
It's not a television show.
Host
It's real life, unmatched team coverage.
J.C. Monahan
It really is nothing typical when it.
Host
Comes to this case.
Glenn Jones
Every major story, we are on it. NBC 10 Boston News worthy of you.
Judge Canoni
Mr. Foreman. On docket number 2282 CR 117001, murder in the second degree. What say you? Is the defendant the bar guil?
Host
Not guilty.
J.C. Monahan
Not guilty.
Judge Canoni
So say Mr. Foreman. So say you, Charlie?
Host
No. No. Do you agree? Yes. Do all of you agree? Thank you. 002, what say is the defendant at the bar?
Judge Canoni
Not guilty or guilty?
Host
Not guilty of.
Judge Canoni
Is not guilty or guilty of that charge or any lesser included charge.
Host
Thank you. Specifically, number five.
Judge Canoni
Operating under the influence of liquor by operating a motor vehicle with a blood.
Host
Alcohol level of 0.08 or greater. Correct? Yes.
Judge Canoni
So say you, Mr. Foreman?
Host
Yes.
Judge Canoni
So say you all?
J.C. Monahan
Yes.
Judge Canoni
003. What say is the defendant at the bar leaving the scene after accident resulting in deaths? Defendant not guilty or guilty.
Host
So say you, Mr. Foreman.
Judge Canoni
So say you all?
Glenn Jones
Yes.
Host
Jury juris harking your verdict as the court records that you, upon your oath, say the defendant on 001 is not guilty.
Judge Canoni
On.
Host
002 is guilty of operating in the.
Judge Canoni
Influence of liquor and 003, not guilty.
Host
Thank you.
J.C. Monahan
The jury has spoken and found Karen Reed not guilty. As you heard, found guilty on oui. We are back now with our legal panel and tonight we're taking a closer look at the verdict slip. The point of contention that we have talked about. We want to show you the new one that came in. This came in last night. We finally got a copy of this. And this is what changed in regards to the second charge. The defendant is facing manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of Liquor. But as you can see, each point is then broken down. Those lesser included instructions, which we heard Judge Kanone read aloud on Tuesday, talking about, if you find guilty, you stop, you sign the paper handed in. If you find not guilty, go to the next page.
Glenn Jones
And here's a quick peek at what the form used to look like. Same charge, but before the amendments. As you can see, it's a little crowded, cluttered even. No instructions. You may remember yesterday, the manslaughter charge was the focus of one of four juror questions. Michael, now that you see the actual amended form, do you believe ultimately, although a bumpy road, they got it right?
Host
Yes, I do. And. And I think it is a lot easier to look at and understand, especially when you add the judge's instructions in it. And it was unfortunate that it took so long for the parties to be able to submit something to the judge that the judge ultimately could modify and have so that the jury would really understand it. The jury verdict form is our way, the lawyer's way, of speaking to the jury in the box. Once they're back deliberating, you get the right questions, you should be able to get a resolution that you favor, hopefully.
J.C. Monahan
Morgietta. We knew this was an issue based on what we heard from jurors in the first trial. So this could have been ironed out. And it seems like Judge Kanoni, when it was presented as an issue again from this jury, that she came up with a solution that seemed to work well. We just went through it, basically explaining how we go down the ladder, as you were calling it, you know, to get to where they. Where they would end up. Why did it wait until these final moments to get that help for the jury to understand the verdict form? Not even just all the deliberating they had to do. It's just the form.
Morgietta De Russia
We have to remember that this case came with a lot of litigation on a lot of different topics, and anything that Judge Kanone did was going to be heavily scrutinized. So, as you can see, she always erred on the side of caution, erred on the side of the law. What is the status quo? And it wasn't until she was put in a position where she didn't want to have another mistrial or a retrial that she really clarified it. But I don't think anything she did was inappropriate. That's what the case law is right now. She didn't want to amend it and then amend it the wrong way. So she waited until she got the questions back from the jury to make sure that they clearly understood what their actual options were.
J.C. Monahan
Let the jury lead in that case.
Morgietta De Russia
Absolutely.
J.C. Monahan
That makes sense. Michael Morjetta. Don't go anywhere. Today's verdict does end the Commonwealth's case against Karen Reid. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan was brought on, as we know, for this retrial.
Glenn Jones
And during closing arguments last week, he made the case to the jury that Reid was guilty.
Host
Ladies and gentlemen, there is no doubt what happened that night. There is no doubt who did it.
Glenn Jones
You have a very difficult task ahead of you.
Host
When you consider the evidence, you consider the law very difficult. There are three charges.
