Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Frank Sheridan Trial 1Retired forensic pathologist who testified for the defense about John O’Keefe’s injuries. ← All People
🔬 Expert Witness

Frank Sheridan

Courtroom still of Frank Sheridan.

Retired forensic pathologist who testified for the defense about John O’Keefe’s injuries.

Trial 1
170 lines 3 proceedings

About

Sheridan reviewed photographs, reports and medical records, but did not perform O’Keefe’s autopsy or see his body. He testified that the right-arm abrasions did not resemble a direct vehicle impact because he would expect bruising. He considered them most likely the result of an animal attack, while acknowledging that he could not identify the animal or breed, determine where the injuries occurred, or date them more precisely than minutes to hours before death. Sheridan described an impact injury to the back of O’Keefe’s head as fatal and said it would have caused immediate unconsciousness. In his opinion, a fall onto grass was too soft to account for it. On cross-examination, he agreed that a vehicle strike projecting O’Keefe onto asphalt could cause a skull fracture, but said he did not think that was what occurred.

Trial Record (3)

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

Day 30

Direct Frank Sheridan Direct Examination: Forensic Injury Opinions Frank Sheridan Elizabeth Little 7 highlights 65 lines spoken
Summary

Forensic pathologist Frank Sheridan testified that O'Keefe's arm injuries did not resemble a direct vehicle impact, were consistent with an animal attack with qualifications, and that the fatal head injury was not consistent with a fall onto grass.

Highlights (7)
Quote

“Well, if you are hit by a vehicle, whichever part of your body is hit, if it's a significant impact at all, you're going to get bruising, and we don't have any bruising here.”

Sheridan explained the basis for his opinion that the arm abrasions did not resemble a direct vehicle impact.

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Quote

“I would say they are, yes. I'm not 100 percent sure, but my initial reaction when I saw this photograph was that it was probably an animal or most likely I would say a dog, scrape marks with paws, Possibly also a bite mark from the teeth, as well, possibly.”

Sheridan gave a qualified alternative explanation for the arm marks.

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Quote

“But, even without the snow, grass is basically too soft for somebody falling and hitting their head on it to get the injuries I've just described.”

Sheridan explained his opinion that the head injury was not consistent with a fall onto grass.

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Key Moment

Sheridan described the arm injuries shown in Exhibit 19 as antemortem abrasions and testified that a direct vehicle impact to that part of the arm would be expected to produce bruising that he did not see.

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Key Moment

Sheridan described the fatal head injury, testified that O'Keefe would have been unconscious immediately after the impact, and said the injury was not consistent with falling onto grass.

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Cross Frank Sheridan — Cross-Examination Frank Sheridan Adam Lally 2 highlights 99 lines spoken
Summary

Sheridan confirmed the limits of his review, agreed with pathology findings, and maintained his animal-injury opinion while acknowledging limits on identifying, locating, and timing the injuries.

Highlights (2)
Quote

“They don't look remotely like that to me.”

Sheridan maintained that the arm injuries did not resemble injuries from vehicle parts, shattered glass, or taillight material.

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Quote

“If all that happened, yes, and onto asphalt or something like asphalt, yes, if, indeed, that's what happened. But, like, for other reasons, I don't think that is what happened.”

Sheridan acknowledged a conditional alternative mechanism for the head injury but did not adopt it as his opinion.

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Locations Touched By This Testimony

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