The top 10 Crime and Justice Stories of the Year - #10 KAREN READ - THE JURY BELIEVED THE FRAME-UP - AND SHE'S SUING EVERYONE"

0:03 Callarogus Shark Media. Good morning, I'm Reed Carter. Sunday, December fourteenth, twenty twenty five. We're starting our countdown of the top ten crime and justice stories of twenty twenty five ten days, ten cases that defined the year. Assassinations, trials, verdicts, and cover ups. Coming in at number ten. Karen Reid January twenty ninth, twenty twenty two, Canton, Massachusetts, small suburb about twenty miles south of Boston. It's six am. Snow's coming down, hard, blizzard conditions, windchill below zero. A woman named Jennifer McCabe is driving Karen Reid's Lexus SUV through the neighborhood. They're looking for Reed's boyfriend, Boston Police officer John O'Keefe. He never came home last night. Reed's been calling him for hours, dozens of times, no answer. They pull up to thirty four Fairview Road, home of Brian Albert, another Boston cop.

1:10 Party happened there the night before. Maybe O'Keefe went inside. That's when they see it. A body half buried in the snow near the flagpole at the edge of the lawn, face down, arms extended. It's John O'Keefe, forty six years old, sixteen year veteran of the Boston Police Department, the man who'd stepped up to raise his niece and nephew after their parents died cold stiff dead. Karen Reid starts screaming, collapses. First responders arrive. One of them hears her say something, I hit him, I hit him, I hit him? Or did she say did I hit him? Could I have hit him? Depends who you ask. Four days later, Massachusetts State Police arrested Karen Reid charged her with second degree murder.

1:56 Said she ran over O'Keefe with her SUV after a knight of drinking, then left him to die in a snow bank while she drove home and went to sleep. But Reed's defense team had a different story. They said John O'Keefe walked into that house at thirty four Fairview Road, got into a fight with the people inside, was beaten, maybe attacked by a dog, and his body was dragged outside and dumped in the snow. Then the cops. His fellow cops framed Karen Reid to protect their own. For three and a half years, this case consumed Massachusetts, divided a community pink versus Blue Red supporters versus O'Keefe's family, courtroom drama, police misconduct, evidence tampering, allegations, a lead investigator who texted his friends that he hoped the defendant would kill herself. Two trials, first one hung jury mistrial, second one June twenty twenty five, not guilty, acquitted of murder, acquitted of manslaughter, acquitted of leaving the scene, convicted only of drunk drive one year probation. Karen Reid walked out of that courthouse, a free woman, descended the steps to a screaming crowd, firing pink confetti, cannons, supporters chanting, crying, the American sign language gesture for I Love you everywhere you looked. But she's not done. In November twenty twenty five, Karen Reid filed a forty six page civil lawsuit, suing the Massachusetts State Police, suing the lead investigator, suing the homeowners,

3:28 suing everyone who was at that party. Says they framed her for a crime she didn't commit and shielded the real killers. I'm reed, Carter today, Karen Reid. The canton cover up, the jury believed, the frame up theory, the acquittal that shocked prosecutors, and the lawsuit that's just getting started. Number ten on our countdown of the top ten crime and justice stories of twenty twenty five. This is celebrity trials. Let's go back to the beginning. Janu Uary twenty eighth, twenty twenty two, Friday night. John O'Keefe and Karen Reid have been dating for about two years. He's forty six, she's forty four. She's a financial analyst, former adjunct professor at Bentley University. He's a Boston cop working in the Fugitive Unit. They live separately but spend most nights together.

4:18 That evening, they go out meet friends at c F McCarthy's, a bar in Canton, then move to Waterfall Bar and grill same group. Brian Albert is there. He's a Boston police sergeant, owns a house on Fairview Road with his wife Nicole. His brother Chris Albert is there with his wife Julie. Jennifer McCabe is there. She's Nicole's sister, her husband Matt McCabe, an ATF agent named Brian Higgins. All drinking, having a good time. The prosecution would later say Red and O'Keeffe's relationship was deteriorating. Text messages showed tension jealousy. Reid suspected O'Keeffe was seeing other women. They argued. The night of January twenty fe the eighth was no different.

