20/20 - Karen Read: The Verdict

Episode Date: June 19, 2025

The girlfriend of a beloved Boston police officer learns her fate in the murder case that captivated the country across two high-profile trials. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Picture this. You're halfway through a DIY car fix, tools scattered everywhere, and boom, you realize you're missing a part. It's okay, because you know whatever it is, it's on eBay. They've got everything. Brakes, headlights, cold air intakes, whatever you need. And it's guaranteed to fit, which means no more crossing your fingers and hoping you ordered the right thing. All the parts you need, at prices you'll love. Guaranteed to fit every time. eBay. Things. People. Love. An all new 2020 starts right now. I said he's right there. His eyes were shut and he had spots of blood in different areas on his face. She's accused of killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer.

Enough's enough. We've been quiet for too long. Now Justin, a verdict for Karen Reed. The defendants of our guilty are not guilty. Not guilty. This is the case the whole country couldn't stop watching. I hit him. I hit him. I hit him. I said it with a question mark.

It's like that Mike Cousin Vinny moment. I shot the clerk versus I shot the clerk. Free, free, free. You'll see that this case carries a cancer. His name is Michael Proctor. And all new. And you're the first person from inside the investigation to speak out.

The exclusive interview with the controversial trooper in the bullseye. That was tough. I'm sorry. One of the texts that you sent about Karen Reed is that you said hopefully she kills herself, telling his version the first time on camera. I was like, wait, people need to know what has been going on.

They need to know the truth. It just feels like a kind of purgatory. Now her wait is over. Mr. Jerry, if you're agreed upon a purgatory. Yes. On murder in the second degree, what say you? Is the defendant at the bar guilty or not guilty? Not guilty.

002, what say you? Is the defendant at the bar not guilty or guilty? Not guilty. Operating under the influence of liquor, by operating a motive vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or greater. So say you all. No. No.

Leaving the scene after an accident resulting in death. Defendant not guilty or guilty. And a stunning conclusion to the Karen Reed murder retrial, one of the most divisive cases in Massachusetts history. Is no one has fought harder for justice for John O'Keefe, then I have, then I have and my team. A story unlike one I've ever seen that has many layers to it. You've got an alleged conspiracy

between an entire group of people. You've got forensic evidence, you've got intoxication. You have a hero police officer. John O'Keefe was raising two kids after his sister and her husband died. You have all the elements here for great public interest. Prosecution, they say Karen Reed killed John O'Keefe. They drunk, she hit him, she left him to die.

It's that simple. The defense, they say Karen Reed is innocent. There was no collision. She's the victim of a botched and biased and corrupted investigation that was never about the truth, folks. Every single detail dissected. And at the center of it all, John O'Keefe. Two trials, the first ending in a mistrial. Come at me.

Tonight, you've heard about it for years, but now the whole story, the facts, the theories, and the verdict. It all begins in the middle of a record-breaking nor'easter. Officer John O'Keefe is found dead outside of a home in Canton during the blizzard. His body discovered outside the Canton home of a fellow officer. O'Keefe's girlfriend Karen Reed is now facing charges with his death.

What happened in the Boston suburb of Canton, Massachusetts that led to the death of John O'Keefe during that epic blizzard in January of 2022? Throughout two trials now, the country has debated the charges against Karen Reed. And when we interviewed her before her first trial, she proclaimed her innocence. Did you kill John O'Keefe? I did not kill John O'Keefe.

I've never harmed a hair on John O'Keefe's head. The Commonwealth says that you had nine drinks that night. You claim it's four and change. I mean, is it possible that you had hit him with the back of your car and just didn't realize it? No. Would you say that you were angry with John that night? Yes.

Could you have been angry enough and slightly drunk because he had annoyed you that in the fit of rage you just backed up and... Never. Tried to tap him. I would never... Not to try to kill him, but try to... To tap him with my 6,000 pound full size SUV. To hit John's body with my car. No.

Karen Reed told me she loved John O'Keefe. Now she claims she's also a victim here, claiming that she is framed in a cover-up, pitted against the family and friends who are demanding justice for the life they say was stolen from John O'Keefe, or as everybody knew him, Johnny. We grew up in Braintree, which is middle-, a Boston suburb, heavy Irish, heavy Italian,

and Johnny was both. John is the middle child of three. His sister Kristen is just 22 months older than he is, and his brother Paul is several years younger. Johnny and I grew up on the same street. We were in Little League together, elementary school, all the way through high school, and street. We were in Little League together, elementary school, all the way through high school.

We went to proms and homecoming together, and he was in my wedding party. Johnny was a huge fan of the Red Sox. Fenway was a constant destination for us throughout our entire life. Opening day was a religious day for him. He went every year, every year. That was one of his favorite days.

I dated Johnny early 2000s, then stayed friends for over 20 years. I remember when I first met him, and I asked him what he did for a living, and he was in the police academy. I kind of made a joke, like, oh, no, a police officer. And he said, no, no, like, I'm the good kind. I want to be a cop because my grandfather was a cop.

Johnny was 29 when he got on the Boston Police Department. One of John's other most cherished roles was becoming an uncle. He was incredibly excited about becoming an uncle. It was a celebration, essentially. They were a large part of who he was. But in 2013, the O'Keefe family gets some devastating news when John's older sister, Kristen, is diagnosed with cancer.

Johnny and Kristen were very, very close. That changed Johnny. He was unbelievable, making sure that the kids were taken care of. It was just a little over five months from the time that it was diagnosed until Kristen passed. That was a huge loss. When she passed, he lost a part of himself. And almost unbelievably, Steve passed away almost exactly

two months after Kristen did. In a very short amount of time, John loses his sister, his brother-in-law. He takes in their kids. How was he able to handle all of this? He had a big support system. And emotionally, how did he do it? I feel like I guess he just knew he had to.

Johnny's niece was six, and Johnny's nephew was three. big support system. And emotionally, how did he do it? I feel like I guess he just knew he had to. Johnny's niece was six and Johnny's nephew was three. It wasn't even a question. Johnny was going to step in and raise those kids. Karen Reed's story begins 35 miles south of Boston in the town of Mansfield. Karen, before all of this happened, tell me what life was like for you.

Routine. I took the morning train literally and just had a predictable, easy, fortunate life. What did you do for a living? I was in finance and asset management, what I always wanted to do. And then at night, I taught college juniors, introduction to capital markets, investing. How did you meet John O'Keefe? I met John in 2004, February, at his sister's 30th birthday party. So what drew you to him?

I mean, what did you like about him? I thought he was handsome, and he was sweet. And I mean, I was 24, so that was about the criteria at the time. It just came and went and didn't speak to him again. Not intentionally, it just wasn't serious. By 2020, more than 15 years later, Karen is living in the Boston area and John is now a single dad, a cop raising two kids in the middle of a pandemic. And then he messaged Karen on Facebook. When I saw his picture, it was with several young children and he told me, yeah, I have the kids now. I thought that was amazing and he said they're 9 and 12.

How serious did things get that second round? Pretty serious, very fast. Was there talk of marriage? No No Did you want that? I would have considered it strongly for John, but it's not ever been something that I've aspired to. We are expecting as much as 18 to 24 inches of snow and 40 to 50 mile per hour winds. A snow emergency has been declared.

City officials say this would be a blockbuster event. That morning, did you and John have an argument? Yep, we had an argument. Karen says that morning John's niece was running late for school, and Karen offered to stop at Dunkin', something that she said John didn't really approve of. I was miffed because it just was in the essence of saving time. I would say of the arguments that we've had, it felt like one of the more unfair arguments. So I got my back up more than I normally did. But by that evening, the two make plans to meet up, and John's nephews had a sleepover.

