Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Trial 2 Trial Day
◀ Day 12 Trial 2 Day 14 ▶

Day 13 - May 9, 2025

Judge Beverly J. Cannone · Trial 2 · 2 proceedings · 1,329 lines

Day 13 of 36
Appearing:
🛡️ Alan Jackson 👮 Yuri Bukhenik

Jackson challenged evidence documentation and later taillight recoveries, presented Higgins-Read texts Bukhenik said were cross-checked against counterpart phones, and elicited Bukhenik's qualified video opinion that the SUV appeared to contact the Traverse.

Full day summary

Day 13 consisted entirely of Alan Jackson's cross-examination of Sergeant Yuri Bukhenik, split across two proceedings. Jackson questioned documentation for 20 fragments collected February 10 at 34 Fairview: their exact locations were not photographed or plotted, and Bukhenik could not identify the internal handler, while testifying the items remained under Norfolk District Attorney's Office control before the first crime-lab receipt on March 14. Jackson used later Proctor-recorded taillight recoveries to argue items should have been found during Bukhenik's earlier search; Bukhenik described a general area that expanded as snow melted. Jackson introduced the full Higgins-Read text message chain provided by Higgins; Bukhenik testified that the supplied communications with Read and O'Keefe were cross-checked against their devices. In the afternoon, Bukhenik gave a qualified video-based opinion that the SUV's right rear area appeared to contact the Chevy Traverse at 5:07 a.m. Additional testimony established that neither Higgins's nor Brian Albert's full phones were sought, that Bukhenik's report placed D'Antuono's interview on September 2, 2023, about a year and a half after the incident without establishing Maxon's interview date, and that investigators located and inspected the Albert family dog after its rehoming.

Key Moments
  • Jackson established that the exact locations of February 10 evidence were not photographed or plotted and challenged intervening documentation; Bukhenik could not identify the internal handler and testified the items remained under Norfolk District Attorney's Office control before the first crime-lab receipt on March 14.
  • Bukhenik reads the complete Higgins-Read text exchange aloud, including Higgins calling Read 'hot' and 'witty' and their escalating plans to meet, ending with Read's message 'John died.'
  • Enhanced Ring doorbell video led Bukhenik to give a qualified opinion that the SUV's right rear area appeared to contact the Traverse; he said he could not be 100 percent certain that the tire moved and explained his earlier assessment concerned visible damage.
  • Investigators did not obtain Brian Higgins's or Brian Albert's full phones. Higgins supplied a forensic extraction of selected communications with Read and O'Keefe; Bukhenik said investigators cross-checked them against the counterpart phones.
  • Bukhenik's report placed Ricky D'Antuono's interview on September 2, 2023, about a year and a half after O'Keefe's death; the exchange did not establish Heather Maxon's interview date.
Notable Quotes
Alan Jackson
“So, you had the evidence and turned it over to someone whom you don't know and can't identify. Is that what we understand?”
Jackson's question highlighted that Bukhenik could not identify the internal handler; Bukhenik testified the person was a Massachusetts State Police member assigned to the office and that the evidence remained under Norfolk District Attorney's Office control.
Yuri Bukhenik
“Logically speaking, the two vehicles had to have come into contact for the tire to move.”
Bukhenik gave a qualified video-based opinion that apparent tire movement would imply contact and that the SUV's right rear area appeared to contact the Traverse; he also said he could not be 100 percent certain the tire moved.
Yuri Bukhenik
“My opinion is that it's an angry girlfriend trying to set up a hookup — to her John. To her John.”
Bukhenik stated an interpretive opinion about Read's motive; Jackson challenged that interpretation, which the defense could use to argue investigative bias rather than establishing bias as fact.
Video thumbnail for Day 13 — Bukhenik (Cross) 7h 21m
Watch this day Day 13 — Bukhenik (Cross) Watch with synced transcript →

Yuri Bukhenik — Cross (Part 2)

Jackson challenges evidence documentation, phone-acquisition decisions, and asserted delays; Bukhenik offers qualified testimony on custody, verification, and video.

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Cross
Yuri Bukhenik Alan Jackson
677 lines

Attorney Alan Jackson cross-examined Sergeant Bukhenik on two major fronts. First, Jackson questioned evidence documentation at 34 Fairview Road: the February 10 collection of 20 plastic and glass fragments was not photographed or plotted with coordinates, and Bukhenik could not identify the person who filled out the evidence bag or received the items, though he said that person was a Massachusetts State Police member assigned to the office. Jackson challenged the documentation between the February 10 collection and the March 14 first crime-lab receipt; Bukhenik testified the items remained under Norfolk District Attorney's Office control. Jackson also used later-recorded large taillight recoveries to argue that items should have been found in Bukhenik's earlier search, while Bukhenik described a general area that expanded as snow melted. In the second half, Jackson introduced the text-message string between Brian Higgins and Karen Read that Higgins provided to investigators. Bukhenik read the messages aloud, including exchanges about attraction, private meetings, and Read's relationship problems with O'Keefe, ending with Read's message: 'John died.'

Cross
Yuri Bukhenik Alan Jackson
652 lines

Attorney Alan Jackson continued cross-examining Sergeant Bukhenik across several investigative fronts. Jackson challenged Bukhenik's interpretation of the Higgins-Read messages, using messages in which Higgins called Read 'hot' and 'witty' and pursued plans to meet; Bukhenik maintained that Read was seeking emotional revenge against O'Keefe. Jackson established that investigators did not acquire Higgins's or Albert's full phones. Bukhenik testified that Higgins's supplied communications with Read and O'Keefe were cross-checked against their counterpart devices, and he was unaware of a 2:22 a.m. call between Higgins and Albert on January 29. Jackson played Waterfall bar surveillance showing Higgins and Albert 'squaring off' in fighting stances while O'Keefe stood apart at the bar, then showed enhanced Ring doorbell video. Bukhenik said the video appeared to show the SUV's right rear area contacting the parked Chevy Traverse, while qualifying that he could not say with 100 percent certainty that the tire moved and explaining that his earlier assessment concerned visible damage rather than no contact. Jackson then examined the Albert family dog's rehoming: investigators located and inspected the dog using veterinary records from its current veterinarian-owner, while the records shown did not document a direct transfer from the Alberts and Bukhenik's report omitted the new owner's identifying information. The examination concluded with Jackson questioning Bukhenik about asserted report-writing delays, of which Bukhenik said he was unaware, and with Bukhenik confirming that D'Antuono's interview occurred a year and a half after the incident.

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