Defendant Karen Read accused of leaving Boston police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, to die in the snow outside a fellow officer's home on January 29, 2022
Defense suggests conspiracy theory against prosecution's intoxicated hit-and-run allegation
Key witness Jennifer McCabe testified that she found O'Keefe unresponsive on the lawn of 34 Fairview Road and Read stated something about the incident
In the small town of Canton, Massachusetts, a sensational murder trial is unfolding. The defendant, Karen Read, is accused of leaving her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, to die in the snow outside a fellow officer's home on January 29, 2022. The case has captured the attention of local and national media due to its shocking nature and the high-profile individuals involved.
Read is currently standing trial for second-degree murder at Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham. Her legal team, a bicoastal group, suggests a well-funded defense strategy. The defense appears to be framing Read as taking on a conspiracy.
The prosecution alleges that Read struck O'Keefe with her SUV while intoxicated and left him for dead in the cold. However, the defense argues that O'Keefe was instead killed during a fight inside retired Boston police officer Brian Albert's home and then dragged outside.
One of the key witnesses in this case is Jennifer McCabe, who testified that she found O'Keefe unresponsive on the lawn of 34 Fairview Road. According to her testimony, Read stated,
Read's defense says O’Keefe was not hit by a vehicle and was instead killed during a fight inside retired Boston police officer Brian Albert’s 34 Fairview Road home in Canton, then dragged outside.
Defense plans to ask more questions about a Google search on McCabe’s phone regarding ‘How long does it take to die in the cold?’
Accuracy
Karen Read hit her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV and left him to die during a snowstorm in January 2022.
Deception
(80%)
The article provides a detailed account of the Karen Read murder trial with quotes from various witnesses and the author does not make any editorializing or pontification statements. However, there are instances of selective reporting as some details that could potentially weaken the prosecution's case are not mentioned. For example, defense attorneys accused Katie McLaughlin of perjury based on photographs showing her being friends with Karen Read, but this information was not reported in the article. Additionally, Brian Albert's response to why he got rid of his cellphone before receiving a data preservation notice is not questioned or challenged by the author. These omissions could potentially influence the reader's perception of the trial and therefore are considered deceptive practices.
Defense attorneys later accused McLaughlin of perjuring herself.
The defense called it a ‘made-up story.’
Defense attorneys played videos they say show Colin Albert threatening a group of teenagers.
Brian Albert himself also took the stand, testifying that neither Read nor O’Keefe ever entered his home the night of the incident.
Karen Read stated 'I hit him, I hit him, I hit him' after finding her boyfriend unresponsive outside a house.
Jennifer McCabe testified that she Googled 'How long does it take to die in the cold' at the request of Karen Read after they found O'Keefe's body, not at 2:27 a.m.
Accuracy
Karen Read is on trial for second-degree murder and other charges in the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.
, Jen McCabe testified that Read stated she had hit O’Keefe.
Read was charged with second-degree murder after O’Keefe was found unresponsive outside a house owned by McCabe’s sister and brother-in-law.
McCabe testified that Read said ‘I hit him, I hit him, I hit him’ on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.
Defense plans to ask more questions about a Google search on McCabe’s phone regarding ‘How long does it take to die in the cold?’
Deception
(80%)
The article contains selective reporting as the author focuses on certain parts of McCabe's testimony that support their narrative and ignores other parts where McCabe's statements do not align with their theory. For example, the author states 'But defense attorney Alan Jackson on Tuesday presented McCabe with grand jury testimony she gave in 2022, asking where McCabe testified at the time that Read stated she hit O’Keefe.' However, they fail to mention that McCabe's initial testimony was unclear about whether Read had made such a statement or not. The author also uses emotional manipulation by stating 'There are more holes in her story than a fishing net, so I will focus on all the holes.' This is an attempt to sway the reader's opinion against McCabe and Read. Additionally, there is no disclosure of sources in the article.
The defense says somethings not adding up.
That Google search was at 2:27 in the morning, that is when the Google search happened.
Fallacies
(85%)
The authors present conflicting information about when Jennifer McCabe searched 'How long does it take to die in the cold?'. The defense claims it was at 2:27 am, but McCabe testifies that she did the search after they found O'Keefe's body. This is an example of a contradiction fallacy.
> The defense says somethings not adding up.
> That Google search was at 2:27 in the morning, that is when the Google search happened,
McCabe's testimony:
> I was asked to do the search by Read after they found O’Keefe’s body.
The Karen Read murder trial resumed on Tuesday with defense attorneys cross-examining Jennifer McCabe.