His teenage niece is spending the night at home. Early in the evening, John O'Keefe goes out with a buddy down to C.F. McCarthy's. I ended up leaving my house to join John and Canton at 8.30. How did the night go? It was fine. I walked in. He was with three other fellas.

I got there a little after 9, and he gave me a hug. Footage from security cameras show the night appears to be like any normal Friday night. A mere 12 hours later, John O'Keefe will be dead, Karen accused of his murder, and this man will be at the center of the investigation and the controversy speaking out for the first time. People need to know what has been going on. They need to know the truth. They're only here in one side. At Karen Reed's retrial, the bulk of the trial is piecing together the final hours of John

O'Keefe's life, and witnesses testify about the calm before the storm. What was the mood in the group? Cheerful. Good mood. Everybody was just out having a drink. We all knew the storm was coming tomorrow and, you know, just a typical average night. You saw John put his arm around Karen? Correct.

John went over to Karen, and he gave her a kiss on the forehead. I was like, wow, that's the sweetest thing I've ever seen. I was like, wow, that's the sweetest thing I've ever seen. So, on that pre-Blizzard night, their morning spat now seemingly behind them, Karen and John are enjoying some drinks with friends, and after having a few at CF McCarthy's, they

join another group at the Waterfall Bar just down the street. There was a table of people right away. We said hi to a bunch of people. We stayed there for about 90 minutes. At the table are members of a couple of families who have deep ties in the town, the Alberts and the McCabes. We've got Chris Albert, who used to live down the street from John.

Also at the table is Brian Albert, and that's Chris's brother, who like John, is a Boston police officer. Now also there is Brian's wife, Nicole, and her sister, Jennifer McCabe, who John had known for years. And there is Brian's wife, Nicole, and her sister, Jennifer McCabe, who John had known for years. And there is Brian Higgins, an ATF agent who was also friends with the Alberts. There's video so you can kind of see what's happening, and it looks like a typical night.

People are snuggling up around the bar, they're drinking, they're goofing around a little bit. Brian Albert, whose home is about five minutes away, invites everyone over for an after party. Now, there's already a party with some young adults taking place at his house, because it's Brian Jr.'s birthday. So they all gather up and head out. Shortly after midnight, security cameras showed John

walk out of the waterfall bar and into the snowy night. John has a cocktail glass in his hand. Seconds later, the two get into Karen's black SUV and they drive away. How many drinks had you had? I had had probably about four and not four that I completed either. I didn't drink maybe more than a few sips at the waterfall. The Commonwealth, however, would later claim that over the course of the night, Karen had nine drinks before she set off in her SUV. You had four drinks. They say nine drinks.

So how drunk were you? I had felt like I had alcohol. I felt that I had a buzz. But I did not feel it was unsafe for me to be operating my vehicle. What happens next is at the crux of this case against Karen Reed. She says they headed to the Alberts home, getting slightly lost along the way.

And Jennifer McCabe gets on the phone and gives John directions. When they arrive, Karen says John said he'd go in and check to make sure that the others had actually come over. I pull at the foot of the driveway. It's snowing. John has no coat on.

It's windy. So I drop him off. He goes up the driveway and approaches the side door. And as I see him approach the door, I look down at my phone and I just start browsing through, you know, mis-text messages and a couple emails. And I probably waited about a full minute. And I look back at the door. messages and a couple emails and I probably waited about a full minute and

I looked back at the door so after about three minutes I said, you're shitting me John. She says she was having stomach issues and was annoyed that John didn't check back in with her so she decides just to go back to John's house. Now phone records indicate that over the next five and a half hours, Karen calls or texts John 52 times, leaving eight voicemails. Nobody knows the f***ing love. Now it's approaching 5 a.m. I called a few of his buddies, their wives. I knew something was wrong.

One of Karen's first calls is to Jennifer McCabe. Now, she's part of the group that had gone on to Brian Albert's house on Fairview Road. I said, Jen, John didn't come home. So I said, well then I don't know where he is. And I said, I'm gonna go back to the bars. Like maybe they let people back in after hours. Her next call is to John's friend, Carrie Roberts, who lives nearby.

Now Carrie wasn't at that late night gathering, but maybe she's heard from John. She hasn it. Kerry Roberts makes a call to the local hospital, to the police department, trying to see if anything happened to John that night. I'm calling because my friend's boyfriend did not come home last night.

We were at Waterfall. She doesn't know where he is. You didn't pick anybody up by the name of John O'Keefe, did you? He has not been admitted to a hospital, and he has not been involved in any accidents. Not a single person says they've seen John since he left the bar. So you're driving around.

Do you expect to see him, like, lying on the street drunk? Yeah. Yeah. Or passed out? I was worried he might have gotten hit by a plow. That was my first thought. It's the only explanation I could think of for why John just disappeared into thin air. This is 90.9 WBUR. It is 24 degrees in Boston and there will be near whiteout conditions at times.

After about 20 minutes of driving around, I go to get Jen. She gets to Jennifer McCaves, Carrie Roberts shows up, up and they decide together let's go back to John's you can see this moment captured on one of John's home security cameras. Now the women decide to go back to Fairview road the House where John and Karen headed after the bars. I said he's right. I jumped out the passenger side I fell into the street. I've described to many people, it looked like a,

the body looked like a buffalo on a prairie. It just looked like a heap and it looked wrong. It looked out of place. I knew it was him right away. So it left out of you. And yes. His eyes were shut and he had spots of blood in different areas on his face and he was still. Not stiff, was still. Not stiff, but still.

I know. Where's the blanket? I don't see blankets, Harry. 911, what's your emergency? There's an alien passed out in the snow. No, you're just dead. I don't know if that was a alien. It was dead. I don't know.

Hello? Thanks. Officers arrived to three females on the scene scene and John is laying on his back. He's got injuries to his face. He had two black eyes. He's cold to the touch. He's not dressed in appropriate clothing for the temperature. He's wearing a long-sleeve t-shirt and he's actually missing one of his shoes.

By all accounts, Karen is inconsolable. She's yelling, she's screaming, she's crying. No! I had called my father. He didn't answer, and I texted him, John is dead. I didn't know for sure that John was dead, but I'm trying to elicit a response,

and I thought John could be dead. He called me back, and I was distraught, and I said, I don't could be dead. He called me back and I was distraught. And I said, I don't want to live. I mean, I wasn't... I didn't have any ideation of harming myself. I just... I've never dealt with grief of this magnitude and I just felt out of my skin.

So my father called the police. They put me in a psychiatric hold. They took my phone. They took my clothes. They wouldn't let me speak to anyone. And then sometime later, about mid-morning, I saw John's parents and brother pass in the ER and all go into the door, two doors down.

But despite medical personnel working on John, his injuries and the exposure to the cold are just too much. He is pronounced dead. And police already suspect that this was no accident. Based on the investigation, what does the evidence tell you happened on January 29th to John O'Keefe? At Karen Reed's retrial, both the defense and the prosecution say her tail light tells a story.

The right rear tail light of the Lexus SUV is missing the red lens cover and it is damaged. The tail light was missing pieces. I noted in a report that there was damage to the tail light. But there are conflicting accounts about exactly when and where Karen's tail light was broken and what that could mean for the case. I was released from the hospital at noon. My father and my brother and sister-in-law came to pick me up.

They all head back to John's house, and that's when Karen says that she stops to show her dad a cracked taillight on her SUV that she said she noticed that morning. So we go into the house. John's nephew was not home from his sleepover yet, but John's parents, Paul, his brother and his niece were there. And then when John's nephew came home, I just wanted to see him and squeeze him and hug him. Karen recalls that John's mother

seemed to keep her distance. I could sense from her that she was looking at me very warily, so I was presuming she saw my cracked tail light and was thinking, did you hit my son? I was quite uncomfortable. I said, Dad, I think I need to leave. I said, I think John's mother thinks I did something to John. When we were driving home, I said to my father, I've got to get an attorney.

