Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton is where Boston PD Officer John O'Keefe was pronounced dead after transport from 34 Fairview Road, and where Karen Read was taken the same morning on a Section 12 psychiatric hold. Officer Steven Mullaney testified that Canton dispatch advised "she was making suicidal statements," providing the basis for the transport.[1] Read's clothing was collected at the hospital;[2] O'Keefe's was preserved as evidence. A blood sample drawn from Read at Good Samaritan would produce the central forensic thread of both trials.
Dr. Gary Faller testified that Read's BAC at the hospital "is reported at 93 mg per deciliter."[3] Forensic toxicologist Hannah Knowles then built a retrograde-extrapolation calculation on that value, placing Read's BAC at the time she left the Waterfall at "nearly twice to over three times the [legal limit]."[4] The defense attacked the foundation of that calculation: attorney David Yannetti established that Knowles had "no information that the lab at Good Samaritan Hospital is an accredited lab,"[5] and Knowles conceded she had "no direct knowledge of the accuracy or reliability" of the hospital's lab results — the basis of her entire analysis.[6]
“Canton control advised us that — — she was making suicidal statements.”
— Steven Mullaney
Establishes basis for Read's Section 12 psychiatric hold and transport to Good Samaritan Hospital.
“It is reported at 93 mg per deciliter.”
— Gary Faller
The central factual finding — Karen Read's blood alcohol level at Good Samaritan on the morning of January 29, 2022.
“That based on the 93 milligrams per deciliter value that was obtained at Good Samaritan, that the blood alcohol concentration for that individual at 12:45 a.m. could be between 0.14 and 0.28%.”
— Hannah Knowles
The retrograde extrapolation result — the central forensic conclusion of this proceeding, placing Read at nearly twice to over three times the legal limit at the incident time.
“As you testify here today, you have no information that the lab at Good Samaritan Hospital is an accredited lab. Correct?”
— David Yannetti
Key foundational question that sets up the entire credibility challenge to the BAC evidence.
“Correct. I have no direct knowledge of the accuracy or reliability. My calculations are solely based on the results of the Good Samaritan lab.”
— Hannah Knowles
Establishes that the entire BAC analysis is built on hospital results the expert cannot independently verify.
Karen Read's medical records from Good Samaritan Medical Center for January 29, 2022, including her Section 12 admission documentation and the serum ethanol test result of 93 mg/dL collected at 9:08 a.m., generated by the hospital's laboratory.
The full set of John O'Keefe's clothing recovered at Good Samaritan Hospital on January 29, 2022, comprising gray sweatshirt, orange T-shirt, blue jeans, belt, and boxer shorts (and in some accounts a right Nike sneaker). The items were laid on butcher paper to dry; an evidence bag photograph shows both shirts were originally stored together before being separated at an unknown point. The clothing was not delivered to the lab until March 14.
John O'Keefe's medical records from Good Samaritan Hospital covering his treatment on January 29, 2022, including the emergency room note and discharge chart prepared by Dr. Justin Rice, the code sheet, physical exam documentation, body temperature reading of 80.1°F, and body photographs. Also referenced alongside EMS documentation in materials reviewed by defense experts.
John O'Keefe's gray long-sleeve sweatshirt/hoodie, recovered from Good Samaritan Hospital and designated Item 7-18. The garment exhibited nine documented areas of damage on the right sleeve — captured in overall, close-up, and stain photograph sets — along with red-brown stains labeled A through F that tested positive for blood on screening and confirmatory tests. In Trial 2 it was admitted in a plexiglass encasement alongside associated documentary exhibits.
Good Samaritan Medical Center's formal policy document governing procedures for alcohol blood testing, including the requirement for a non-alcohol swab.
Good Samaritan Medical Center's formal policy governing patient preparation, phlebotomy procedures, patient identification, and quality controls for blood specimen collection.
John O'Keefe's orange T-shirt, recovered from Good Samaritan Hospital and designated Item 7-17. Photograph sets document the exterior front, back, and five red-brown stains (labeled A through E) that tested positive for blood on screening and confirmatory tests. In Trial 2 the shirt was admitted in a transparent plastic sleeve.
One of John O'Keefe's black Nike sneakers, recovered at 34 Fairview Road beneath snow, inverted against the curb and separated from his body. Photographs document its position at the scene. A matching sneaker was recovered separately from O'Keefe at Good Samaritan Hospital; photographs of both sneakers were also introduced together as Items 7-3 and 7-4.
Scene photographs and vehicle photographs, including photos from Good Samaritan Hospital and the scene of death, reviewed by defense expert Dr. Frank Sheridan as part of his case analysis.
A set of photographs taken by Trooper Yuri Bukhenik of John O'Keefe's body at Good Samaritan Hospital, documenting facial injuries and arm abrasions, including swelling around the eyes, a nostril laceration, and linear abrasions concentrated on the right arm.
A photograph depicting Trooper Michael Proctor at Good Samaritan Hospital with John O'Keefe's clothing on the floor.
John O'Keefe's right sneaker recovered from Good Samaritan Hospital.
John O'Keefe's blue jeans recovered from Good Samaritan Hospital and designated Item 7-1. Photographs document five red-brown stains (A through E), dirt, debris, and EMT cuts; grass staining was noted on the left rear area.
Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive