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Second Karen Read juror faults 'sloppy police investigation' in John O'Keefe murder case

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Second Karen Read juror faults 'sloppy police investigation' in John O'Keefe murder case

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A second Karen Read juror has come forward after arriving at not guilty verdicts on most of the charges she faced in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe.

“It could just be bad police work, but if anyone had done their job correctly, we wouldn’t be in this position,” Paula Prado, who was Juror No. 11, told ABC News. “It would either be proved or disproved right away.”

Another of the 12 jurors explained the panel’s reasoning Thursday, a day after her second trial came to a close. He also explained brief confusion Wednesday afternoon that arose out of a verdict that jurors later retracted before it was read in court. Judge Beverly Cannone sealed that one. Within minutes, jurors had a verdict for real.

“Everything on that initial slip was the same as the slip that was presented,” Juror No. 4, identified only as “Jason,” told TMZ Live. He said they pulled the first slip back over the OUI charge – operating under the influence of liquor, of which jurors found her guilty.

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KAREN READ MURDER CASE VERDICT REACHED AFTER DEADLOCKED FIRST TRIAL

WATCH: Juror No. 4’s interview

“In our deliberations, we had decided there was enough evidence and proof that she was driving under the influence,” he said.

Cannone ordered that the jurors’ names remain sealed for 10 days, but she said individual jurors could come forward on their own, if they wanted. 

Jurors found Read not guilty of murder, manslaughter and fleeing a deadly accident in a trial that stretched on for more than 30 days of testimony and four days of deliberations. The lesser included charge of OUI is the Massachusetts term for drunken driving.

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“I don’t know what happened to John,” Jason said. “I was only presented a limited scope of what happened at the night, and I can only base my opinion off of the evidence that was shown in the courtroom. So, I don’t really know if there was a cover-up or not.

Karen Read exits Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Read was found not guilty in the murder of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe. (Richard Beetham for Fox News Digital)

“I know that’s the big conspiracy around it, but I don’t really know. All I know is there was a lot of holes in the investigation. Whether they were deliberate holes or not deliberate holes, it’s kinda hard for me sitting back to know that — you know, what actually happened.”

He said the defense claim that O’Keefe could have been killed by someone in the house — in an attack that involved a dog — was an “example of reasonable doubt.”

“We were tasked with finding … with deciding this person’s fate based on the proof in the evidence that the commonwealth was able to present, and there was a lot of holes,” he said.

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Officer John O’Keefe (Boston Police Department)

He said another important factor for the jury was video that showed Read’s taillight.

“We could see from the car, after the alleged incident happened, when we could see the taillight it was lit up red, where it shouldn’t just have been red,” he said. “I don’t believe that the SUV collided with John O’Keefe.”

Still, he added, there was no way for jurors to know whether claims of a “corrupt” police investigation were true.

“I don’t know that there was any corruption going on,” he said. “But do I know that there wasn’t enough proof or evidence secured by the police to convict Karen Read? Absolutely.”

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Also Thursday, Massachusetts State Police brass broke their silence on the years-long case marred by investigative missteps and the firing of a state trooper who played a central role in the case.

Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor faces a tough cross-examination by lawyer Alan Jackson during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., June 12, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via Imagn)

Read was accused — and acquitted — of killing her boyfriend by slamming an SUV into him and leaving him to die on the ground during a blizzard after a drunken argument. Jurors found her guilty only of drunken driving, for which she received a sentence of one year probation and outpatient treatment.

Col. Geoffrey Noble, the state police commissioner, said the entire department sends its condolences to O’Keefe’s family.

“The events of the last three years have challenged our department to thoroughly review our actions and take concrete steps to deliver advanced investigative training, ensure appropriate oversight and enhance accountability,” Noble said in a statement. “Under my direction as colonel, the state police has, and will continue to, improve in these regards.”

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He said the goal is to deliver “excellent” service and maintain public trust.

Karen Read and John O’Keefe pose for an undated photograph. (Karen Read)

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Jurors did not appear to trust the investigation after four days of deliberation, when they rejected the prosecution’s case almost entirely.

MASSACHUSETTS TROOPER MICHAEL PROCTOR ‘TERMINATED’ FROM STATE POLICE

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The lead investigator on the case, former State Trooper Michael Proctor, lost his job in March after an internal investigation concluded he shared confidential and sensitive law enforcement information with civilians in a group text, the contents of which were also lewd in nature and mocked Read’s health issues.

Supporters of Karen Read gesture as she departs Norfolk Superior Court during jury deliberations Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Dedham, Mass. (Charles Krupa/AP Photo)

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It was Noble who announced the firing, days before Read’s second trial began. Her first trial ended with a deadlocked jury last year after the texts were read in court and Read’s defense exposed other glaring flaws in the investigation. 

“It is incumbent upon me, as well as every member of this department, to hold one another accountable when any member compromises our mission by failing to uphold our values,” he said at the time.

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Noble and the department were also sued by true crime reporters and some of Read’s supporters over the enforcement of a “buffer zone” around the Dedham courthouse that their lawyers called unconstitutional.

Separately, local police in Canton, Massachusetts, were subjected to an external audit that recommended increased training and oversight while dispelling claims of a conspiracy to frame Read for O’Keefe’s death.

 

A federal investigation into the case ended without charges against members of either law enforcement agency.

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Boston, MA

Orioles news: O’s win series in Boston

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Orioles news: O’s win series in Boston


Good morning, Camden Chatters.

Break up the Orioles! The O’s continued their winning ways yesterday afternoon with an emphatic 8-2 victory in the rubber game at Fenway. The Birds’ bats blistered Boston’s Brayan Bello for six runs in the top of the first inning and cruised from there, sealing the Orioles’ fourth consecutive series win or split. Check out Andrea SK’s recap of the resounding victory.

The Orioles improved to 9-4 in their last 13 games, breathing new life into their 2026 season. Two weeks ago, the O’s were on the brink of collapse after getting swept in Tampa and falling to a season-worst eight games under .500. Last year’s Orioles, frankly, probably would have continued to spiral. But this group has rallied.

The O’s are playing their best baseball of the year right now, mostly against divisional opponents. The offensive approach has noticeably improved, with hitters up and down the lineup contributing quality at-bats, and previously underperforming hitters like Coby Mayo and Colton Cowser starting to swing the bats better. In the rotation, Kyle Bradish, Shane Baz, and Brandon Young are delivering quality starts more often than not. And we’ve seen signs of a resurgence from Trevor Rogers, who yesterday rattled off his second start in a row of 5+ scoreless innings before fading as he reached the 70-pitch mark. His command looks much better; now he just needs to work sustaining that pace deeper into games.

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I’m not sold yet that the Orioles are a legitimately good ball club. The nature of a 162-game season is that a team can play like gangbusters for a while and then fade just as quickly. We could be back here in two weeks after the O’s go, like, 2-8, and reminiscing wistfully about this hot streak that didn’t last. But right now almost everything is clicking for the Orioles, and if they can sustain their solid play, the idea of the O’s being part of the playoff race this summer and fall isn’t so outlandish.

Will Orioles move on from Tyler O’Neill? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com

As the rest of the roster starts to gel, O’Neill’s continued lack of production sticks out like a sore thumb. Maybe the only thing saving him right now is that the O’s don’t currently have any healthy, productive outfielders in the minors ready to replace him. Tommy Pham ain’t it.

For Jackson Holliday, he wants to re-create his late season 2025 walk rate this year – Steve Melewski

Holliday has always struck me as a guy with a keen batting eye, so it’s weird that he wasn’t taking a lot of walks in the majors until late last year. If he can add that to his repertoire, it’ll lengthen the O’s lineup that much more.

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Turns Out Adley Rutschman Is OK After All – FanGraphs

In April I was convinced that Adley was so back, but his dismal May had me wondering if he was falling apart again. Michael Baumann (not that one) offers some reasons to be optimistic about Adley’s 2026.

Jon Meoli: How Rico Garcia assembled the pitch mix that’s saving the Orioles’ bullpen – The Baltimore Banner

Rico has been thriving in large part based on his dad’s advice: throw everything hard. I’m starting the “Eddie Garcia for Orioles pitching coach” campaign right now.

Orioles birthdays and history

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Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You share your day with ex-Orioles catcher Robinson Chirinos (42) and right-hander Russ Ortiz (52).

On this date in 1982, Cal Ripken Jr., who had been lifted for a pinch-hitter the previous day, played the full game against the Twins to start a consecutive-inning streak that eventually reached 8,243. It ended in September 1987 when he was taken out for a pinch-runner during a loss to the Blue Jays.

And on this day in 1985, Orioles right-hander Dennis Martínez notched his 100th career victory in grand style, throwing a one-hit shutout against the Angels at Memorial Stadium. A Jerry Narron third-inning single was the only blemish for Martínez, who faced just one batter over the minimum. Even though he didn’t get his 100th win until age 31, the Nicaraguan-born Martínez finished his career with 245 of them, setting the MLB record for wins by a Latin pitcher (later broken by Bartolo Colon).