Getting a lawyer under those circumstances really is the right thing to do. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway. The Canton Police Department is now processing the scene. There's literally a blizzard hitting Canton, Massachusetts on top of this crime scene. It's snowing, and it's windy, and it's cold. So the evidence is changing. It's definitely a race against the clock.

They bring out a leaf blower, and they're trying to blow the snow to uncover whatever evidence might be beneath the snowfall. According to police reports, what investigators initially preserve at the scene are six samples of what appears to be blood and a broken cocktail glass.

Remember, according to the security footage, when John O'Keefe walks out of the waterfall bar, he's got a cocktail glass in his hand. Now, the Massachusetts State Police come in. In this case, the state police completely take over the case because the Canton Police Department doesn't want even the appearance of a conflict of interest. The lead investigator will be Trooper Michael Proctor,

whose misconduct will become part of the firestorm at the very center of this trial. This is the very first time that Proctor is speaking publicly in an interview about this case. He tells me about those moments when he and his colleague, Sergeant Yuri Bukhenik, first head to the Canton Police Department. Does it change the nature of the investigation when you know that the deceased is a cop? No, nor should it. There's a little more emotion involved.

That afternoon, Proctor and Bukenek interview Brian Albert, who told them John never came inside his house. And Proctor interviews Jennifer McCabe, who told him she had been on the phone trying to navigate John to the house, but she also says he never came in. Proctor also says Jen McCabe told him that when Karen found John's body, she said, could I have hit him? Proctor and Buchanan head to the hospital now to see John's body.

Proctor says at the hospital they realize O'Keeffe had been found wearing only one shoe. And the reason that became important, or was important at the time, through my training and experience, you know, I've been to pedestrian strikes where both shoes are right at the point of impact. So the body gets hit, but the shoes get left at the point of impact. So the body gets hit, but the shoes get left at the point of impact.

I've seen them where people get ripped completely out of their clothing, and their clothes are at the point of impact. Trooper Procter and Sergeant Buchanek now proceed to interview Karen at her parents' home. Her Lexus SUV is parked in the driveway, and they noticed damage to the right rear tail light. In their official police report,

they describe it as shattered. It's a large housing unit, so a significant chunk is missing from that taillight. When the troopers came to my house, now I know I haven't done anything, but they said, we're just trying to help find out what happened to John. What did she tell you happened between her and John O'Keefe that night?

That she went to see if McAuthies, where she met John and some of his friends, and then went over to the waterfall and met a group there. in that they were, it was Jen McCabe invited them back to Favey Road. Karen tells officers that she had what she referred to as stomach issues and said after she dropped John off, she decided to call it a night and go home. After the detectives interview Karen, they seize her car and they tow it. They then process the vehicle for evidence. That night, state police investigators report finding pieces of red plastic taillight and a clear piece of plastic at the scene.

Pieces that they say appear to match the missing pieces from Karen Reed's SUV. They also recover that missing shoe. Based on the investigation, what does the evidence tell you happened on January 29th to John O'Keefe? It would be later in the day that collectively, as we all met as a unit, that he had the one shoe found at the scene, tail light pieces at the scene,

the one shoe at the hospital, her statements, did I hit him, could I have hit him? We knew, we were very confident, we knew that what I transpired. Which was? Karen Reed backed her Lexus vehicle into John O'Keefe. It was about 7 p.m. I was talking to my best friend on the phone and I said there's a lot of cops circling and I said I think I'm gonna get arrested.

What was that moment like when you felt the metal handcuffs go on you and they put you into a squad car? It's scary. You're short of breath. Your ankles are shackled and your arms are behind you and you just try to concentrate on your breathing. It's frightening. It's frightening. Karen Reed's charges and what she was arraigned on were manslaughter, negligent homicide, and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury. According to prosecutors, Karen's

blood alcohol content was between a.07 and a.08 when she was tested at the hospital at 9.08 a.m. after being transported from the scene. That's about nine hours after they left the bar. If you are a.08 or above, you are under the influence for the purpose of driving a motor vehicle. What did you plead? Not guilty. Court is setting bail in the amount of $50,000 cash. Karen is out on bail, but within months,

Karen is also charged with second degree murder. The line between a gross vehicular manslaughter and second degree murder is very, very thin. If you exhibit a disregard of the safety and the life of another person and they die as a result, then you've got a second degree murder. Next, Karen Reed's defense takes this dramatic turn. They're bringing in a top legal gun and the defense is about to introduce a very different

theory than what the prosecution says happened that night. John O'Keefe was murdered, no question. He died at the hands of another person. Just wasn't Karen Reed. The Lake was large, very large. Everybody wanted to be there that moment. It's a long day, pretty unbelievable day. Pretty unbelievable day. Countless police officers in a line of two came down the aisle. We all just paused. You could hear a pin drop.

And the funeral the next day was, that was rough too. A number of us were asked to be pallbearers, and you could hear Amazing Grace on the bagpipe, and they said they were going to give us a notification when the hearse arrived. And the moment that will never leave my brain is when we opened up the doors to that church. There were 50 bagpipers. There were rows and rows and rows of police officers. It was like nothing I've ever seen before.

Strikingly absent from John's funeral is Karen Reed, now arrested for his death. One of the big first twists in this case begins when Karen adds a heavy hitter to her defense team. Alan Jackson, we got to know at Court TV. For years, we talked about Alan Jackson as being one of the sharpest prosecutors we'd ever seen. I sat down with Alan Jackson before Karen's first trial,

and he told me how he got involved in the case. I received an email from Karen Reed. The subject line was something along the lines of murder of a Boston police officer. Karen had supplemented the email with some autopsy photos. I was in the process of perusing those, and I said, this guy didn't get hit by a car. At a pre-trial hearing, the defense puts those autopsy

photos front and center. When John O'Keefe was found, he had this set of wounds on his right arm. I would ask the common sense question, does this look like a road rash? Or does it look more like claw marks and white marks from an animal? Karen's defense team is laying out a stunning new theory

of what they say happened. They're now alleging that after Karen Reid dropped John off at that fellow officer, Brian Albert's home, he entered the home and somehow became involved in a fight. We know that he was beaten. We've got evidence that John O'Keefe was beaten, that he lay there unconscious. And during that alleged fight,

they argue that the Albert's dog, a German shepherd, may also have attacked John, contributing to the injuries. Then the defense argues John was eventually dumped outside in the snow and left to die. Every single person present that night, including Brian and Nicole Albert and Jennifer McCabe, say adamantly, O'Keefe never came inside, no one played any part in his death, and there was never any kind of a cover-up that the defense is alleging. They all deny it vehemently. Also, one of the defense's central claims now appears in a motion that they filed about

the timing of a Google search. Now, Karen's defense team claims that this will unequivocally exonerate Karen Reed. It's a Google search made on Jennifer McCabe's cell phone. Now, remember, Jennifer McCabe was at that gathering in the Albert's home on Fairview Road and was then with Karen the following morning

when Karen found John's body in the snow. The defense and Karen Reed and her family believes that at 2.27 a.m., Jennifer McCabe is searching how long to die in the cold. She misspells how, it's H-O-S, but how long to die in the cold. Why would she Google search that if she didn't know that something was going on with John laying in that snow in that front yard?

