Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Erin O'Keefe Trial 1John O’Keefe’s sister-in-law and a witness to family communications with Karen Read. ← All People
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Erin O'Keefe

Courtroom still of Erin O'Keefe.

John O'Keefe’s sister-in-law and a witness to family communications with Karen Read.

Trial 1
167 lines 1 proceeding

About

Erin O'Keefe testified about her family, her friendship with Karen Read, and their communications before and after John O'Keefe was found in the snow. She described January 28 messages and conversations involving a dispute in Aruba. The judge instructed jurors that Read’s alleged statements about Aruba could be considered for Read’s state of mind and her relationship with John, not as proof that the statements were true. Erin also described a call in which, she said, Read recounted dropping John at a party and later searching for him. At a charge conference, a prosecutor cited Erin’s account of Read’s remarks about remembering “the bad times” and possibly not hearing from her again in support of a proposed consciousness-of-guilt instruction. The defense opposed the proposed instruction, disputing other grounds the prosecution cited, and the judge deferred a decision.

Trial Record (1)

Trial 1 First Criminal Trial Apr 29, 2024 – Jul 1, 2024 1 proceeding

Day 1

Direct Erin O'Keefe - Direct Examination Erin O'Keefe Adam Lally 3 highlights 167 lines spoken
Summary

Erin O'Keefe described family and relationship history, January 28 communications, and what she learned after Johnny was found in the snow; the court gave a limiting instruction on alleged statements by Read.

Highlights (3)
Quote

“I woke up to my husband on the phone with his mother, saying he's going to be okay. He's going to be okay. And they got off the phone, and I said, what happened? What's going on? And he said, they found Johnny in the snow this morning.”

Erin O'Keefe described how she first learned on January 29 that Johnny had been found in the snow.

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Quote

“She told me that she had to remember the bad times, which struck me as an odd comment to say. But I assumed, since she was at the hospital, that maybe she was medicated. But it just struck me as something odd.”

Erin O'Keefe characterized a statement she attributed to Read during their later phone call.

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Key Moment

Erin O'Keefe described a later call with Read, including Read's account of dropping Johnny at a party, searching for him after waking, and comments Erin said struck her as odd.

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Locations Touched By This Testimony

Good Samaritan Medical Center 1 proc