5:01 Around midnight, the bars start closing. Brian Albert Junior, the homeowner's son, is turning twenty three. Jennifer McCabe texts the group come to thirty four Fairview Road for a night cap celebrate the birthday. Here's where the stories diverge. Prosecution says Karen Reid drove O'Keefe to thirty four Fairview Road around twelve thirty am. O'Keefe got out of her Lexus SUV. Reid was angry drunk. Their blood alcohol content estimates put her well over the legal limit. She made a three point turn to leave, backed up at high speed, struck O'Keefe with the rear of her vehicle and drove away. Left him in the snow, never looked back, went home, went to sleep, didn't start looking for him until nearly five hours later. Defense says O'Keefe got out of Reed's car and walked into the house. Reid drove away, thinking he'd catch a ride home with someone else inside, something happened a fight. O'Keeffe got into it with someone Brian Albert or his nephew Colin Albert, who was eighteen at the time and appeared weeks later with bruised and cut up knuckles, or atf agent Brian Higgins, who'd been texting flirtatiously with Reed. O'Keefe was beaten attacked by the Albert's German shepherd mix Chloe. Then his body was dragged outside and dumped in the snow, and the cops Brian Albert's friends covered it up and framed red two stories, same evidence,

6:34 completely opposite conclusions. The physical evidence was contested at every turn. The tail light prosecution said pieces of Reed's broken tail light were found in the snow near O'Keefe's body, proved she hit him. Defense said those pieces were planted, that the evidence was contaminated, that investigators failed to properly document the scene. O'Keefe's injuries. He had lacerations on his arm, deep cuts. The prosecution said they were consistent with being struck by a vehicle. The defense brought in experts who said they looked like dog bites and pointed out that the Alberts re homed their German shepherd, Chloe, a few months later sent her to Vermont. Convenient timing the Apple health data, O'Keeffe's iPhone tracked his steps. An expert testified that after O'Keeffe got out of Reed's car, his phone showed steps for a few minutes, then nothing. Phone never moved again until his body was found. The prosecution said that proved he fell immediately after being struck. The defense argued those steps proved he walked into the house before he was killed. And then there's the Google search. Jennifer McCabe, Brian Albert's sister in law, testified she googled how long to die in cold that morning after they found O'Keeffe's body.

7:50 Said Reid asked her to do it. Was hysterical, wanted to know if O'Keefe could have survived if they'd found him sooner. But the defense showed cell phone data suggesting the search happened at two twenty seven am, hours before O'Keeffe's body was discovered, hours before anyone should have known he was outside dying in the snow. You made that search at two twenty seven am because you knew that John O'Keefe was outside on your sister's lawn dying in the cold, didn't you. Defense attorney Alan Jackson asked mccab on cross examination, I never made that search at two twenty seven. Mccab insisted I never would have left John O'Keeffe out in the cold to die because he was my friend that I loved. But an FBI examiner analyzed McCabe's phone, found the search logged at that time and found evidence someone tried to delete it. The prosecution disputed the timing, said it was a glitch, said the defense expert was wrong, but the jury heard it, and in a case built on reasonable doubt, that search became a symbol of everything The defense claimed. The people who were in that house knew what happened and they covered it up.

8:58 Make it make sense. If you want to understand why this case fell apart, you need to understand Michael Procter Massachusetts State Police trooper Michael Procter was assigned to investigate John O'Keeffe's death. The lead detective, the guy who'd oversee the evidence collection, conduct interviews build the case against Karen Reid. Problem. Proctor had connections to the witnesses. His sister was friends with Julie Albert, wife of Canton Selectman Chris Albert, who was at the bar that night. Before Procter even started investigating, he was texting his sister about the case. Don't say a word to anyone, he told her. Julie and Chris were at the bar with the victim and girlfriend got to interview them. And then the texts about Karen Reid herself texts to friends, family, fellow troopers. He called her a whack job, called her other names I won't repeat on this podcast, discussed her physical appearance in de grading terms, made fun of her health conditions. Reid has Crohn's disease and multiple sclerosis. In one text, Proctor wrote, hopefully she kills herself the lead investigator, the man responsible for objectively pursuing the truth about John O'Keefe's death, texting that he hoped the suspect would commit suicide. These texts weren't discovered until years later during a federal investigation into police conduct in the case. They emerged at trial and Proctor had

10:31 to sit on that witness stand and read them aloud. Admit he wrote them, apologize those comments were unprofessional and regrettable. Proctor told the jury, I acknowledged that I dehumanized Karen Reid in those communications. It was wrong, But he insisted, insisted that his personal feelings didn't affect the investigation, that the evidence was solid, that he didn't manipulate anything. The defense argued otherwise, said Proctor bias infected every aspect of the case, that he decided Reid was guilty from day one and built the investigation around that conclusion. That he ignored evidence pointing to alternative suspects, that he protected his friends the Alberts and railroaded the outsider. This case was corrupted from the start. Defense attorney Alan Jackson told the jury in closing arguments, it was corrupted by biases and conflicts and personal loyalties that you heard about, and most fatally, it was corrupted by a lead investigator whose misconduct infected every single part of this case from the top to the bottom. After Reid's first trial ended in a hung jury in July twenty twenty four, the Massachusetts State Police launched an internal affairs investigation into Proctor. He was relieved of duty immediately suspended without pay. A week later, March twenty twenty five, three weeks before Reed's retrial began, Michael Procter was fired, dishonorably discharged. The State Police Trial Board

12:02 found him guilty of sending derogatory messages about a suspect, sharing confidential case information with people outside law enforcement, and drinking alcohol while on duty. My decision to terminate mister Proctor follows a thorough fare and impartial process, said Colonel Jeffrey Noble, head of Massachusetts State Police. This decision reflects our unwavering commitment to upholding our values, enhancing public trust, and ensuring the highest standards of service and accountability. But wait, it gets worse. October twenty twenty five, after Read's acquittal, the Norfolk County District Attorney's office started reviewing evidence from Procter's cell phone, hundreds of thousands of files going back to twenty thirteen. Sources said the contents included racial slurs and additional inappropriate language. Proctor had been fighting to get his job back, appealing his termination, but when he learned what investigators had recovered from his phone, he withdrew his appeal.

13:01 The State Police Association of Massachusetts, his own union, voted unanimously to sever all support for him. Called it a deeply embarrassing chapter in state police history. Read's attorney, Alan Jackson put it bluntly, Michael Proctor's sudden withdrawal of his appeal wasn't an act of humility. It was self preservation. He learned investigators had recovered text messages from his private phone dating back years, and he wanted no part of what those messages would reveal. He didn't accept accountability. It hunted him down your tax dollars at work. The lead investigator in a high profile murder case, texting obscenities about the suspect, hoping she'd kill herself, sharing case details with friends and family, and nobody caught it. For years, nobody thought to check if maybe, just maybe the guy leading the investigation had a problem. We'll be right back. With two trials, two juries, and one verdict that shocked prosecutors, Aran Reid went from facing life in prison to walking out with one year probation. Welcome back to celebrity trials, I'm read Carter. April twenty twenty four. Karen Reid's first trial begins in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts, Judge Beverly Cannon presiding, packed courtroom, media everywhere, pink clad Reed supporters outside, blue clad O'Keeffe supporters inside. Twenty nine days

14:35 of testimony, more than fifty witnesses, crime scene investigators, forensic experts, the people who were at the bar that night, the people who were at the house. Jennifer McCabe on the stand for three contentious days defending her Google search, denying she was part of any cover up, and Michael Procter, the lead investigator, forced to read his own texts aloud, admit his bias, apologize for dehumanizing the defendant. The prosecution said it was simple. Karen Reid was drunk, angry, hit her boyfriend with her car, left him to die. The tailight evidence, the witness statements, her own words at the scene, I hit him. The defense said it was a frame job.

