Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Colin Albert Trial 1Colin Albert, nephew of Brian Albert, testified about his movements at 34 Fairview Road on the night John O’Keefe died, placing himself at the house until approximately 12:10 a.m. ← All People
🗣️ Witness

Colin Albert

Trial 1
756 lines 7 proceedings
Courtroom still of Colin Albert.

About

Colin Albert is the nephew of Brian Albert, at whose Canton home John O'Keefe's body was found on January 29, 2022. He testified that he was at 34 Fairview Road that night for his cousin's birthday party, departing around 12:10 a.m. — corroborated by text messages with Allie McCabe — and briefly crossed paths with Brian and Nicole Albert arriving home as he left. His testimony spans five proceedings across two trial days, beginning with direct examination establishing his timeline and extending through cross, redirect, recross, and re-redirect as the defense challenged his credibility on multiple fronts.

Key Points

  • Albert produced text messages showing he texted Allie McCabe at 11:54 p.m. asking for a ride and received her 'Here.' reply at 12:10 a.m., providing documentary support for his precise departure time from 34 Fairview Road.
  • During cross-examination, Jackson highlighted that Albert could recall the exact minute he left the house two and a half years earlier but could not remember details of a meeting with the prosecutor just one month prior — a contrast the defense used to suggest selective memory.
  • Jackson presented videos of Albert making explicit threats of violence, directly undercutting Albert's claim that he had never been in a fight and had no violent tendencies; Albert acknowledged saying 'I will fuck you up' in the videos.
  • The defense established a significant gap in text messages between Albert and Allie McCabe in the month following O'Keefe's death, with Albert attributing it to use of other platforms — leading Jackson to raise the possibility of deliberate deletion or use of auto-deleting apps like Snapchat.
  • Jackson established that lead investigator Michael Proctor was a longtime family friend — Colin had been ring bearer at Proctor's wedding — a connection the defense presented as evidence of a compromised investigation centered on protecting the Albert family.

Trial Record (7)

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 7 proceedings

Day 12

Direct Colin Albert Adam Lally 6 highlights 235 lines spoken
Summary

Albert described his visit to 34 Fairview Road, his text-arranged ride home with Alli McCabe, and said he did not see John O'Keefe; the text screenshot was admitted as Exhibit 84.

Highlights (6)
Quote

“I just said, I'm going home. My mom wants me home. I love you guys. Bye.”

Albert described his exchange with his uncle Brian and aunt Nicole as he left the house.

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Quote

“And then at 12:10 a.m., Alli wrote, here. And at 12:20 a.m., I wrote back, okay.”

Albert read the text-message sequence used to place his departure from 34 Fairview Road.

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Show 2 more

Day 13

Cross Colin Albert Alan Jackson 4 highlights 311 lines spoken
Summary

Albert was questioned about witness preparation, his relationship with Michael Proctor, phone and text-message evidence, and injuries shown in an admitted February 2022 photograph.

Highlights (4)
Quote

“We text on other platforms, too. So I'd say other apps.”

Albert offered an explanation for the lack of messages in the displayed text string after January 29.

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Quote

“I was at a party, a house party my senior year. It was -- I remember it being icy out and I was -- it was kind of like a steep hill of a driveway. And I was walking up the driveway, and I slipped down the driveway. And I tried to catch myself, but I had something in my left hand. So I tried to brace myself with my right hand, and I ended up sliding a little bit down the driveway.”

Albert gave his account of how he injured the knuckles shown in the admitted February 2022 photograph.

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Quote

“I got prepped for this.”

Albert described the earlier meeting with Mr. Lally after initially saying he had spoken only with his lawyer in preparation for testimony.

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Voir Dire Colin Albert 2 highlights 81 lines spoken
Summary

Albert acknowledged threats in two jury-out videos, denied any connection to John O'Keefe, and was questioned about when the videos were made.

Highlights (2)
Cross Colin Albert Alan Jackson 3 highlights 56 lines spoken
Summary

Albert identified himself in two videos, acknowledged threats of physical violence, and was questioned about earlier testimony on the videos' timing and his injured knuckles.

Highlights (3)
Key Moment

Albert agreed that he had previously placed the videos closer to his junior or senior year, while testifying here that they were from around his sophomore year.

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Redirect Colin Albert Adam Lally 2 highlights 73 lines spoken
Summary

Albert addressed his limited contact with Trooper Michael Proctor, the video dispute, online harassment, and again denied seeing John O'Keefe at 34 Fairview Road.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“Other than when I got interviewed last time with Trooper Proctor and one of his partners, other than that, I didn't see him for years, I want to say, 'cause I was a young kid.”

Albert characterized his contact with Trooper Proctor as limited apart from his interview.

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Quote

“I'd say about a little over a year it started when people on Twitter, Instagram, social media were just coming at my family, calling us murderers, harassing us, showing up to our doorsteps, our sports games. I mean, we couldn't leave the house without people taking pictures of us, and it's very terrible.”

Albert described the online and in-person harassment he said his family experienced.

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Locations Touched By This Testimony

34 Fairview Road 3 procs Canton Police Department 1 proc