Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Carl Miyasako Trial 2Bode Technology DNA analyst who testified about a hair recovered from Karen Read’s vehicle. ← All People
🔬 Expert Witness · Bode Technology

Carl Miyasako

Courtroom still of Carl Miyasako.

Bode Technology DNA analyst who testified about a hair recovered from Karen Read’s vehicle.

Trial 2
107 lines 3 proceedings

About

Carl Miyasako compared the hair’s mitochondrial DNA profile with a known sample from John O’Keefe. He testified that O’Keefe could not be excluded as a possible source and estimated, at 95% confidence, that at least 99.895% of the population could be excluded. On cross-examination, Miyasako confirmed that mitochondrial DNA cannot identify one person within a maternal lineage, so O’Keefe’s maternal relatives also could not be excluded. He also said the testing could not establish when or how the hair reached the vehicle. On redirect, he maintained his exclusion estimate while repeating the maternal-line limitation.

Trial Record (3)

Trial 2 Retrial Apr 22, 2025 – Jun 18, 2025 3 proceedings

Day 18

Direct Carl Miyasako - Direct Carl Miyasako Adam Lally 3 highlights 76 lines spoken
Summary

DNA analyst Carl Miyasako testifies about mitochondrial DNA testing on a hair sample from Karen Read's vehicle, concluding John O'Keefe cannot be excluded as the source.

Highlights (3)
Quote

“So for hair samples we typically categorize these — hairs with roots and rootless hair samples. So with hair samples, typically in the shaft end, there's more abundance of the mitochondrial DNA versus nuclear DNA, where nuclear DNA tends to be degraded or not present in high enough amounts.”

Explains why mitochondrial rather than autosomal DNA testing was used on this hair sample

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Quote

“with 95% confidence, at least 99.895% of the population can be excluded as being a source of the hair sample”

Reports the analyst's 99.895% population-exclusion statistic as weight for a probable inclusion; it does not identify the hair donor.

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Quote

“Um, so it's — with 95% confidence, 99.985% of the population. So the majority of the population could be excluded. Um, however, with John O'Keefe and his maternal relatives, they could not.”

Preserves the witness's 99.985% statement and maternal-relative qualification; the percentage differs from his separately stated 99.895% figure and is not corroboration of an exclusive family pool or donor identity.

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Cross Carl Miyasako - Cross Carl Miyasako Alan Jackson 2 highlights 28 lines spoken
Summary

Defense attorney Jackson cross-examines DNA analyst Miyasako to establish that mitochondrial DNA testing cannot identify the hair found on Karen Read's vehicle as specifically belonging to John O'Keefe.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“With mitochondrial DNA analysis, it's not unique to an individual. Um, compared to traditional STRs, or short tandem repeat, that could be unique to an individual. But with mitochondrial DNA, it's not unique to an individual, but more so a maternal lineage.”

The witness concedes the fundamental limitation of the test — it cannot identify a specific person.

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Quote

“I can't say whether it is, but the profile obtained from John O'Keefe is consistent with that hair sample.”

Shows Miyasako's careful phrasing — consistent with, but not identified as O'Keefe's.

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Redirect Carl Miyasako - Redirect Carl Miyasako Adam Lally 2 highlights 3 lines spoken
Summary

Lally's brief redirect has Miyasako restate his conclusion that 99.895% of the population can be excluded as the hair source, while acknowledging maternal relatives also cannot be excluded.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“I could not — could not exclude John O'Keefe's known standard's profile being consistent... with the hair sample's profile, and with 95% confidence, at least 99.895% of the population can be excluded as a source of the evidence.”

The prosecution's core forensic conclusion restated for the jury after cross-examination.

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Quote

“With the maternal populations, I can't exclude anybody maternally related to John O'Keefe as well.”

Even on redirect, the witness reiterates the limitation Jackson established on cross — the hair could belong to any maternal relative.

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