Northeast

Karen Read murder trial: Prosecutors face challenge with 'undetermined' cause of death

Published

2 years ago

April 27, 2024

Karen Read murder trial: Prosecutors face challenge with 'undetermined' cause of death

A forensics expert zeroed in on two pieces of evidence ahead of Karen Read’s murder trial — the autopsy and the way the victim’s clothes were handled — and said he believes the medical examiner’s testimony will be pivotal.

Read allegedly hit her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her car and left him to die in the snow, prosecutors said. Read denied the allegations and claimed there was a cover-up to frame her.

O’Keefe’s official cause of death is listed as “undetermined,” which sets up the medical examiner as the “big star” of the trial, forensics expert John Scott Morgan told Fox News Digital.

“I urge everybody that’s following this case to really pay close attention to what the medical examiner says, because they will be asked to explain the logic behind listing this as an undetermined,” Morgan said. “I would expect the defense to particularly focus in on that question, and it will be framed in a manner in which they will say, ‘Well, you know, we’ve got the prosecutor here that is saying that this is, in fact, a murder. What is it, doctor, what is keeping you from ruling this as a homicide?”

KAREN READ MASSACHUSETTS TRIAL: 3 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT WOMAN CHARGED WITH OFFICER BOYFRIEND’S MURDER

Karen Read sits in court during jury selection at Norfolk County Superior Court April 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool)

The case goes back to 2022 in the Boston suburb of Canton, Massachusetts, where O’Keefe was found dead. Both O’Keefe and Read were drunk that night, according to court documents.

The trial started with jury selection last week after nearly two years of divisive rhetoric on both sides and an undercurrent of controversy fueled by a federal probe into the defense’s cover-up allegations.

MASSACHUSETTS SHELLS KAREN READ ACTIVIST ‘TURTLEBOY’ BLOGGER WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES IN FIRST AMENDMENT FIGHT

On Wednesday, a full jury was selected among hundreds of prospective jurists, setting the stage for what’s expected to be a lengthy and tense trial. Read’s supporters and adversaries have been clashing outside the courthouse.

On Thursday, several pretrial motions are expected to be resolved, and opening statements are scheduled to start Monday.

Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe (BPD)

Karen Read departs Norfolk Superior Court after a day of jury selection April 17, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

O’Keefe suffered multiple wounds, including skull fractures consistent with blunt-force trauma that led to bleeding in the brain, swollen black eyes and several lacerations and abrasions to his right arm and hands.

The prosecution alleges the injuries were sustained when Read hit him with her car, while the defense says the injuries were suffered during a fight inside the house and a dog attack.

KAREN READ, CHARGED WITH MURDER IN BOSTON COP BOYFRIEND’S DEATH, LEARNS TRIAL START DATE AFTER HEATED HEARING

“That’s very specific information,” said Morgan, who spent over 20 years in the New Orleans coroner’s office and with the Fulton County Medical Examiner in Atlanta before becoming a professor at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama.

The key is when this information about a possible dog bite was relayed to the medical examiner.

If the medical examiner didn’t know about the dog bite defense during the autopsy, the examiner likely wouldn’t have attempted to get evidence, like dog hair or a saliva swab, to test if there was canine DNA, Morgan said.

Karen Read appears in Norfolk County Superior Court for a pretrial hearing. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

WATCH: Morgan previews potential arguments for O’Keefe’s injuries

‘There’s one issue here that has been particularly troubling to me’

Morgan said how O’Keefe’s clothing was removed during life-saving efforts, how they were preserved and the chain of custody “is very important here.”

If reports about clothing being piled up in the corner of a trauma room are accurate, potential evidence is compromised, he said.

MASSACHUSETTS DA SHREDS ‘CONSPIRACY THEORIES’ IN KAREN READ MURDER CASE OVER BOSTON COP BOYFRIEND’S DEATH

“Are we talking about hours? Days? Weeks? Because the longer you wait to submit this, the less secure it is,” Morgan said, “And if you can’t account for it 24/7, you spoil the chain of custody. And, at that point, there’s little or no accountability. You don’t know who’s come in contact with these items.

“It can be very delicate. And once you have that evidence as a forensic investigator, you need to know how it was packaged and who packaged it.”

Karen A. Read, 42, the girlfriend of late Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, was arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court on charges of second-degree murder in his death in Dedham, Mass., June 10, 2022. A photo of the couple together was presented by the defense to the prosecution. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Karen Read and her lawyer Alan Jackson pass through a gauntlet of supporters outside Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., April 16, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger)

He used the example of the O.J. Simpson murder case, which included over 100 exhibits of DNA evidence that his lawyers essentially discredited by arguing investigators botched the removal, collection, handling and processing of evidence, including bloody clothes.

“Reflect back to the O.J. Simpson case, where one of the detectives had been mentioned of riding around with blood samples in their car before they were ever submitted into evidence,” Morgan said. “All kinds of things can happen, particularly with blood evidence like that, because it is fragile.”