Jennifer McCabe testified that when first responders arrived, Read clearly repeated 'I hit him, I hit him, I hit him.'
McCabe confirmed under cross-examination that she said 'I hit him, I hit him, I hit him' in her testimony.
McCabe texted O’Keefe to ‘pull behind me’ and shortly after texted ‘Hello.’
Read went out to search for O’Keefe along with McCabe and another woman when he did not return home by the early morning of January 29, 2022.
A Google search is at the center of McCabe’s testimony. She said that around 6 a.m. when O’Keefe’s body was found, Read asked her to do an internet search.
Defense attorneys claim McCabe is a key part in an alleged plot to frame Read and say the search actually took place hours before O’Keefe’s body was found.
Karen Read is a 45-year-old woman from Massachusetts charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.
Accuracy
]The Karen Read murder trial resumed on Tuesday with defense attorneys cross-examining Jennifer McCabe.[
Defense attorney Alan Jackson asked McCabe about her previous testimony and noted she used different versions of the phrase instead of directly saying 'I hit him'.
Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as the author only reports details that support the prosecution's position in the Karen Read murder trial. The author does not mention any evidence or testimony that could potentially exonerate Karen Read. Additionally, there is emotional manipulation through the use of phrases like 'vicious harassment' and 'amazing guy' to elicit an emotional response from readers.
She described O’Keefe as an ‘amazing guy'
There were some tense moments at the start of Jackson’s cross-examination as he showed video of McCabe talking to Read while they left the Waterfall Bar and Grille in Canton. That is where the group was drinking before O’Keefe’s death.
McCabe first took the stand Friday as a prosecution witness. She is the sister of Brian Albert’s wife, Nicole Albert.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the defense's claim as an 'elaborate coverup' and the prosecution's allegations as 'alleges that'. This language is not neutral and can influence the reader. The author also repeats McCabe's testimony about Read saying 'I hit him, I hit him, I hit him', but does not provide any context or analysis of this statement beyond quoting it. This could be considered a fallacy of omission if the author fails to acknowledge that this statement is being used as evidence in the trial and does not provide any counter-evidence or analysis. The author also uses loaded language when describing McCabe's testimony about harassment as 'vicious'.
an elaborate coverup.
alleges that
I hit him, I hit him, I hit him.
the facts of the case are not spoken about as much as the vicious harassment
Bias
(95%)
The author does not demonstrate any clear bias in the article. However, there are a few instances where the author's language could be perceived as slightly favoring the defense's narrative. For example, when describing Read's defense claims that O'Keefe could have been killed during a fight inside the home and then dragged outside and left in the snow, Schooley writes 'Read's defense says she is the victim of an elaborate coverup.' This language implies that there may be some truth to the defense's claims, but it does not necessarily mean that Schooley agrees with them. Additionally, when describing McCabe's testimony about seeing Read's SUV outside and hearing nothing, Schooley writes 'McCabe later said
Defendant is accused of leaving the officer to die in the snow outside a fellow Boston police officer’s home in Canton.
Her legal team includes a bicoastal team, signaling a well-funded defense strategy.
Defense strategy appears to be framing Read as taking on a conspiracy.
Read has been dressing sharply and favoring structured silhouettes and darker colors during her trial.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by quoting Andrew Caple-Shaw's analysis of Karen Read's courtroom style and its potential impact on jurors. However, the author does not commit any formal fallacies or use inflammatory rhetoric in her own statements.
“The defense strategy seems to be that there’s a conspiracy, and ‘we’re positioning ourselves to fight the conspiracy,’
“That’s the only rationale I can find for the approach that she’s taking in terms of the way she’s dressing and carrying herself, is that she’s framing herself as some kind of hero taking on a conspiracy.”
Karen Read is charged with second-degree murder for the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe.
Read is a friend of O’Keefe and was with him at the Waterfall Bar & Grille before going to 34 Fairview Road after midnight on January 29, 2022.
McCabe found O’Keefe's body on the front lawn of the Canton home later that morning with another witness, Kerry Roberts.
Read told McCabe she didn’t remember going to the house and asked if she could have hit O’Keefe.
Defense attorneys began cross-examination of McCabe on Tuesday.
McCabe did not tell a grand jury about Read’s ‘I hit him, I hit him, I hit him’ statements because she was not asked.
Accuracy
Karen Read is charged with second-degree murder
Norfolk County prosecutors claim Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV and left him to die during a snowstorm in January 2022.
Defense attorneys say O’Keefe was not hit by a vehicle and was instead killed during a fight inside retired Boston police officer Brian Albert’s 34 Fairview Road home in Canton, then dragged outside.
