Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Caitlin Albert Trial 1Caitlin Albert, Brian Albert’s eldest daughter, testified about the gathering at 34 Fairview Road on the night John O’Keefe died and said that neither O’Keefe nor Karen Read entered the house. ← All People
🗣️ Witness

Caitlin Albert

Trial 1
400 lines 5 proceedings
Courtroom still of Caitlin Albert.

About

Caitlin Albert is the eldest daughter of Brian Albert, at whose Canton home John O'Keefe's body was found on January 29, 2022. She was present at the Waterfall bar when the group gathered and subsequently attended the party at 34 Fairview Road, where she was the last non-resident to leave at approximately 1:45 AM. Her testimony spans two days in Trial 1, covering the movements of the group that night, her observations inside the house, and her departure — walking out the front door past the lawn where O'Keefe would later be found.

Key Points

  • Albert testified on direct that neither John O'Keefe nor Karen Read ever entered 34 Fairview Road that night — a central point for the prosecution, which alleged Read struck O'Keefe with her car rather than the defense theory that he was killed inside the Albert home.
  • On cross-examination, Albert confirmed she was never interviewed by investigators during all of 2022, and that Trooper Proctor's first contact with her came roughly eighteen months after O'Keefe's death — a significant timeline that the defense used to suggest the investigation was deliberately delayed.
  • Yannetti confronted Albert with photographs of her and Katie McLaughlin at social events. Albert identified McLaughlin beside her in one photograph and said they had attended some trips and group events together.
  • Albert acknowledged on cross that she walked out the front door of 34 Fairview Road at approximately 1:45 AM — facing the lawn where O'Keefe's body would be found hours later — yet saw no physical evidence, including no taillight plastic fragments, despite the prosecution's theory that Read's car struck O'Keefe in front of the house.
  • On direct, Albert testified that Colin had left by the time Jen and Matt McCabe arrived. On cross, she agreed she did not monitor where he went after greeting him and did not physically see him leave; she said that although there was a spot in the dining area from which she could see it, she did not believe she could see the basement door, which Jackson described as mostly blocked from her vantage.

Trial Record (5)

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 5 proceedings

Day 10

Direct Caitlin Albert Adam Lally 2 highlights 123 lines spoken
Summary

Caitlin Albert described the Waterfall gathering and testified that neither John O'Keefe nor Karen Read entered 34 Fairview Road while she was there.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“I mean, I didn't notice any issues or any negative things happening. All the conversations seemed positive, light-hearted. Everyone was just kind of having a good time, getting along. I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary, really.”

Albert described her observations of the group's demeanor at the Waterfall.

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Quote

“No. Neither of them ever came into the home.”

Albert directly testified that neither John O'Keefe nor Karen Read entered 34 Fairview Road while she was present.

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Cross Caitlin Albert David Yannetti 2 highlights 78 lines spoken
Summary

Caitlin Albert said Trooper Proctor interviewed her in August 2023 and acknowledged limits on what she observed inside 34 Fairview.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“If I'm in the dining room area, there is a spot in there where I could see it. But I don't believe I could see the basement door. No.”

Albert described a limitation on her view from the dining-room area.

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Day 11

Cross Caitlin Albert David Yannetti 2 highlights 167 lines spoken
Summary

Caitlin Albert acknowledged continued contact with Katie McLaughlin and qualified her account of what she observed while leaving 34 Fairview Road.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“I would agree with that, although it was far and few between. But throughout the years, yes.”

Albert acknowledged that her contact with Katie McLaughlin continued over the years, while qualifying its frequency.

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Redirect Caitlin Albert Adam Lally 2 highlights 26 lines spoken
Summary

Caitlin Albert clarified limited Proctor-family contact and said snowy conditions and her route to Tristin's car limited what she observed outside 34 Fairview Road.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“When I walked out the front door, I recall somewhat looking down, trying to make sure I didn't slip. The ground was completely covered with snow at that point. And then my direction was towards Tristin's car. So to the left.”

Albert explained the limits of what she was observing as she left the house.

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Key Moment

Albert described meeting Courtney Proctor's children only once, briefly, while they were in the back seat of a car; she said she had never met Michael Proctor before his interview of her.

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Locations Touched By This Testimony

34 Fairview Road 4 procs Waterfall Bar & Grille 3 procs