Read’s arrest and how a blogger fueled the fire

Read was arrested Feb. 2, 2022, and charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident, causing injury and death. She pleaded not guilty to all charges.

“I did not kill John O’Keefe. I have never harmed a hair on John O’Keefe’s head,” Read told ABC News in August.

MASSACHUSETTS PROFESSOR CHARGED IN COP BOYFRIEND’S KILLING CALLS IT A ‘COVER-UP’

The case split the otherwise quiet suburban town, and a local blogger, Aiden Kearney, who goes by the nickname “Turtleboy,” riled up the “Free Karen” side of the debate.

He is often seen with a cellphone camera and bullhorn leading demonstrations and trumpeting Read’s law enforcement cover-up defense.

Massachusetts blogger “Turtleboy” Aiden Kearney was charged with witness intimidation for allegedly threatening witnesses in a murder case in Massachusetts. (Aidan Kearney(@DoctorTurleboy)/X)

The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office alleged he crossed a line by intimidating witnesses, and he was arrested in October, enraging his loyal followers.

The prosecutor alleged Kearney “showed up” at sporting events of witnesses’ children and “made scenes,” harassed and photographed witnesses at their homes and jobs and instructed followers of his blog to do the same.

GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE TRUE CRIME HUB

Kearney’s lawyer told the judge his client “vehemently denies” the accusations when Kearney pleaded not guilty, saying his client’s opinions are protected by the First Amendment.

Kearney was indicted on over a dozen felonies involving witness intimidation. He also served 60 days in jail for violating a protective order, but he has since been freed and is waiting for his own trial.

“The influence of media, social media, the sidebars with the turtle blogger. All the information that’s been going back and forth from the DA’s office and the defense team. I think it’s going to be a long road to pick an impartial jury,” Suffolk University Law Professor Christopher Dearborn told CBS News.

Fox News Digital’s Mitch Picasso contributed to this report.

Chris Eberhart is a crime and US news reporter for Fox News Digital. Email tips to chris.eberhart@fox.com or on Twitter @ChrisEberhart48.

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Pennsylvania

🏭 A legal fight over coal mining | Morning Newsletter

Published

27 minutes ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Welcome to April, Philly! What’s that old saying, “April showers bring May flowers?” Well, we’re looking at the possibility of some showers today, and the temperature will be near 80.

A legal fight over coal mining in southwestern Pennsylvania is brewing. An environmental group’s efforts to restore state land is running up against an industry that isn’t done digging up fossil fuels.

And get ready for a busy month in Philly’s restaurant scene. We have new restaurants opening, the return of a former city staple, and James Beard Award nominees.

Plus, a judge ruled that Penn must release the names of people affiliated with campus Jewish organizations to the Trump administration, and more news of the day.

— Sam Stewart (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

A fight over Gov. Josh Shapiro’s energy policies is playing out. The dispute started in 2024, when activists petitioned regulators to preemptively declare 11,000 acres off-limits for mining.

That threatened to undermine expansion plans by a major Pennsylvania coal company. The firm’s affiliates have received tens of millions of dollars in state subsidies. And the owners are also major campaign donors to Shapiro and state Republican lawmakers.

The coal company lobbied the state to reject the mining restriction. After consulting Shapiro’s office, environmental regulators did just that.

But that rejection spurred litigation — and the documents from that dispute now offer a window into how Shapiro is navigating energy politics in a major fossil fuel-producing state ahead of a possible 2028 presidential campaign.

This is no April Fool’s joke, Philly. The city’s restaurant scene is busy this month.

🏅There are seven Philly finalists for the 2026 James Beard Foundation Awards. Michelin-recommended Thai restaurant Kalaya and Italian bakery and café Fiore are some names on the list.

🍲 Several new restaurants are slated to open this month, from pizza places to a Vietnamese-Cajun-inspired spot, Carolyn’s Modern Vietnamese.

🍺 Plus, an old classic is making a comeback. Iron Hill Brewery, which closed all locations and filed for bankruptcy last year, is set to return to Market East.

What you should know today

The University of Pennsylvania must release lists of people affiliated with Jewish organizations on its campus, a federal court judge ruled on Tuesday. Penn had argued that releasing the information would put employees at risk.
Convicted former labor leader John J. Dougherty will be permitted to hold a hearing about his request to have his prison term cut short to care for his gravely ill wife.
Parkside Borough Council President Dominic Capobianco used a borough-issued gas card to fill up his personal vehicle, and his wife’s, stealing $2,500 from the tiny Delaware County town, according to the DA.
A Kensington elementary school parent has accused the Philadelphia School District of unfairly foisting a school closure, despite it not being on the list of 18 schools facing shutdown.
Philly’s government is slowly rebuilding its workforce after the COVID-19 pandemic, with officials saying the number of unfilled jobs is at its lowest point in several years.
Gov. Josh Shapiro hosted an official statewide pep rally ahead of Pennsylvania’s major celebrations and sporting events this summer, like the nation’s 250th and the FIFA World Cup.
Uber is expanding its program that offers free and discounted rides to seniors to Northeast Philadelphia through KleinLife.