Random Orioles game of the day

On June 5, 1974, the Orioles won a dramatic walkoff against the Royals, 5-4. The O’s trailed, 4-2, heading to the bottom of the ninth as Kansas City starter Bruce Dal Canton dominated them for eight innings. But the Orioles got to Dal Canton for two walks in the ninth, then jumped on reliever Doug Bird to complete the comeback. Brooks Robinson’s RBI single brought the O’s within one, Elrod Hendricks tied the game with a sac fly, and Mark Belanger doubled to shallow center to bring home pinch-runner Frank Baker with the game-winning run.

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Pittsburg, PA

Carmen Mlodzinski Shows Pirates How Much They Need Him

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Carmen Mlodzinski Shows Pirates How Much They Need Him


PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have looked for reliable bullpen arms and right-handed pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski displayed exactly what they need this season.

Mlodzinski earned a four-inning save for the Pirates in the 5-1 win over the Houston Astros in the series finale at Daikin Park on June 5, playing a big role in a massive road series win.

He allowed just one run and four hits, while posting three strikeouts, shutting down a strong Astros offense for an important win.

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Mlodzinski has a new role with the Pirates, but it’s one they need more performances like this one to help out an area of weakness on their pitching staff.

How Mlodzinski Shut Down the Astros

It wasn’t a great start for Mlodzinski, who gave up a solo home run to Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning.

Mlodzinski threw just his second pitch, a 94.6 mph four-seam fastball that was in the top part of the strike zone, which Paredes sent 101.3 mph off the bat and 356 feet into the left field seats.

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Jun 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski (50) throws a pitch against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images

The Pirates pitcher then got out of the inning quickly, with two ground outs and a fly out to end it.

Mlodzinski faced some adversity in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving up back-to-back singles with one out and faced Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez, who was 7-for-11 and drove in five RBI prior to this at-bat.

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He managed to get Alvarez out on a sinker at the top of the zone, that Mlodzinski noted postgame as, “unintentional”, and then got a ground out to strand both runners.

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Mlodzinski got a 1-2-3 eighth inning and then after giving up a single in the ninth inning, he got a double play to end the game on a backdoor slider.

it was an outing that Mlodzinski relied less on striking batters out and more on inducing weak contact and relying on his defense to get the job done.

He allowed just five hard hits on 12 batted ball events and saw some nice defensive plays made, including a diving catch from left fielder Jake Mangum and a good stop from third baseman Nick Gonzales and then the pick from first baseman Spencer Horwitz for a big out.

“Yeah it was fun,” Mlodzinski said postgame to DK Pittsburgh Sports. “Not ideal second pitch in. I just felt like trusting my stuff to go right after guys. We had a five-run lead, so the thought was, ‘Let’s be efficient.’ Kind of had an idea going in that I might be able to finish this one, so efficiency was definitely in the back of my head and no walks and the defense made some plays behind me. Just pitching to the game, in a sense.”

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Mlodzinski Filling New Role Admirably for Pirates

It wasn’t an easy week prior to this game for Mlodzinski, who lost his spot in the starting rotation after two months, following the return of Jared Jones from inury.

Jones took Mlodzinski’s role and the Pirates placed Mlodzinski on the restricted list for the 9-3 win over the Minnesota Twins in the series finale at PNC Park on May 31.

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Jun 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jared Jones (17) throws a pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images | Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Mlodzinski came back off the restricted list the following day and eventually resumed his role in the bullpen, where he followed Jones in this game.

Jones had thrown five scoreless innings in his second start back and Mlodzinski came through with a solid outing for himself.

This is a big moment for the Pirates, who now have Jones improving and able to take on a bigger workload each time he comes out, while Mlodzinski is an effective reliever that can fill that bulk role after Jones.

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Pittsburgh managed to give the seven other bullpen arms a rest, crucially important as they take on the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park, a weekend road series against the team with the best record in baseball at 42-21.

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The Pirates bullpen had just blown a 9-5 lead in the eighth inning the game prior, in a 11-9 loss to the Astros on June 3, which marked their 13th blown save of the season.

Pirates manager Don Kelly now has one of his best arms back in his bullpen and will want to see more outings like this one from Mlodzinski as the season continues, who will help the Pirates maintain leads and give them a chance to make comebacks as well.

“We’re gonna be smart with it,” Kelly said postgame to SportsNet Pittsburgh. “He’s extremely important to us, with the starts he’s made, coming out of the ‘pen, filling four.

“We’re going to smart about the usage with him and it keeps him stretched out. It’s not to say we might not see some shorter, but the ideal length is probably for him to get up there in pitches and to do exactly what he did tonight.”

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Make sure to visit Pirates OnSI for the latest news, updates, interviews and insight on the Pittsburgh Pirates!

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Connecticut

Early morning forecast for June 5

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Early morning forecast for June 5



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