Jennifer McCabe says that she made that search after 6 a.m. and that was at the request of Karen Reed after they discovered John's body, which the prosecution also maintains. This Google search is what really brought a lot of people into this case. There are dozens and dozens of people here. You can notice all the placards around. They are protesting in favor of Karen Reed. Read Karen Reed!

protesting in favor of Karen Reed. Read Karen Reed! But it's not just John O'Keefe's friends and acquaintances inside that house that night that the defense is accusing of participating in this cover-up. They also set their sights on Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the case. The defense claims that Proctor, a lifelong resident of Canton, is close with the families inside that house that night, the Alberts and the McCabes, and therefore he's biased and prejudiced in their favor. These are claims the state completely rejects.

Had you ever heard of Brian and Nicole Albert? Did that ring a bell? So I heard of Brian Albert. Never met him until I interviewed him. Now Proctor tells me he did know Brian Albert's brother, Chris, and wife Julie, who'd been at the Waterfall Bar. But you knew Julie and Chris Albert? Yes, through a distant relationship with my sister.

Did you know Jen McCabe? No. Jen McCabe's no? No. Never met them at Caves before, prior to this investigation. Did you know Jen McCabe? No. Jen McCabe's no? No. Never met them at Caves before prior to this investigation. Did you ever think at any point that you should recuse yourself from this case? No, absolutely not.

Absolutely not. Wasn't too close to home, both figuratively and literally? No. No. It wasn't a concern of mine. It wasn't a concern of D.A. Michael Morrissey. It wasn't a concern of my supervisors. You know, I didn't know these people.

There was loose connections with Julie and Chris. The defense is questioning the physical evidence found at the scene at this point. Like, why wasn't Karen's tail light found at the scene right away? And the fact that there were even additional pieces of evidence found days, even weeks later? Because in pretrial hearings, they insinuate

that Karen Reed's tail light fragments may have been planted there. And that cover-up theory is a recurring theme throughout the pretrial hearings for the defense. And the state says that's absolutely baseless. Did you plant evidence? Absolutely not. And I'm laughing because it's such a ridiculous accusation.

It's something I would never do, I've never done. You know most people would- And there's no evidence of it. We're talking about people in your community, your neighbors, who believe it. This is not strangers, this is people in Canton. Why do you think that is? That's just the loud minority. The silent majority have, we've had an overwhelming amount of support.

They're just not out there tweeting. The prosecution strongly denies allegations of a cover-up, allegations of planting or mishandling evidence and allegations that Michael Proctor has close ties to any of the witnesses in the case. Very early on, Alan Jackson told me that he could not understand why it was that every time that you went back to the scene, oh, new evidence would materialize. He found that very suspicious. Maybe he didn't read the weather report I provided in my reports.

Which indicated? Over the next week to two weeks, temperatures ranged from 30 to 60 degrees with heavy rain, snow melts at a rapid pace. And the more snow that melted, the more evidence on earth itself. After 15 months, the stage is set for Karen's first trial. Trooper Proctor on the witness stand. Come on, Jers. But there will be new evidence introduced at trial that the defense will use to discredit

Trooper Michael Proctor, and ultimately could end his career in law enforcement. Oh my goodness. Is this case over now? These are your words, Trooper Proctor. Yes, Your Honor. Picture this. You're halfway through a DIY car fix, tools scattered everywhere, and boom,

you realize you're missing a part. It's okay, because you know whatever it is, it's on eBay. They've got everything. Brakes, headlights, cold air intakes, whatever you need. And it's guaranteed to fit, which means no more crossing your fingers and hoping you ordered the right thing. All the parts you need at prices you'll love. Guaranteed to fit every time. eBay. Things people love. Sitting down with Barbara Walters.

I know you don't want to talk about guys and I won't push it, but how are you going to find anybody? No one ever got out totally unscathed. You don't really act. You don't sing. You don't have any, forgive me, any talent. She was fearless and sometimes she got under people's skin. She asked the question nobody else had asked.

She could talk to anyone about anything. Right now, ladies and gentlemen, Barbara Walters. Barbara Walters. Tell me everything. Only on Hulu. Tell me everything, only on Hulu. Since the very beginning, some of the biggest twists in this case have played out outside the courtroom. Some supporters of Karen Reed are being accused by authorities of harassing prosecution witnesses. Even more astonishing, John O'Keefe's own family and friends are being confronted by people in their own community as they go to pre-trial hearings. We've been yelled at that we're disgusting,

that we're defending the real murderers. I think at times that they said that we have been brainwashed. Brainwashed by who? We're leaving the courthouse and they follow us. And I remember this woman and she was screaming cop killer at me. I've never heard of such a thing in my life. We thought, okay, they boo us.

Okay, but they're not gonna boo Jon's family, right? Check our souls! Check our souls! Then they did. It must have created a lot of anger. Yep. Not so much anger, but when you walked in, like, the anxiety, like, I was shaking going in because it was just... Every time we went in, yeah.

But then after, like, maybe the fourth time, we were just like, all right, let's just hold our head up high and walk through this with Johnny. I think everyone should be in agreement that the O'Keeffe's don't deserve this treatment. One, two, three. One, two, three. Yay!

Are you ready for today? At Karen's first trial, swarms of supporters start to show up. And they're wearing Karen's favorite color, pink. They're literally camping outside court, cheering her on. We are Team Karen. There's enough evidence to point that she's been framed. We are Karen! We are Karen!

We are Karen! We are Karen! They're actually innocent women walking. And prosecutors come out swinging, alleging that Karen made a confession at the same woman walking. And prosecutors come out swinging, alleging that Karen made a confession at the scene that morning. And it's day to repeat it. I hit him, I hit him, I hit him.

I hit him, I hit him. Oh my God, I hit him. She kept saying, this is all my fault, this is my fault, I did this. Not true, says the defense. Did I hit him, Could I have hit him? That was what she was saying. Both to herself and to other people.

Furthermore, the defense points out not all of these statements were included in official police reports. The prosecution calls witness after witness after witness to testify that John never came into the Alberts' house. John never came into my house that night. They never came into my home. The defense doubles down on scrutiny of the police investigation starting with the way that the Canton Police Department collected blood evidence at the scene. We utilized cups, plastic cups. Those were red solo cups, right? That's correct. The defense also noting the unusual manner in which the evidence was transported. You see a bag in the middle of the photograph?

Yes. Can you read what's on that bag? Stop and shop. They may have done the best they could, but visually, this is not a good look for the police department. The prosecution's response to that was basically, who cares? It doesn't impact the forensic integrity of the evidence.

Karen's broken tail light now taking center stage. Is it damning evidence of a crime or is it evidence of a conspiracy? Karen's defense team rejects the prosecution's theory that her tail light was damaged in a collision involving John. They show ring video of Karen backing out of John's driveway around 5 a.m. and a moment when they say her car appears to bump John's parked vehicle.

That's how they allege her taillight was damaged. The prosecution calls investigators who say no taillight was found in John's driveway later that day. But the moment at that first trial that would forever change the case is when Michael Proctor takes the stand. Tripple Michael Proctor, P-R-O-C-T-O-R. In a dramatic turn, there's a separate investigation going on that may impact this trial. There is a federal investigation surrounding this case, and there's a lot of mystery about

this. The exact target of this investigation has never been disclosed, and it hasn't resulted in any charges. But as a part of the investigation, the feds subpoenaed Michael Proctor's personal cell phone data. They gave all that information to the prosecution and to Karen Reed and her defense team. On the stand, Michael Proctor reads texts that he wrote to both friends and colleagues from his personal cell phone

while investigating John's death. Okay, so these came from me. She's a whack job. F***. Objection. So these are your words, Trooper Proctor? Yes, Your Honor. Go ahead and say them. F***. Yes, Your Honor. Go ahead and say them. Yes, she's a babe.

