Commonwealth v. Read — Trial ArchiveFrank Walsh
Also known as: Walsh
Testimony Impact
Frank Walsh, a lieutenant and paramedic with the Canton Fire Department, responded to the call of an unresponsive male at 34 Fairview Road during his overnight shift on January 28-29, 2022. He was among the first emergency personnel on scene and performed advanced life support on O'Keefe, observing and documenting his injuries before transporting him. Walsh testified in Trial 1 about the physical state of O'Keefe, the weather conditions, and the emotional behavior of a woman present at the scene.
Notable Quotes From The Record
“It was very windy. Yeah, just windy and really heavy snow.”
Establishes severe weather conditions at the time of response, relevant to scene conditions and visibility
“The notable observation that I made was that he was missing one shoe, his right shoe”
Missing shoe detail becomes a recurring evidentiary point in the case
“I noticed a hematoma on his right eye and I noticed some blood coming from his nose”
First responder's direct observation of facial injuries to O'Keefe
“I noticed some scratches and lacerations on his right arm”
Documents additional injuries observed after clothing removal in the ambulance
“I relayed to him that there were signs of trauma on the patient”
Establishes that Walsh communicated trauma observations to Sergeant Goode on scene, triggering investigative interest
“Yes, um she appeared to be crying more than others, yes”
Confirms the woman was distinctly more upset than other bystanders at the scene
Key Moments
- Walsh described observing a hematoma on O'Keefe's right eye, blood from his nose, and scratches and lacerations on his right arm after removing O'Keefe's clothing with trauma shears in the ambulance — providing the jury with the first medical witness account of O'Keefe's injuries.
- Walsh noted that O'Keefe was missing his right shoe when found, a detail that recurred throughout the case as both sides addressed how and where O'Keefe had been injured.
- Walsh testified that he communicated the presence of trauma signs to Sergeant Goode at the scene, an exchange that helped trigger formal investigative interest in O'Keefe's death.
- On cross-examination, Walsh confirmed that a woman at the scene was visibly more distraught than others — screaming and crying — and that what he heard her say was limited to asking whether O'Keefe was alive, a moment the defense used to suggest Karen Read's behavior was consistent with genuine shock rather than guilt.
- Walsh placed O'Keefe's body approximately ten feet from the road in heavy snow and high winds, establishing the severe weather conditions present during the response and any potential scene examination.