Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Charles Rae Trial 1Trial 2Canton police lieutenant who conducted a welfare check at John O’Keefe’s home. ← All People
👮 Law Enforcement · Canton PD

Charles Rae

Courtroom still of Charles Rae.

Canton police lieutenant who conducted a welfare check at John O’Keefe’s home.

Trial 1Trial 2
112 lines 4 proceedings 2 trials

About

Charles Rae testified that he and another officer went to John O’Keefe’s home after learning that O’Keefe and his girlfriend had been taken to the hospital and that two children might be there unattended. Rae said no one answered the door, and he looked through windows for people or activity. Officers later learned the children were staying with friends or family. Cruiser and doorbell footage of the visit was shown to jurors. Rae said the visit was a welfare check, not a vehicle investigation. He testified that he did not inspect the car in the driveway and, when questioned again at the retrial, said he had not paid attention to its right rear side.

Trial Record (4)

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 3 proceedings

Day 6

Direct Charles Rae - Direct Examination Charles Rae Adam Lally 3 highlights 48 lines spoken
Summary

Rae described a welfare check at One Meadows Ave. after O'Keefe and his girlfriend were taken to the hospital, while cruiser footage of the trip was shown to the jury.

Highlights (3)
Quote

“But it seemed like the right thing to do, to do a well-being check of the children at One Meadows Ave., which was Mr. O'Keefe's residence.”

Rae explained why police went to the residence after receiving information that children could be unattended.

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Quote

“In this case, we weren't looking for someone that might be a dead body. We were looking for two children that would be up and active.”

Rae distinguished the welfare check from a search for evidence or a person outside the home.

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Key Moment

Rae testified that, after learning John O'Keefe and his girlfriend had been transported to the hospital and that two children might be unattended, he and Sergeant Meehan went to One Meadows Ave. for a welfare check.

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Day 7

Trial 2 Retrial Apr 22, 2025 – Jun 18, 2025 1 proceeding

Day 10

Direct Charles Rae - Direct Charles Rae Hank Brennan 2 highlights 41 lines spoken
Summary

Lt. Charles Rae testifies about conducting a well-being check at John O'Keefe's residence on January 29, 2022, with cruiser dashcam video and Ring doorbell footage shown to the jury.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“I can't recall whether it was an order from somebody. I don't think it was an order, but it might have been at the suggestion of the former chief of police. Either that, or it just developed organically, but one way or the other we had decided that the right thing to do would be to do a well-being check of the home at 1 Meadows Ave., which is the decedent's residence.”

Establishes the chain of decision-making for the well-being check and Rae's uncertainty about whether it was directed or self-initiated.

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Quote

“At that time, we were under the impression that there may be two unattended young children at the home.”

Explains the stated purpose of the well-being check — concern for O'Keefe's minor children.

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Locations Touched By This Testimony

34 Fairview Road 2 procs Canton Police Department 2 procs Canton PD Sally Port 1 proc Good Samaritan Medical Center 1 proc