We had Fall River accent though. No ass. Proctor reads dozens of damning texts he sent, including derogatory and explicit comments about Karen Reed's appearance and her health. Why would I believe this guy? He's completely eviscerated on the stand. You responded to a text message from your sister, correct? And your response was, hopefully, she kills herself. Correct?

Yes. The defense is arguing bias against Karen Reed by Proctor was clear. Trooper Proctor, you don't get to pick a suspect and then try to find evidence to support your choice, right? Correct. But in this case, it's exactly what you did, isn't it? Absolutely not.

After eight weeks of testimony, the jury cannot come to a decision, and the case ultimately ends in a mistrial. So, at this point, as we sit now after the mistrial, we are sitting at halftime and we have got a second half to let play out. Far from the closure anyone involved in this case had hoped for, now a new, even more explosive chapter is about to begin.

This is Bizarro World. I am put on the stand in a murder trial. I don't know why I'm here. I have no connection to this case. These are not my words. I'm not really comfortable reading these. Do I have to say these words out loud? I've never seen anything like it.

This case carries a malignancy, and that cancer has a name. His name is Michael Proctor. Does it? The defense moves vigorously for a mistrial with prejudice. This is the retrial of the fire, guilty or not guilty? Not guilty.

I could not be standing here without these amazing supporters. Tonight, a verdict in the Karen Reed, John O'Keefe murder trial. Thank you. We're talking about the retrial of the century. What could be more egregious? What could be more misleading? I think that she hit him. I think that she knew she hit him. John O'Keefe was murdered, no question. He died at the hands of another person.

It just wasn't Karen Reed. What happened with the state's people inside the court? The digital evidence is the centerpiece of the prosecution's case. Versus the people outside. Free Karen Reed! We love you, girl! Let's go, girls! All new interviews, the embattled troopers speaking out for the first time. They don't care what the evidence is.

They are just all in on this theory that Karen Reed was framed. No one has fought harder for justice for John O'Keefe than I have. So this is the beginning of the second trial. Right now you can see Karen Reed in the back. This retrial, more people watching, more people interested, and the opinions. Oh, my goodness. In Massachusetts, defendant Karen Reed back for round two. She's accused of running down her boyfriend in her SUV, a Boston police officer. Free Karen Reed! We're loaded for bear, ready to get the show on the road.

Nine months after a deadline jury and mistrial, Karen Reed is being tried again on all three original charges, including that second degree murder charge. Karen, do you feel a little more confident in this trial than the last one? I'm always confident in my team. Commonwealth versus Karen Reed. Whenever you have a retrial, there are going to be changes.

It doesn't make any sense to use the same strategy as the first trial because it's clear the jury didn't buy parts of your story. So it's now time for the opening statements, Mr. Brennan. Some of the storytellers will also change. Original lead prosecutor Adam Lally is out and Hank Brennan is in. Thank you, your honor. Brennan once defended mobster Whitey Bulger, so he is no stranger to a high-profile case.

Hank Brennan understands what the defense is trying to do, understands what the defense wants the prosecution to do. I simply ask you to follow the evidence, follow the signs. The prosecution's story this time is more focused, more vivid. Put her foot on the gas pedal and began to press not 25% not 50%. The 75% acceleration. In opening statements both sides promise something new.

A cell phone is an amazing piece of technology. For the prosecution, the new comes in the form of digital evidence. And there'll be some remarkable data that he will use in this case, find the truth. Hank Brennan wants this jury focused on the evidence coming from John O'Keefe's phone, the evidence coming from Karen Reed's SUV,

evidence that he says does not have bias. If digital forensics does not connect with the jury, I don't see how the prosecution can win. Thank you, Mr. Jackson. In their opening statements, the defense takes a scientific approach. Ladies and gentlemen, the scientific evidence and the medical evidence will establish that John O'Keefe had to be injured somewhere else, somewhere warmer, and his body had to have been moved

out into the cold. Understanding exactly what happened that night, to me, is a very complicated question. And the defense never misses an opportunity to mention the name Michael Proctor, the lead investigator on this case. This case carries a malignancy, a cancer that cannot be cut out, a cancer that cannot be cured. And that cancer has a name. His name is Michael Proctor. It is not hard to conclude that Michael Proctor's words provided the jury with reasonable doubt

in the first trial. And it doesn't take the prosecution very long to remind the jury of three words. She said, I hit him. I hit him. I hit him. I said, I hit him. It was preceded by a did and proceeded by a question mark. So did I say the three words? I hit him, it was preceded by a did and proceeded by a question mark. So did I say the three words, I hit him?

Yes. Did I hit him? So you're saying that the entire time it was at a question mark? Yes. It's like that my cousin Vinnie moment. I shot the clerk versus I shot the clerk. So I'm wondering if this jury will have that same interpretation. And the prosecution adds something that was lacking in the first trial.

The criminal law calls Peggy O'Keefe. A motion. Peggy O'Keefe testifying about the phone call that every mother dreads. Yeah, she said, um, John was found in a snowbank. And I, I didn't understand, which I said, what do you mean, found in a snowbank? She said, they found him in a snowbank. And I didn't understand which, I said, what do you mean found in a snowbank? She said, they found him in the snow. They don't know what happened. She was a very powerful witness,

not just in what she said, but how she said it. It really makes the jury understand that, you know, a man, a real person is gone. Good morning, Your Honor. Good morning. I'm Mark McCall, Ian Wiffin. Okay. Ian Wiffin is a digital forensics examiner

and he analyzed the contents of John O'Keefe's phone for the prosecution. And he was able to track the movement of the phone as it left the bar and then drove to Fairview Road. Do you have an opinion where John O'Keefe's cell phone was? My opinion is that the device never moved far away from the fleck pole. It tells a story of a man who's in a car, a man who steps out of a car, and a man who never goes inside.

According to Wiffin, the circles on this map indicate O'Keefe's general location on the property. Based on his cell phone data, the smaller the circle, the more accurate the information. But defense attorney Robert Alessi was focused on the larger circles. The phone of John O'Keefe could be anywhere within the largest white circle, correct?

Correct. And therefore, the phone could be in the house, correct? Based on the low accuracy information, yes. The answer is yes. Yes. I came into this case, I thought it was black and white. You know, digital evidence is what it is. But what we are learning through this case

is that it's a matter of interpretation. With the court's permission, could I begin with clip seven? Yes. Uh, maybe more than a few sips at the waterfall. And four drinks you felt fine to drive? Yep. Numerous clips of Reed's televised interviews have been played by the prosecution throughout the trial.

And I don't care what your viewpoint is of Karen Reed. When you listen to them and you watch these clips, there is no way you can tell me they make her look good. My name is Yuri Bukhenik. Yuri Bukhenik was former Trooper Michael Proctor's supervisor. The prosecution needs him to minimize Proctor's involvement in the case.

In the cases where you're assigned, do you investigate the case alone? Never. It's always a team effort. Buchanek did everything he could to downplay Proctor. Like, oh, trooper who? He's one of many here, and that's just not true. At the same time, Buchanek, who was disciplined after it was revealed he was in the group chat where Proctor was sending inappropriate text messages,

must also defend the work of Proctor. Do you think this case was handled with honor and integrity by Michael Proctor, Sergeant? The investigation was handled with integrity by Michael Proctor. The Commonwealth highlights the movement of Reed's vehicle while in front of the Fairview home. Their expert reviewed the onboard computer system of the Lexus, which tracks the SUV's motion.

So again, the initial forward motion is 34 feet and then backing up an additional 53 feet. And finally, regarding this part of your analysis, do you have an opinion to a reasonable degree of engineering certainty as to whether the defendant's Lexus was decelerating, accelerating, or remaining the same? It was accelerating at 74% throttle. Next, Dr. Judson-Welcher provides something the prosecution did not have at the first trial. Video. The accident reconstruction he puts together is a series of slides and videos

which he claims explain how an impact could have occurred. Let's have the car drive into me. I did this at very low speeds. This is from a camera that we have pointing down at it. But even a two mile an hour impact redirects me back and causes me to rotate and take a step. Not every judge would allow this type of evidence. So that's a win for the prosecution

to actually get these videos in front of the jury. Being able to read the degree of scientific certainty, that is what happened. This is a real expert. And the question now is his opinion versus the opinion of the experts for the defense. Who will the jury trust? But if the defendant is worried, she's not showing it. How would you sum up the prosecution's case? One word, unjust. The prosecution rests without ever calling Michael Proctor to the stand.

And while the jury will not get to hear from him, you will, he's sitting down exclusively with 2020. Picture this, you're halfway through a DIY car fix, tools scattered everywhere and boom, you realize you're missing a part. It's okay because you know whatever it is, it's on eBay. They've got everything. Brakes, headlights, cold air intakes, whatever you need. And it's guaranteed to fit, which means no more crossing your fingers and hoping you ordered the right

thing. All the parts you need at prices you'll love, Guaranteed to fit every time. eBay. Things. People. Love. Picture this. You're halfway through a DIY car fix, tools scattered everywhere, and boom! You realize you're missing a part. It's okay because you know whatever it is, it's on eBay. They've got everything. Brakes, headlights, cold air intakes, whatever you need. And it's guaranteed to fit, which means no more crossing your fingers than hoping you ordered the right thing. All the parts you need at prices you'll love. Guaranteed to fit every time.

eBay. Things. People. Love. The murder mystery just outside of Boston sparking some explosive accusations against law enforcement. Do you think Proctor will testify, Karen? I don't believe so. The lead investigator on this case, Michael Proctor, did not take the stand this time around. His highly offensive text messages about Karen Reed, which were obtained from his personal cell phone during a federal investigation. They rocked that first trial. She's a whack job.

Yes, she's a babe. Weird Fall River accent though. No ass, no nude so far. She's gross. During the retrial, the defense once again accuses him of running a biased investigation. You'll learn there's not a single part of this case, folks. Not a single part that he didn't touch,

that he didn't direct, that he didn't direct, that he didn't orchestrate personally. Michael Proctor went far beyond just insulting Karen Reed. He dehumanized this woman. And while the prosecution condemns Proctor's text messages, they stand firmly by the investigation. There's not one piece of evidence, not one, that we can look at and say, this was tampered with, this was planted, this was distorted.

Within hours of that first trial ending, Michael Proctor was relieved of duty by the Massachusetts State Police. He was later fired. He sat down for an exclusive interview with us and addressed those text messages, some of which were sent to personal contacts outside of law enforcement. Who are you writing to? My good buddies that have been friends since first grade. Canton hasn't had an homicide in about 20 years. So they're naturally interested.

Just regrettable messages. But in all the content and the messages, what you don't see is a conspiracy. What do you see? I see someone who's caught up in the moment of investigating, you know, a fellow police officer and just saying inappropriate things. Can you see why people called you sexist and misogynist? Yeah, absolutely.

Yeah, I could 100% understand why. As those text messages are entered into evidence, prosecutors begin to address the defense's claims of bias. And they ask Proctor about the integrity of his investigation when he takes a stand in the first trial. What, if any, impact did that have as far as your investigation was concerned?

These juvenile and professional comments have zero impact on the facts and the evidence and the integrity of this investigation. I mean, I think one of the texts that you sent about Karen Reed is that you said, hopefully she kills herself. You texted this to your sister. That seems incredibly unprofessional for a homicide investigator speaking about his suspect. It was made in jest. You know, it's a figure of speech. Hopefully she kills herself. for a homicide investigator speaking about his suspect. It was made in jest.

You know, it's a figure of speech. Hopefully she kills herself. Like, not literally. That's a figure of speech? Do you use that commonly? Yes, not commonly, but it's a figure of speech I made in jest. It wasn't like literally, I hope she kills herself.

At what point did you develop such strong, negative feelings about Karen Reed that you would say things like, hopefully she kills herself or calling her the C word? Those feelings developed as the case went on. I mean, can you see how people might think, well, he was caught in this instance speaking about a suspect in this way.

Maybe it's happened in other cases as well. I 100% understand why people would think that. But when you have, you know, a fellow police officer, around my age, two kids of his own, it generates an emotion. And I express those emotions in a negative way, which I shouldn't have. I shouldn't even have been texting my friends anything.

Some of his texts were with colleagues, including two superiors. When we first got into our phone, the number one thing I wanted to review was location data, text messages. And when we got into the phone, I texted the guys at work, our work chain, that joke. No nudes so far, guys. You're talking about completely inappropriate text messages that show a complete bias in the investigation, and Proctor is sending these to his supervisors, and he's not being admonished for it. Like, what's going on here?

Is this business as usual? Is this being adopted and accepted by other members of law enforcement? Does the bias of one investigator or the exhibited bias, does that compromise an entire investigation? No. But could that bias have led to additional mistakes? That's the jury's job to figure out.

Can you see how the impropriety of the text messages opens the door for the defense's allegations that there was some sort of conspiracy and cover-up here? There's no evidence because it didn't happen. I spent two days on the stand. That was Alan Jackson's opportunity to bring that up and question me on it. Specifically asking you whether you planted evidence.

Yeah, not one question. Boston has a history of police and law enforcement corruption. Yeah, that I agree with. Not in this case, didn't happen here. So why would it be so unreasonable for people to think, well, it's happened elsewhere and recently in Boston, why couldn't it happen in Canton?

They believe that the state police, multiple units within the state police, the Canton Police Department, about a dozen civilians, are all in this conspiracy to frame a woman we don't know. And over the last two and a half, three years, not one person said, wait a minute, I'm not going down for this. Here's what really happened.

You saw the links to which some, some police officers will go to to protect their own at the expense of the rest of us, at the expense of Karen Reed. Is there any part of the rest of us, at the expense of Karen Reed. Is there any part of the actual investigation that you would do over? Because it's blowing up into this crazy, crazy so-called conspiracy, maybe I could have avoided it by, you know, looking at other people's cars just to say we did it. There's some witnesses maybe we could have interviewed a little sooner, but overall myself and every detective in that

office worked this case like we always do. So I wouldn't change anything. Nothing? No. But things are about to change for Michael Proctor. I just remember dropping on my knees and laying on my lawn like crying. Picture this. You're halfway through a DIY car fix, tools scattered everywhere, and boom, you realize you're missing a part. It's okay, because you know whatever it is is it's on eBay. They've got everything. Brakes, headlights, cold air intakes, whatever you need. And it's guaranteed to fit, which means no more crossing your fingers and hoping you ordered the right thing. All the parts you need at prices you'll love. Guaranteed to fit every time. eBay. Things people love. Newport Beach, California sits just south of Los Angeles. It's 2012 and the owner of a marijuana dispensary has been kidnapped, tortured,

and left for dead in the Mojave Desert. It began a decade-long game of cat and mouse between investigators and a perpetrator, a mastermind of escape. He's a psychopath. Oh my God, they let Hannibal Lecter out? Devil in the Desert is out now. Free family! Free family! It's about supporting John's family and getting justice for John.

Michael Proctor. Michael Proctor. Michael Proctor. Michael Proctor. Although Michael Proctor's name continues to reverberate throughout Karen Reed's retrial, Proctor himself retreats from the public eye. Trooper Michael Proctor is relieved of duty, effective immediately. Suspended without pay.