Glenn Jones
There is second degree murder.
Host
Ms. Reed, when she chose to drive back at Mr. O' Keefe in that night with a 6,000 pound Lexus. And that anger 75%.
Glenn Jones
Whether she meant to hit him or not, didn't mean to kill him, she hit him.
Host
Strains it is a plain and strong likelihood of death. You would never get back down your driveway if your kids were at the end of the driveway. You'd say, what? You're going to kill somebody?
Glenn Jones
You would never do it because you would expect if you drove at them.
Host
At that speed that someone would die.
Glenn Jones
That second degree murder.
Host
Oui.
Glenn Jones
Manslaughter.
Host
She's drunk. She was reckless.
Glenn Jones
She doesn't even have to know she hit him. She doesn't even have to know she hit him. But she did.
Host
She did. And she left a man who was kind and generous and thoughtful. She left him alone. She left him alone to die. Could I have slide 22, please? He is not an it. John O' Keefe is not a body.
Glenn Jones
John O' Keefe is NOT a buffalo on a prairie.
Host
Don O' Keefe was a person and.
Glenn Jones
He was murdered by Karen Reid.
J.C. Monahan
Hank Brennan there delivering those closing arguments following weeks of testimony.
Glenn Jones
Eight weeks, dozens of witnesses. So let's take a look back at the case presented by the prosecution. State trooper Michael Proctor, homeowner Brian Albert and ATF agent Brian Higgins, all called to testify by the Commonwealth in the first trial, none of them. In the second trial. They didn't recall state police trooper Joseph Paul either. Instead, they put experts from Aperture on the witness list, a private firm that forensically studied the defendant's Lexus SUV. After the trial began, Aperture adjusted its event timeline despite objections from the defense. The new timeline, first presented by Shannon Burgess, gave credence to the Commonwealth's assertion that Reid's car hit John o' Keefe that night. But on cross examination, he had to admit to errors in his work and misstatements on his Resume.
Host
If I did the math correctly, sir, you've been pursuing a Bachelor of science degree for 17 years, correct?
Glenn Jones
That is correct.
Host
And you have not obtained it at all as you sit here today?
Glenn Jones
That is correct.
Host
And yet there are the various documents that we've seen that state that you have obtained. Obtained a Bachelor of Science.
Glenn Jones
Correct again. With errors or misinterpretation? Yes. Meantime, Burgess's colleague at Aperture, Judson Welcher, testified to exhaustive accident reconstruction testing with an SUV similar to Reed's, presenting the strongest argument yet that John o' Keeffe's injuries are consistent with Alexis SUV sideswiping him.
Host
Or do you have an opinion, to a reasonable degree of engineering certainty, whether John o' Keeffe's injuries are consistent with being struck by Alexis identical to the defendant Lexis on January 29, 2022?
Judge Canoni
Yes.
Host
What's your opinion? That it is. It is consistent with being struck by.
Glenn Jones
Alexis and only ultimately contacting a hard.
Host
Surface such as frozen ground.
Glenn Jones
Another prosecution expert witness, Ian Wiffen, plotted the movement of O' Keefe's cell phone, which show his steps outside 34 Fairview Road on the night in question. But on cross, Whiffen had to concede the same data makes it possible o' Keefe went inside the house. Cell phone Data from Jen McCabe's phone revealed she did not make the infamous Google search house long to die in cold at 2:27am but at 6:24am after John O' Keefe was found in the snow. That was the finding of Jessica Hyde for the prosecution.
Host
That search occurred at 6:24am and was.
Glenn Jones
The last search in the tab that had been opened at 2:27. In addition to an avalanche of cell phone data, the jury has a mountain of physical evidence to consider. Tail light, pieces in the victim's clothing, graphic autopsy photos, even a strand of hair on the rear exterior of Reed's car, which DNA analysis revealed may have belonged to John o' Keefe. But the state's medical examiner could not say Karen Reed and her vehicle is the reason the victim is dead.
Host
You had all that information. You still were unable to conclude the manner of death of Mr. Correct?
J.C. Monahan
Correct.
Glenn Jones
Throughout the prosecution's case, special prosecutor Hank Brennan played clips of Karen Reed's media appearances in an effort to use her own statements to convict her of murder.
J.C. Monahan
David, what if. I don't know, what if I ran his foot over or what if.
Host
I.
J.C. Monahan
Clipped him in the knee and he passed out and. Or went to care for himself and he threw up or passed out and David said, yeah, then you have some element of culpability.