Quote of the day

Visa and Bank of America are transforming a Fishtown park into a hub for community soccer matches and development in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup in Philadelphia. Visa and Bank of America will open the Visa Street Soccer Park at 1036 N. Front St., a refurbishment of Fishtown’s Tiptop Playground.

🧠 Trivia time

Which former Eagle and podcaster will do on-course reporting during the popular golf event, the Masters Par 3 Contest?

A) Donovan McNabb

B) Nick Foles

C) John Middlekauff

D) Jason Kelce

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re …

🏡 Admiring: A renovated three-bedroom home in Roxborough with an updated kitchen and an electric-vehicle charging station.

⚽ Wondering: Can the U.S. soccer team play in Philadelphia at the World Cup? The answer is: It’s complicated.

🏢 Keeping an eye on: SEPTA is seeking apartment development near its Regional Rail stations.

🌱 Sniffling about: Sneezin’ season is back. Expect a tree-pollen bonanza as temperatures rise this week.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: This new city-sponsored initiative will focus on turning East Passyunk, Center City, and West Philly into live music destinations.

ELVIN SIGHT WEEK

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to James O’Connor, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Strathmere.

The lifeguard headquarters house in the Cape May County community was demolished over the weekend when local officials deemed it too dangerous after a year of extreme weather left the beach eroded.

Photo of the day

That’s all for today, folks! Enjoy the first day of April and I’ll be back soon. 👋

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

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Rhode Island

Who is Rosie DiMare? What to know about the ‘Real Housewife’ of RI

Published

33 minutes ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Who is Rosie DiMare? What to know about the ‘Real Housewife’ of RI

With the premiere of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” you may be wondering exactly who you will be seeing on the screen.

Premiering on Thursday, April 2, Rhode Island’s debut in “The Real Housewives” franchise will focus on seven women, with special appearances from “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Dolores Catania. One of Rhode Island’s seven “Real Housewives” is Rosie Woods DiMare, a familiar face for Rhode Islanders who watch the morning news.

Here’s what to know about Rhode Island “Real Housewife” Rosie DiMare ahead of the series premiere.

Who is Rosie DiMare?

A lifetime New Englander, Rosie DiMare grew up just over the Rhode Island border in Massachusetts before spending her college years in the city at Boston University, according to her LinkedIn. DiMare now lives in North Kingstown with her dog and husband, professional Frank Sinatra impersonator Rich DiMare.

If you think you’ve seen Rosie DiMare on TV before, you’re right – she used to be a television news anchor for WPRI and, more recently, NBC WJAR Channel 10, reporting on the morning traffic and hosting her own afternoon lifestyle show.

After 10+ years of working in local news across the country, DiMare decided to do her own show under her own production company, and she is now the host of her own lifestyle program. Outside of her work in entertainment, DiMare also works as a DJ, an emcee and a social media manager for several local companies.

According to her personal bio from Bravo, DiMare will face multiple challenges this season as friend drama unfolds while she and her husband move.

Here’s what Bravo said about Rosie DiMare’s arc in the debut season: “Former Rhode Island television news anchor Rosie DiMare and her husband, Rich, are leveling up, trading their cozy over-the-garage apartment for a sprawling dream home. As Rosie focuses on growing her local lifestyle program, she also faces challenges within her inner circle, leaving her to reassess loyalties and where she truly fits in with this evolving, close-knit group.”

How to watch ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’

The debut season of “The Real Housewives of Rhode Island” will premiere Thursday, April 2 at 9 p.m. on Bravo. After the first episode, new episodes will air weekly on Sundays at 9 p.m.

Episodes will be available for next-day streaming on Peacock. This means that the first episode will be available to stream on Friday, April 3, with new episodes available to stream on Mondays each week after that.

Watch ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ on Peacock

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Vermont

Applications open for money to restore old Vermont barns

Published

1 hour ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Applications open for money to restore old Vermont barns

Dave DeMille
| Burlington Free Press

Vermont’s barn preservation effort is getting a fresh coat of energy as the state opens applications for the 2026 Vermont Barn Painting Project.

The initiative offers reimbursement to farm families for painting and minor repairs that help maintain historic barns, according to a community announcement. Funding comes from the A. Pizzagalli Family Farm Fund, and ten barns will be selected for support this year.

The announcement notes that the program continues a long-running effort supported by Angelo Pizzagalli and the family fund. The fund has been involved in barn restoration work for years, evolving into the microgrant format now being used to help farm families manage the upkeep of large, aging structures.

Applications are open through April 30 and will be reviewed as they arrive, according to the announcement. Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Interested barn owners may apply online or email Scott Waterman at Scott.Waterman@vermont.gov for more information.

This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

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