Proctor is suspended without pay pending an internal investigation into his conduct. I just remember dropping on my knees and laying on my lawn like crying. I couldn't even talk. I was complete hysterics. I just remember my mother being like, what, what, what? And I kind of gathered myself and I'm like, they relieved me of duty. What was it like handing over your badge, your gun, your cruiser? What really got me was my union rep. He had to come over to my house and pick up all my uniforms and Yeah, the one time I broke down was putting my class a uniform

You know, you go through a six-month Academy and you're very proud to put that uniform on That was tough. In March, the state police trial board dishonorably discharges Michael Proctor on two charges, including unsatisfactory performance related to state police conduct standards. I don't know any trooper that's been punished for personal text messages on their personal phone, let alone fired. He's appealing the trial board's decision.

A supervisor on one of Proctor's text chains is also disciplined for failure to counsel a subordinate during an investigation, and he loses five vacation days. The Massachusetts state police say their disciplinary action is determined on a case-by-case basis. People in every job do and say stupid things. They're human beings. They make mistakes. But we have to expect a higher degree of professionalism from a lead investigator in a case like this.

With the second trial underway, public fascination accelerates and the trial takes on a life of its own. The public interest has actually grown for the retrial. First time around, people heard about the case. Second time around, people know the case. Social media is having a field day. Karen Reed. I am just obsessed with this case. Birthday shout outs to Karen. There are dinner giveaways for Karen Reed's Defense Fund. I'm looking very forward to meeting some of you in person, to sharing a nice intimate dinner with you. And on the free Karen Reed page, it's almost like a reality show with chef Alan Jackson behind the scenes serving up meals for Reed and her team. It's a reflection of the modern age.

For Karen Reed, there's supporters who have raised money to help her defense. Karen Reed going online, making herself accessible. Karen, we love you. Has garnered financial support, emotional support, and, you know, the court of public opinion support. But when you look at it from the perspective of the victim's family, especially those two children that were relying on him for their care, the idea that there are raffles and giveaways, it's arguably pretty grotesque. She's the happiest murder defendant in America.

There's a long way to go with this second trial. How does that feel? We feel like we have a simplified strategy that the evidence will show exactly what happened. I think that she hit him. I think that she knew she hit him. I don't think that she knew how bad that he was injured. My biggest concern about the second trial is how do you field a objective 12-person panel

type of media exposure that's already here? Are we going to be able to get a fair shake? And there are these billboards urging locals to remember John, which can be seen across the Boston area. Johnny's friends and family, they got together and they wanted to remember Johnny. The goal was to ensure that the public sentiment, that folks understood what void was created from Johnny's murder.

It's not just about the defendant, it should be about the victim. Amidst everything in the courtroom, Johnno keeps friends and family remember the guy who loves sports. And the uncle who had silly treasured moments at home with the kids, like dancing with his niece to California Girls

by Katy Perry. But nothing comes close to the golden coast. I think that might be one of my favorite pictures because he was always the light in this family. He was always the sun like. Oh, the photo bombing. So that picture there, he would photo bomb every picture. There's a lot of pictures of Angie's birthday party. My surprise 40th, he's literally in every background of every photo, photo bombing.

And while Reid's team prepares to present the defense in the second trial, John O'Keefe's family and friends are in court every day, only feet away from Reid. I think the hardest part is having to see John's mother sit that close to Karen and watching her laugh, giggle, smirk. There's an undertone of anxiety but I think that there's a general presence of hope that we're gonna find justice. And when we come back, Karen Reed's team fights back. There's not a single eyewitness to a collision. There was not even a single eyewitness

to a backing event. Neither side wants to walk out of that courtroom losing. I'm anxious to see how they're going to start. Anxious, yes. Emotions run the gamut as O'Keefe supporters and Karen Reed's legal team enter the courthouse in Denham. Karen, let me talk to you real quick today. Go great.

Go get them. It's day 24 of the Reed trial, and it's the defense's turn to present their case. Alan Jackson begins by asking for a mistrial. There was no eyewitness presented. There was no video evidence, no audio evidence, no evidence in the form of physical evidence at the scene by searches that were done by officers

on the morning of January 29th, 2022. 999 times out of 1,000, the defense loses that motion. But what I like to listen to is the arguments that are made, because it sort of gives you a little bit of a preview of what the closing arguments will be. They did not prove that there was actually a collision. Jackson says the state experts may have proven the SUV went backwards, but they have not proven

that it was a collision connected to that backing maneuver. But Judge Beverly Canone is in buying it. Motion is denied as to all claimable. You can't blame the defense for trying, but it would be highly unusual for a judge to grant any mistrial requests at this point in the trial. The defense calls a longtime friend of Michael Proctor to the stand, and he confirms he was on a text chain with Proctor and other friends when the

former trooper sent his now infamous texts. Good morning, sir. Would you please state your name? Jonathan Diamandis. Those text messages were entered into evidence and the defense quickly wrapped up his questioning. were entered into evidence and the defense quickly wrapped up his questioning. I will answer the questions. Thank you, sir. Thank you. The prosecution says not so fast. They actually want the text read aloud. And then an objection is raised in the courtroom from the witness. Could you read all of them, please?

These are not my words. I'm not really comfortable reading these. Do I have to say these words out loud? A compromise is reached. I don't want you to say words that are not yours. I'll say the words and I'm going to ask you if I'm reading it accurately. Is that better? Yes. When prosecutors put bad evidence in front of a jury,

they're just getting in front of it. They want to be the ones that say, okay, we're going to put this in front of the jury, we're not hiding it from you. Next up is former Canton police officer Kelly Dever, who wins the award for most hostile witness. Miss Dever, do you want to be here tonight? I have no relation to this case. So I asked you that I asked you

if you want to be here today. Objection. This isn't direct. So it's your witness. She can no She can... No comments, just questions. No, I understand that. Devere once made statements to federal authorities about the Reed case, but later recanted, claiming it was false memory. Sometimes you have to call a witness who you don't get along with, who you know is not for your side, because they have information that's going to help you.

Prosecutors aren't gonna call her, so Alan Jackson and the defense had to call her. Do you want to be here today, no? I am put on the stand in a murder trial. I don't know why I'm here. I have no connection to this case. You have no idea why you're here? You have never talked to me.

Nobody on the defense team's talked to me since prior to the first trial. So I don't have any idea why I'm here. No clue whatsoever as you sit here. Why you might have been called to the stand? No. Whatever her value was to the defense was lost in the sea of hostility by the witness. That's all I have. the sea of hostility by the way this. That's all I have. The defense would later call forensic expert Dr. Marie Russell to the stand.

All right Mr. Olesi whenever you're ready. Thank you your honor. Good morning. Good morning. And she testifies about the marks on John O'Keefe's arm. Can you determine that those are from a dog? I believe they are, yes. Her credentials are real. I mean, she's done the work.

She has treated people who have been bitten by dogs through the years. But she's not an experienced expert witness. So when you see her on the stand, she's not the strongest of experts because she's not used to doing this. There is no recognized standard anywhere for methodology on how to identify a dog bite wound, is there? There is no published standard from an organization that I am aware of. When you consider...

Brennan asked the doctor if her opinion on the case changed after she watched Reed's televised interviews. The doctor said no. opinion on the case changed after she watched Reed's televised interviews. The doctor said no. Many people suffer from what's called an acute grief reaction. It's very common. And they do things that seem to be irrational.

