Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Person Matthew McCabe Trial 1Witness who described an SUV outside 34 Fairview Road and early-morning calls ← All People
🗣️ Witness

Matthew McCabe

Courtroom still of Matthew McCabe.

Witness who described an SUV outside 34 Fairview Road and early-morning calls

Trial 1
893 lines 7 proceedings

About

Matthew McCabe testified that he helped relay directions to 34 Fairview Road after a gathering at the Waterfall. From inside the house, he saw a dark SUV at successive positions farther up the road. He said he did not see anyone inside or outside it, or see the vehicle move. The next morning, he said, calls woke him, and he overheard Karen Read say she did not remember going to Fairview and had broken or cracked her taillight. On cross-examination, defense counsel tested McCabe’s recollection of the SUV’s position and questioned him about tire tracks and a February 1 family group text concerning whether John O’Keefe entered the house. McCabe said he had not seen the SUV make a three-point turn and could not say whether it had. He maintained that O’Keefe had not entered the house but said the family did not know what had happened to him. He said his text about telling “them” O’Keefe never entered referred to Channel 4 news, and he denied directing anyone’s statements to investigators.

Trial Record (7)

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

Day 13

Direct Matthew McCabe - Direct Examination Matthew McCabe Adam Lally 3 highlights 326 lines spoken
Summary

McCabe described the group’s movements from the Waterfall to 34 Fairview, his observations of a dark SUV outside the house, and waking to screams the next morning.

Highlights (3)

Day 14

Direct Matthew McCabe — Resumed Direct Examination Matthew McCabe Adam Lally 5 highlights 100 lines spoken
Summary

McCabe described early-morning calls, his trip to Fairview after his wife said John had been found, and later police interviews.

Highlights (5)
Quote

“I awoke to the screaming of, "Jen, Jen, Jen, Jen," so when I woke up I thought there was somebody in my bedroom”

McCabe described the call that woke him and began his account of the morning.

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Quote

“There were multiple calls. I don’t recall what calls were made what time, but the next call, we were informing the defendant that, wait, we saw your car, we saw you come to 34 Fairview.”

He described the sequence of calls while qualifying that he could not place each call at an exact time.

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Quote

“She is the one that can get in the room, sit, relax, hold their hand, make them feel comfortable.”

McCabe described his wife's customary demeanor in crises after the court allowed the question.

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Key Moment

McCabe testified that he awoke shortly before 5:00 a.m. to loud repeated calls for “Jen,” then heard his wife say she was speaking with Karen, who could not find John.

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Show 1 more
Key Moment

McCabe testified that, after his wife reported that John had been found at Fairview, he drove there and encountered first responders and police vehicles amid heavier snow.

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Cross Matthew McCabe - Cross Matthew McCabe David Yannetti 4 highlights 424 lines spoken
Summary

Defense counsel tested McCabe's SUV observations, memory of earlier statements, and February 1 group texts with members of the Albert family.

Highlights (4)
Quote

“I don’t know if I can answer it. I believe it’s the second question. I told him I saw an SUV parked in front the house, then I saw an SUV move further up the right which looking out of the house would be to the right of the house so that would be when I saw the SUV to the right of the house, would be the second time I saw the SUV. I’ve always stated the SUV was in front of the house if looking out the front door.”

McCabe gave his explanation for the sequence and orientation of the SUV observations challenged on cross-examination.

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Quote

“This is not funny, sir. Not at all. It’s just been two years of misery.”

McCabe responded emotionally during the dispute over his recollection of the SUV's location.

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Quote

“I recall and said there was V-shaped tire tracks and I believe the question was could it be consistent with a three-point-turn. I said it could be, but I didn’t know if it was a three-point-turn.”

McCabe qualified the extent of his testimony about the tire tracks and their possible meaning.

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Quote

“John never went in the house. It’s not a story, it’s a fact.”

McCabe rejected defense counsel's characterization of a group-text statement concerning John O’Keefe.

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Redirect Matthew McCabe Redirect Addresses His Observations and Family Discussions Matthew McCabe Adam Lally 1 highlights 30 lines spoken
Summary

McCabe denied coordinating statements, clarified limits on his SUV observations, and explained a February 1 text about snow around the scene.

Highlights (1)
Quote

“No one knew what happened because John never came in the house so we had no idea what happened to John.”

McCabe described the stated basis for his family’s uncertainty immediately after John O’Keefe’s death.

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Locations Touched By This Testimony

34 Fairview Road 5 procs Waterfall Bar & Grille 3 procs C.F. McCarthy's 1 proc