Glenn Jones
Special prosecutor Hank Brennan was unable to convince the jury of Karen Reid's guilt on the most serious charges. Brennan was brought on after Assistant DA Adam Lally presented the Commonwealth case in the first trial. Michael, let me turn to you on what I know is going to be a difficult question, but when you look at the evidence that the Commonwealth had in this case, if you were the district attorney, do you take it to trial to prosecute someone for murder?
Host
Yes. And I think that's what they looked at here, the evidence hard. And I think the jury was probably struggling at times with both cases, the defense case and the prosecution. But every time when you do try a case like this, you have to try it with the witnesses you have. The evidence isn't entirely convincing one way or the other. And so as job, as advocates, as Jenner, as I would both you tried the case and you work with the witnesses you have, but you don't get to pick all of your own witnesses. I think when, now that the case has been lost, I'm sure he's discouraged. But what would you do differently if you were Hank Brennan in trying the case? Because I do think they had a case that they had to bring to try and find justice for John o'.
Glenn Jones
Keefe and it was a well prosecuted case. Can you think of anything that Hank Brennan could have done differently?
Morgietta De Russia
I can't. And I think I said this on the show before that Hank Brennan did a fantastic job of really focusing on the data. Everyone or most people agree that the first trial there was a lot of information lost in the scene and what.
J.C. Monahan
Happened, the narrative, there was a lot.
Morgietta De Russia
Of story going on, a lot of story change. But this is a case that you could actually go back and reflect. We had the video that we've never seen before. We had X rays that we didn't see before. This is how you try a murder case. It's just unfortunate that part of that came with a very sloppy investigation, that the defense team really took the bat and pulled holes in the reasonable, excuse me, defense element and as you can see, prevailed in not getting, you know, Karen found convicted on those charges.
Glenn Jones
Let's dig a little deeper on this subject. During our coverage of the verdict earlier today, we got a chance to speak with former Suffolk County DA Dan Conley. Here's what he had to say about the case.
Host
I have to say that, you know, early on I thought that might be a very clear possibility that she was in fact overcharged. If the case had Perhaps been charged as an OUI homicide. The elements would have been that Karen Reid was driving, she was under the influence of intoxicating liquor, she hit John O' Keefe and he died. You know, we in Suffolk DA's office, tragically we tried many of those cases over the course of my time, but they tried in the district court probably would not have gained the kind of public attention or captured the kind of public attention that this trial ultimately did. So perhaps, yes, second degree murder was a charge that was a bit too high. I think even Hank Brennan in his closing even talked about that a bit when he said the charge is ominous. It really is ominous.
J.C. Monahan
So again, she was found guilty of oui, meaning today's verdict could be the most expensive drunk driving conviction in the, you know, the state of Massachusetts in.
Alan Jackson
The United States, probably.
Glenn Jones
Well, with the conclusion of the second trial, some of the costs to taxpayers are starting to come into sharper focus. As we told you months ago when the DA's office hired him for this case, Hank Brennan is charging taxpayers a rate of $250 per hour. State payroll records show Brennan has collected more than a quarter million dollars so far. However, it's important to point out that his most recent invoice is for work completed through January. According to documents we obtained. That means taxpayers are still on the hook for everything he's done since February, including the entire trial. A conservative estimate brings his pay up to $400,000. For comparison, Adam Lally, who prosecuted the first trial, has a salary of $149,000. His boss, DA Michael Morrissey, is the highest paid person in the office at $223,000. Legal analyst Michael Coyne expects Brennan's pay to be even higher because it's not uncommon for attorneys to work 16 hour days during a trial. He estimates the special prosecutors. Special prosecutor surpasses a half million dollars in cost. So besides the costs inside the courtroom, we know from the first trial there are other big ticket items for taxpayers.
J.C. Monahan
Yet law enforcement had a large presence we know outside Norfolk Superior Court to enforce that buffer zone, to provide security for the defense, the prosecution, for jurors, as they came and went each day. After the first trial, state police said they spent more than a quarter million dollars tied to staffing the mass majority of the trooper hours clocked in as overtime shifts. With this trial lasting almost exactly the same amount of time, we probably should expect to see something in that ballpark. It's not just the state. Local police are also providing resources. In Dedham alone, a town spokesperson said through the end of last week, taxpayers in that community have spent roughly $91,000 on police staffing for the trial. So most of these costs are centered around the courthouse in Dedham. But we know taxpayers are shouldering the burden in other towns as well. It's not confined to the borders of Dedham.
Glenn Jones
Yes, there's definitely a ripple effect, most notably in Canton, where John o' Keefe was found on the front lawn of a home on Fairview Road more than three years ago. As scrutiny of the case increased, Canton residents voted to approve an independent audit of its police department. That report came with a price tag of $200,000. Town leaders released the findings in April, just as this second trial got underway. While the audit detailed a number of missteps during the investigation, particularly evidence collection, it did not amount to a conspiracy or a cover up. We will now wait to find out other costs for the second trial, like how much the Commonwealth paid for some of its expert witnesses. Everything we just listed adds up and could come close to $1 million when it's all said and done. So I guess the ultimate question for both of you is value for money for taxpayers. Did they get it?
Alan Jackson
You're kidding.
J.C. Monahan
I mean, this is.
Alan Jackson
It's a travesty. This is a travesty.
Host
And I don't agree.
Alan Jackson
Oh, good.
Host
I think the cost of justice, you have to set that aside and you can't say that it wasn't worth trying to prosecute what they believe was the murder of a Boston police officer unjustly and in violation of the law. I get Susan point, and there is some credence that you should give that. But the problem at the end of the day is you can't allow well financed defendants, well heeled defendants, to be able to use their vast resources and wealth and power to then get a result that all the poor kids in Dorchester and Roxbury and everywhere else don't get the benefit of. So the money should needs to be set aside.
Alan Jackson
I would argue, though, that's usually not the case. As you just pointed out, most of the defendants don't have money to fight the government the way that the Karen Reid defense team did. If they did, there would probably be fewer plea bargains, fewer guilty charges, and we would see that there were more problems in investigations than we know about because they don't get to trial and the money isn't spent to peel back the layers to see what the problems are. My issue, I agree with you 100% about we shouldn't worry about how much it cost to do it. But this goes back to if she hadn't been charged with murder in the first place or in the second place for the second trial, it probably wouldn't have cost as much is the other issue of it. So the decision making around what the charges should be and how we should spend. And I will say to everybody at the courthouse, the courthouse staff has been tremendous. They have taken care of us. They are wonderful people and great staffers. But at the same time, you know, these are decisions you have to make about what the judicious thing to do is when you're a district attorney or a district attorney's office.
Host
But also recognize our public defenders are presently on strike because of the low hourly rate that they're paid. So all of the people who are poor and looking for representation within our court system right now are struggling to find representation. This defendant had five highly acclaimed lawyers who would charge well in excess of Hank Brennan's $250 an hour. And she got justice as she saw it. But there's an awful lot of people who don't have those resources.
J.C. Monahan
She started with David Yannetti. That was her first phone call. And that, I would think, David Yannetti is well respected, would have been enough. And then she had to bring on Alan Jackson coming in from California, and then we had Robert Alessi coming from New York. And to Sue's point, point, most defendants wouldn't have access to a staff like that. As a matter of fact, we did hear from some of the supporters who were out there. Part of the reason for their support is they would say, well, this could have been me, especially because not only could it be me in that chair, but it could also be me not having that kind of defense. And then where would I be, Michael?
Host
Any one of us facing a similar fate would take any one of those lawyers at the defense table, because they are all rock star lawyers. They're all terrific lawyers. This defendant got the benefit of four or five truly terrific lawyers. It's not truly representative of our justice system. And so the government had to spend more money just to face those resources to try and give some sense of justice for John o' Keefe.
Glenn Jones
Well, we'll often watch the political ramifications of what just unfolded, because just like the two of you have different views, it's also the case for most of the people in the public, the voters and the taxpayers. Michael, sue, thank you so much on such an important night. We really appreciate having you here. When we come back, we take a closer look at the life of the victim in this case, John o' Keefe.
J.C. Monahan
We've set aside this time to remember the victim in this case, John o' Keefe.
Glenn Jones
Tonight, we take a look back at his life. The world knows John O' Keefe as a proud Boston police officer of 16 years. The people who knew John intimately call him Johnny and say the job he loved most was being legal guardian to his niece and nephew.
J.C. Monahan
Johnny moved into their house in Canton, the original house that Steve and Kristen had bought. He moved in with the kids there.
Glenn Jones
John's older sister Kristen tragically died from an illness. And just months later, her husband died, too. Their kids were orphaned. A little girl, age 6 at the time, her brother, age 3. The O' Keeffe family in court every day of the trial was devastated.
Host
My wife and I talked about having the kids come live with us.
Glenn Jones
We had two small children at the time. Three and eight months were my children. We didn't have a large enough house to take on two other children. So my brother stepped in, moved into.
J.C. Monahan
The house in Canton and raised them.
Glenn Jones
For eight years, from 2013 up until his death. John O' Keefe loved the kids as his own and would constantly show up for his friends, family. We were close. We did a lot of stuff together, Pick up the kids, drop the kids off.
Alan Jackson
Him and my husband would always do the.
Host
The games.
J.C. Monahan
The kids used to call them my two dads.
Host
It was like they had a lot of fun together.
Glenn Jones
John's friend Michael Camerano on the stand, said he'd go to the o' Keefes household every Friday night. He knew John and all of his personality traits. Everything was very tidy. When you walked in the door, into the house to the left, you put your shoes, your coats would be hung there.
Host
And as far as shoes were concerned, is that something that you wore inside the house?
Glenn Jones
He'd rather you not? That day in January, John and Michael both had something to celebrate. The kids got school acceptance letters, a proud dad moment. We were just congratulating the girls, talking about how good it's going to be different school, and just really excited for the girls. Another close friend testified later in the trial. Laura Sullivan. She dated John's friend Pat, became pregnant with Pat's child. But in 2013, Pat took his own life.
J.C. Monahan
Immediately following that, John never really left.
Host
My side, you know, as a support system.
Glenn Jones
John would become godfather to Laura's son. Another way John o' Keefe stepped up for his friend's family, for his own family. He was 46 years old.
J.C. Monahan
And we want to thank you so much for tuning in to our trial coverage. I'm J.C. monahan.
Glenn Jones
And I'm Glenn Jones. If you're on the go, check out our true crime podcast about the case. It's the audio version of our nightly show that will catch you up on all the twists and turns of this incredible trial. This is Canton Confidential, the Karen Reed Murder Trial. Pandora makes it easy for you to.
Host
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Glenn Jones
And genres by selecting any song or.
Host
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Glenn Jones
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Summary of "The Karen Read Murder Trial: Canton Confidential"
Episode: The Verdict is In, 'A Complete Victory for the Defense'
Release Date: June 19, 2025
In the landmark episode titled "The Verdict is In, 'A Complete Victory for the Defense'" of NBC10 Boston's podcast Canton Confidential, the host and legal analysts delve deep into the outcome of the highly publicized Karen Reed murder trial. Karen Reed stood accused of murdering her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, amidst allegations of a police cover-up.
After an intensive trial spanning two sessions and four days of deliberation, the jury delivered its verdict. Karen Reed was acquitted on all major charges but found guilty of operating under the influence (OUI) with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or greater.
Acquittals:
Conviction:
Judge Canoni read the verdict, culminating in an emotional scene where Reed was sentenced to one year of probation. The courtroom was filled with tears from both Reed’s supporters and the O'Keefe family.
Legal Experts' Perspectives:
Morgietta De Russia (Defense Attorney): Highlighted the strategic addition of the OUI charge, stating, "It worked in their favor and the jury wanted to do something." [06:24]
Michael Coyne (Chief Legal Analyst): Emphasized the defense's success, noting, "This is a complete victory for the defense." [10:50]
Prosecution's Strategy:
Special prosecutor Hank Brennan faced scrutiny for charging Reed with second-degree murder. Experts believe the overcharging was pivotal in the jury's decision, as the prosecution struggled to prove intent without substantial evidence.
Quote:
Supporters' Reaction:
A large crowd of Reed’s supporters gathered outside the Norfolk Superior Courthouse, adorned in pink, expressing overwhelming relief and joy.
O'Keefe Family's Reaction:
The O'Keefe family and their supporters were visibly devastated by the verdict.
Community Sentiment:
There is a palpable sense of frustration and distrust among the community, with calls for further investigations and accountability.
The trial incurred significant costs, raising questions about the efficiency and fairness of the justice system.
Debate on Resource Allocation:
Legal analysts debated whether the substantial financial burden justified the trial's outcome, highlighting disparities in legal representation based on economic status.
The podcast paid tribute to Officer John O'Keefe, portraying him as a dedicated family man and beloved community member.
Personal Background:
Community Impact:
The verdict in Karen Reed's trial marks a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for Officer John O'Keefe. While Reed secured acquittals on serious charges, the O'Keefe family's quest for closure remains unfulfilled. The trial has sparked widespread discussions about prosecutorial overreach, the costs of high-profile cases, and the inherent inequalities within the legal system. As the community grapples with mixed emotions, the legacy of Officer O'Keefe endures, underscoring the profound impact of his loss.
This summary captures the essence of the podcast episode, focusing on the trial's outcome, reactions, legal analysis, and the personal tribute to Officer John O'Keefe. Notable quotes are included with accurate timestamps to provide context and authenticity.