They ramble. They act bizarrely. Does this happen moments after a stressful event? Oh, yes. Does it happen months later when you go on 20-20 or Nightline? I've never seen that situation. No. It gave him an opportunity to point out to the jury

that they'd been watching these interviews inside the courtroom, these clips, and these clips are months and months after the death of John O'Keefe. So I think in that moment Hank Brennan did a nice job of scoring some points and bringing some credibility to his side and perhaps undermining the credibility of Dr. Russell. Next up for the defense is Brian Lucky Lockhart. Now, he's the snow plow operator who came down Fairview Road during the storm,

and his value to the defense is not what he saw, it's what he didn't see. How much of the front lawn could you see? I could see all the way to the front door. What was on the ground on the Alberts lawn at that point in the area of the flagpole? Nothing. Did you see a 6 foot 1, 216 pound man lying on that lawn? No. The prosecution attributes that to Lucky simply being too busy dealing with the task at hand.

When you plowed that night, did you have any reason to look for somebody who was lying on the side of a yard? No. Then the defense's most important witness, Andrew Rentschler is a biomechanical engineer and his company conducted a series of tests. And based on these tests, Rentschler offers a different opinion as to whether John O'Keefe was even struck by a vehicle at all.

I did, yes. And what is that opinion? My opinion is that the evidence is inconsistent with Mr. O'Keefe being struck on the right arm by the SUV. Things get testy during cross-examination. When you looked at all the tests you did, the plastic broke differently in each and every case, every experiment, didn't it? Sure, it's broken like that, and I've never seen a case where you get these types of abrasions.

I didn't ask you that. Is that funny? No, it's not funny. So, I'm going to strike the comment. Next question. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan also suggests that Rentschler is cozy with the defense. Any bias?

Bias, yes. What do you mean, did I have any bias? Well, I was waiting for my ride. And to get back to the airport, they had to take other people. And so they were having a lunch afterwards, and they said, come have a sandwich, and then your ride will take you to the airport. So I went, and I had a ham sandwich. How long were you at the table, eating a ham sandwich? I honestly don't know. Ten minutes. How long does it take you to eat a ham sandwich? Ten minutes? After an exhaustive 33-day trial,

both sides deliver their closing arguments. Find Karen Reed. Not guilty. Not guilty. Not guilty. She was drunk. She hit him. And she left him to die. Let's go. All right, so the coin, please. So we'll start with the defendant's question. Jackson.

There was no collision. There was no collision. There was no collision. There was no collision. This case was corrupted from the start by biases, conflicts and personal loyalties. At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself, can you trust the Commonwealth case? They failed to provide you with a truthful representation. They failed to prove the essence of their case that John was even hit by a car to begin with. Find Karen Reed. Not guilty.

Not guilty. Not guilty. Thank you. On January 29, 2022, Thank you. On January 29, 2022, John O'Keefe had just been hit by Karen Reed. Then he lay on the ground, dying. And he needed help. She made a choice. She didn't call 911.

She didn't run to his aid. She made a decision. She drove away. She left him alone to die. He is not an it. John O'Keefe is not a body. John O'Keefe is not a buffalo on a prairie. John O'Keefe was a body. John O'Keefe is not a buffalo on a prairie. John O'Keefe was a person, and he was murdered by Karen Reed. Talk about the closings. How do you feel about women, on your side?

I don't think mine could have gone better. That's all I'm saying. Love you. Talk about the closings. How do you feel they went on your side? I don't think mine could have gone better. That's all I'm saying. This has been a long three years, around three years. So we're all kind of on pins and needles, just waiting. As the jury continues to deliberate, the crowds outside the courthouse continue to grow. You can see the Karen Reeves reporters wearing their pink outside the courthouse continue to grow. And you can see the Karen Reed supporters wearing their pink outside the courthouse.

Right now there are Karen Reed supporters pouring into the street. They're getting closer. We are inches away from a verdict. Mr. Foreman, members of the jury, have you agreed upon a verdict? Yes. Mr. Foreman, on murder in the second degree,

what say you? Is the defendant at the bar guilty or not guilty? Not guilty. 002, what say you? Is the defendant at the bar not guilty or guilty? Not guilty. Specifically, number five, operating under the influence of liquor. So say you, Mr. Foreman?

Guilty. Leading the scene after accident resulting in death. Defendant not guilty or guilty? Not guilty. So say you, Mr. Foreman. Guilty. Leaving the scene after an accident resulting in death. Defendant, not guilty or guilty? Not guilty. So say you, Mr. Foreman. Not guilty. So say you all. I couldn't actually hear the verdict

because there was so much noise. And when the first part of that verdict was read, there was absolute jubilation. As that not guilty verdict comes in, a member of Karen Reed's defense team is in tears and can see Karen's hands trembling. Right now you can hear the cheers of the crowd right there. Alan Jackson, Karen Reed in that light blue suit

emerging from the courthouse. They're waving to the crowd. They're making that hand gesture in sign language of love to their supporters. You can see that confetti exploding right there. Karen Reed's legal team and Karen Reed in the powder blue suit just to the right. We're going to hear Karen right now. I just want to say two things. Number one is 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 and the second thing I want to say is no one has fought harder for justice for John O'Keefe than I have. Thank you to my supporters. They pulled this through on their backs. Thank you. Not seen in this swirl of confetti and this crowd here is the family and friends of Officer John O'Keefe. Throughout this over three-year-long ordeal,

they have remained stoic and reserved and dignified. And tonight, they have to somehow cope with both losing their son and thisified. And tonight they have to somehow cope with both losing their son and this trial. Karen Reed may not have been convicted of murder but she is not out of the legal woods yet. This has been the trial of a decade, over three years in the making, but the saga is not over for Karen Reed. Karen Reed's sentence for OUI, basically driving under the influence, earned her a year of probation and the family of John O'Keefe has already filed a wrongful death suit against her after that mistrial in 2024.

Despite the heartbreak of this verdict for the O'Keefe family, they continue to try to find ways to honor John in their everyday lives. John's badge number is 2490. So I have his badge number on my necklace. We have stickers that we put on our phones, we have stickers on the car. Rene and I both got tattoos with this badge number. And that's become the numerical symbol of finding justice for him. Justice for JJ! Justice for JJ! The last picture you took together,

was that at opening day? Yeah, it was an opening day shot at Lansdowne. Welcome to opening day. It's one of the few pictures we took. We didn't take a whole lot of pictures. But you're both beaming in that picture. Yeah, we had a good day. A very good day.

And this year, you went with John's nephew. I did. We've tried to keep that tradition alive. We've taken Johnny's nephew to three of the last four opening days. What has that been like? It's Frank that's been genuinely enjoyable. He happens to be a great kid.

I've known him since he was really little. My relationship with Johnny's nephew is very important to me. To me it's just about maintaining that connection and maintaining tradition. And tradition was important for Johnny. tradition and tradition was important for Johnny. Every year we go to Johnny's grave site. So Johnny's brother, Johnny's closest friends from the Boston police force. It's a way for family and friends to get together

and honor him as a community. People keep asking, you know, what legacy he left behind and I would say a legacy of honor. He was an honorable man. He was a good man. I can't really say enough good things about John. I just miss him. David, this is the end of a very long emotional journey for so many in that community and beyond. No question about that.

For Karen Reed tonight, relief. And for John O'Keefe's family, major disappointment. We should point out that the civil suit against her is still ongoing. That's our program for tonight. Thanks for watching. I'm David Muir. And I'm Deborah Roberts. From all of us here at 20 20 and ABC News. Good night.

Hi, I'm Brad Milky. I'm the host of the crime scene weekly, a new show from ABC audio about the biggest headlines in true crime. This week in the heart of Washington's wilderness, a tragedy has shattered a family. Three young sisters are dead and their father is on the run. I'll talk to ABC News correspondent, Kana Whitworth, to get the latest. Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcasts.