Commonwealth v. Read — Trial Archive
Trial 2 Trial Day
◀ Day 2 Trial 2 Day 4 ▶

Day 3 - April 24, 2025

Whitley, Demilus, Mihan, Camerano, Guarino

Judge Beverly J. Cannone
9Proceedings
6Pages
5Witnesses
919Lines
Day 3 of 36
Appearing:
Hank BrennanDavid YannettiMichael CameranoNicholas GuarinoDaniel WhitleyBridget MihanGene Demilus

Defense impeaches paramedic Whitley's evolving account of Read's hospital statements, while phone records and surveillance footage establish the digital record of O'Keefe's final evening.

Full day summary

Day 3 opened with a procedural motion on expert witness sequestration before turning to Yannetti's cross-examination of paramedic Daniel Whitley, which formed the day's centerpiece. Yannetti methodically demonstrated that Whitley's most damaging details — Read saying 'many hours' in the snow — first appeared in 2024 testimony, not his 2022 grand jury account, and that Read's statement was a distressed question rather than a guilty declaration. The prosecution then called two bar managers to authenticate surveillance footage from C.F. McCarthy's and the Waterfall, both admitted without defense objection. Close friend Michael Camerano provided emotional testimony about O'Keefe's last celebratory evening and the chaotic early morning discovery, with the defense on cross eliciting that the couple appeared 'normal, caring, and affectionate' throughout January 2022. The day concluded with Trooper Guarino reading a chronological string of texts between Read and O'Keefe revealing chronic relationship conflict and O'Keefe actively rejecting her calls, followed by video clips of Read acknowledging she 'shouldn't have been driving' after drinking.

Key Moments
  • Yannetti establishes that Whitley's 'many hours in the snow' language was absent from his 2022 grand jury testimony and appeared for the first time at trial two years later.
  • Whitley concedes under cross that Read's hospital statement was a question — 'could he survive' — not a declarative admission of knowledge.
  • Surveillance footage from C.F. McCarthy's (Exhibit 18) and the Waterfall Bar and Grill (Exhibit 22) admitted into evidence through foundation testimony from both bars' managers.
  • Michael Camerano confirmed that the couple greeted each other with a kiss and showed no visible tension at the bar; Yannetti then asked whether, during January 2022, their relationship had appeared normal, caring, and affectionate.
  • Trooper Guarino reads a string of texts showing O'Keefe describing 'weekly' arguing and actively rejecting Read's calls, then plays video clips of Read admitting she should not have been driving after five to seven drinks.
Notable Quotes
David Yannetti
“So 2022 there was no mention of many hours. 2024, now that's the first time that you mention the words many hours in your testimony regarding this case.”
The core impeachment of the day — Yannetti pinpoints exactly when a key incriminating detail entered Whitley's account, framing it as a fabrication that grew over two years rather than a memory of events.
Daniel Whitley
“She asked if he could be alive without a jacket in the snow for many hours. So again it was a question, sir.”
Whitley's own concession that Read's statement was a question — not a declaration — directly undercuts the prosecution's use of the hospital scene as evidence of consciousness of guilt.
Video Playback
“But I shouldn't have been driving. But I don't think I was driving recklessly.”
Read's recorded admission that she should not have been driving closes the day by handing the prosecution its clearest self-inculpatory statement, in her own words, about the night O'Keefe died.
Video thumbnail for Day 3 — Whitley, Demilus, Mihan, Camerano, Guarino 4h 45m
Watch →

1. Daniel Whitley — Cross (Part 2)/Redirect

Pre-jury motions precede Whitley's continued cross and redirect. Yannetti highlights later-added details and the question-versus-admission distinction; Brennan explains omissions and disputes bias.

→
Procedural
Procedural - Motions
17 lines

Judge Cannone convened counsel before the jury entered to address two matters. The defense raised the question of whether expert witnesses should be permitted to watch trial testimony in preparation for rebuttal, requesting this for both sides. ADA Brennan asked for time to consider the issue, and Judge Cannone deferred the ruling to later in the day. The court also addressed a pending ruling on a video clip from the previous day's testimony, with Judge Cannone allowing it to be played. The jury was then brought in, administered the standard daily questions, and the court recalled witness Whitley for continued examination by Yannetti.

Cross
Daniel Whitley David Yannetti
130 lines
Redirect
Daniel Whitley Hank Brennan
61 lines

2. Gene Demilus — Direct

Gene Demilus authenticates C.F. McCarthy's interior surveillance video for admission as Exhibit 18; the defense then waives cross-examination.

→
Direct
Gene Demilus Hank Brennan
68 lines
Cross Waived
Gene Demilus - Cross waived David Yannetti
3 lines

3. Bridget Mihan — Direct

Bridget Mihan authenticates Waterfall surveillance video from January 28, 2022; the defense waives cross-examination.

→
Direct
Bridget Mihan Hank Brennan
37 lines
Cross Waived
Bridget Mihan - Cross waived David Yannetti
2 lines

4. Michael Camerano — Direct/Cross

Camerano recounts the January 28 celebration, bar encounter, and next morning's distress. Cross emphasized the families' closeness and the couple's affectionate appearance; redirect stressed his limited knowledge of private disputes.

→
Direct
Michael Camerano Hank Brennan
192 lines
Cross
Michael Camerano David Yannetti
141 lines

5. Nicholas Guarino — Direct (Part 2)

Guarino authenticates Cellebrite records, then reads Jan. 28 Read-O'Keefe messages about conflict, rejected calls, children and plans for McCarthy's. Five video clips cover Read's qualified statements about drinking and driving.

→
Direct
Nicholas Guarino Hank Brennan
250 lines

6. Procedural — Motions

After ending testimony early, Judge Cannone covered the next day's site view, then deferred the unresolved expert-sequestration issue involving Dr. Fowler and requested advance witness lists.

→
Procedural
Procedural - Motions
18 lines

Judge Cannone informed the jury that a witness scheduling confusion ended testimony for the day, assuring them it would not affect the overall trial schedule. She reminded jurors about the next day's site view, instructing them to wear comfortable clothes for walking and bus transportation. After the jury was excused, the court returned to the morning's unresolved question about whether expert witnesses should be exempt from the sequestration order to watch trial testimony. ADA Brennan indicated Dr. Fowler would testify the next day as an expert on blood serum testing procedures. Jackson agreed to address the expert sequestration issue the following morning, and Judge Cannone requested that both sides provide her with advance witness lists going forward.

◀ Day 2 Trial 2 Day 4 ▶