15:19 O'Keefe went into that house, got into a fight, was killed inside. The cops protected their own The investigation was corrupt from day one. July first, twenty twenty four, After deliberating for five days, the jury sent a note to Judge Cannon they were deadlocked, could not reach a unanimous verdict. Further, deliberation would be futile. Mistrial declared, the courtroom erupted. Reid's supporters cheered outside. The prosecution announced they'd retry the case. But here's what happened next. Multiple jurors came forward after the mistrial told reporters they had all agreed Reid was not guilty of murder and leaving the scene. The confusion was about how to deliver a partial verdict convict on some charges, acquit on others. The jury instructions weren't clear.

16:09 Reid's lawyers seized on this, filed appeals all the way to the Supreme Court, argued double jeopardy should prevent retrial on the charges the jury had agreed on. The appeals failed, retrial moved forward. April first, twenty twenty five. Jury selection begins for Karen Reid's second trial, same courthouse, same judge, new jury, same charges, second degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. But this time some key prosecution witnesses didn't testify. Michael Proctor, the disgraced lead investigator, wasn't called. Brian Albert didn't take the stand, a TF agent Brian Higgins didn't testify.

16:56 The defense went harder attack the investigation more aggressively, brought in new experts. A biomechanist testified O'Keefe's injuries were inconsistent with being struck by Reed's vehicle. Defense attorney Alan Jackson opened his closing argument with six words, there was no collision. No collision. He argued, the police investigation was so flawed, so biased, that prosecutors couldn't even prove Reid had hit O'Keefe with her car. No collision meant no crime. The prosecution pushed back, said the evidence was clear, the tail light fragments, the timeline, the witness statements. Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan told the jury the evidence led to one person, and only one person. June thirteenth, twenty twenty five, the jury received the case started deliberating. June seventeenth, Day two of deliberations. The jury sent a note asked the judge what happens if we agree on not guilty for two charges but are hung on the third. That question told everyone which way this was going. June eighteenth, twenty twenty five, Day four of deliberations. Twenty one hour's total. The jury returned not guilty of second degree murder, not guilty of manslaughter while operating under the influence, not guilty of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, Guilty of one charge only operating a vehicle under the influence. The

18:28 court room went silent. Then the screaming started from outside. Hundreds of pink clad supporters who'd been watching the video feed cheering, chanting, Free Karen Reid, Free, Karen Reid. Karen Reid hugged her attorneys, wiped away tears. The O'Keefe family got up and left without a word. Judge Cannon sentenced Read immediately one year probation standard sentence for a first time ou I offense. She'd have to complete an alcohol education program. Her license would be suspended during the program. That's it. Three and a half years of being accused of murder, two trials, millions of dollars in legal fees, and she walked out of that courthouse with one year probation.

19:12 Reid addressed her supporters from the courthouse steps. I could not be standing here without these amazing supporters who have supported me and my team financially and more importantly, emotionally for almost four years, she said. And the second thing I want to say is no one has fought harder for justice for John O'Keefe than I have than I have and my team. Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan issued a statement days later said he was disappointed in the verdict, said the evidence led to one person and only one person, condemned what he called a campaign of intimidation and abuse against witnesses. Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey had only four words, the jury has spoken, but the story doesn't end with the acquittal. Karen Reid isn't done, not even close. November eighteenth, twenty twenty five, Reid filed a forty six page civil lawsuit in Bristol Superior Court. Named defendants Michael Proctor, Sergeant Yuri Buchanic, Lieutenant Brian Tully, Brian and Nicole, Albert, Jennifer and Matthew McCabe, Brian Higgins. The lawsuit alleges malicious prosecution, conspiracy to deprive Read of her constitutional rights, civil rights violations under the Fourth Amendment, intentional infliction of emotional distress

20:45 for three and a half years. Plaintiff Karen Reid was wrongly accused of homicide and subjected to suspicion, arrest, two prosecutions, and public condemnation, all resulting from the gross misconduct of the Massachusetts State Police and those working in tandem with the MSP to shield from liability the party or parties responsible for the death of Boston Police officer John O'Keeffe. The third. The lawsuit says it revives every allegation the defense made at trial. Says O'Keefe died inside the Albert home during an altercation. Says the defendants concocted a plan immediately after the altercation to avoid culpability and frame misread.

21:26 Says investigators planted evidence, tail light fragments, glass to make it look like a hit and run. Says surveillance footage was deleted, reports were falsified. The lawsuit demands a jury trial, seeks unspecified damages. Reads Attorney Alan Jackson released a statement. Unlike the criminal case, this time the defendants don't get to hide behind badges, back channel favors, or manufactured narratives. They will have to answer in a court of law for every lie, every omission, every manipulated report, and every constitutional vielation. They committed. The defendants fired back. The mccabs, Alberts, and Higgins issued a joint statement through their attorney, the allegations made by Karen Reid are entirely false, defamatory, and without merit. Our clients categorically deny each and every claim.

22:19 This lawsuit is nothing more than a continuation of a baseless conspiracy narrative that has caused significant harm to the reputations and lives of innocent people, and their planning to counter suit for defamation against Red and against Aiden Kearney, the controversial blogger known as Turtle Boy, who promoted Reid's version of events throughout the case. Kearney still faces witness intimidation charges stemming from his coverage. The defendants had Reed's lawsuit removed to federal court, argued that since she's claiming federal civil rights violations, it belongs in federal jurisdiction. The case has been assigned to Chief US Discs Strict Court Judge Denise Casper, the same judge who sentenced Boston mobster Whitey Bulger. But Reed isn't the only one suing. The O'Keefe family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Reed. They still believe she killed John, still believe the jury got it wrong. Their lawsuit alleges read outrageously created a false narrative and caused the family emotional injuries, severe physical pain, anguish emotional distress, and other harm. Two lawsuits opposite claims.

23:32 Reed says she was framed. The O'Keefe family says she's a killer who escaped justice. This case isn't over, it's just entering a new phase. Civil discovery, depositions, years of litigation ahead. Both sides will have to testify under oath, answer questions, produce documents. The truth about what happened on January twenty ninth, twenty twenty two. What really happened inside thirty four Fairview Road may finally come out, or it may stay buried forever, lost in conflicting stories and reasonable doubt. Someone killed John O'Keeffe. The jury said it wasn't Karen Reid, but if not her, then who. Brian Albert says O'Keefe never entered his house. Jennifer McCabe says she made that Google search after finding the body, not before. Colin Albert denies fighting with O'Keefe. The dog is in Vermont, the house has been sold, and John O'Keeffe is still dead.

24:27 Make it make sense? That's number ten on our countdown of the top ten crime and justice stories of twenty twenty five. Karen Reid, a woman accused of murdering her Boston police officer boyfriend. Two trials, one hung jury, one acquittal. A lead investigator fired for texting that he hoped she'd kill herself. A community divided between those who believed her and those who believed she got away with murder. June twenty twenty five. Not guilty of murder, not guilty of manslaughter, not guilty of leaving the scene. Convicted only of drunk driving one year probation. November twenty twenty five, filed a forty six page lawsuit alleging the Massachusetts State Police framed her to protect the real killers. The civil case moves forward.

25:15 The O'Keefe family's wrongful death suit moves forward. The truth, whatever it is, remains contested. John O'Keeffe was forty six years old Boston police officer, sixteen years on the force, The man who stepped up to raise his niece and nephew after their parents died. Found dead in a snowbank outside a fellow officer's home on a January morning. Someone knows what happened that night. Someone knows whether Karen Reid hit him with her car or whether he walked into that house and never came out alive. But after two trials and millions of dollars in legal fees, we still don't have answers, just verdicts and lawsuits and a community that may never heal. Rest in peace, John O'Keeffe, Your death deserved better than this circus tomorrow number nine on our countdown. One bullet grazed his ear, one assassin never got the shot off, two attempts on his life, and now he's deciding who escapes justice. Donald Trump survived, Not everyone who crossed his path can say the same. I'm read, Carter, see you tomorrow. This is celebrity trials.