Haunting footage shows Karen Read being affectionate with BF John O'Keefe in bar on the night of his death

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: In footage played in the courtroom, Karen Read is seen in a Boston bar getting affectionate with her cop boyfriend on the night she allegedly struck him fatally with her SUV.

Read, 44, faces charges of drunkenly and deliberately running over her partner, John O'Keefe, during a snowstorm on January 29, 2022.

O'Keefe, a 16-year police veteran, was discovered lifeless around 6 am on that fateful day, near a house where Read had reportedly dropped him off for an afterparty at around 12.45 am. 

Amidst a complex legal battle, Read's defense contends she was framed by authorities as part of an elaborate conspiracy. They assert that O'Keefe was assaulted by individuals at the gathering before being ejected outside.

Video footage shows Karen Read and John O'Keefe's affectionate moments in bar

However, gripping video footage from the night in question paints a different picture. It captures moments of intimacy between Read and O'Keefe at CF McCarthy's in Boston, mere hours before the alleged fatal incident.

The footage reveals the couple sharing embraces and affectionate gestures, seemingly unaware of the tragic turn the night would take.

Earlier in the evening, O'Keefe had been celebrating his niece's acceptance into a prestigious private school, joined by friends and colleagues. Witnesses testified to the apparent contentment of the couple during their time at the bar, contradicting allegations of discord in their relationship.

Rebecca Trayers, the bartender at the final venue they frequented, stated during testimony that nobody appeared excessively intoxicated, reported Daily Mail.

Inisghts into John O'Keefe tragic death

As the trial unfolds at Norfolk Superior Court near Massachusetts' capital, haunting testimonies and evidence continue to unravel. Katherine Camerano, a friend of the couple, recounted a chilling text message received from Read the morning after the incident. 

Camerano testified that at 6:34 am, Read sent her a text message stating, "He's dead." In response, Camerano expressed disbelief, to which she replied, "He was in the snow."

According to Read's defense, she returned home after dropping off O'Keefe and woke up around 4:30 am in a panic when he did not return.

She then contacted Jennifer McCabe, a friend of O'Keefe, with whom they had been drinking at Waterfall Bar the previous night, and together they searched for him. Upon returning to the house, they discovered the officer lying on the snow-covered lawn, bleeding from his nose and mouth with swollen eyes. Read immediately began performing CPR.

Prosecution alleges confession, defense raises doubts in legal battle

Nevertheless, a pivotal aspect of the prosecution's case suggests that Read essentially confessed to the crime at the scene by repeatedly exclaiming, "I hit him!" along with statements like, "This is my fault. I did this."

Prosecutors further allege that Read expressed uncertainty, questioning, "Could I have hit him? Did I hit him?" and expressing concern over whether a plow had struck him, citing memory loss due to excessive drinking the previous night.

Read's defense countered these claims by pointing out that neither of the responding officers heard her make these statements. They also utilized testimony from police officers and firefighters to cast doubt on the broader investigation.

Moreover, prosecutors maintain that fragments of car parts found near O'Keefe's body are evidence that Read struck him with her SUV.

Read contends that the damage occurred as she left her home in a panic to search for him. Defense attorneys also successfully highlighted that Canton police officers did not observe any broken taillight fragments at the scene.

When police and paramedics arrived, they found Read attempting to resuscitate her boyfriend, her face covered in blood from administering mouth-to-mouth. Witness testimonies unanimously describe Read as distraught and screaming, with O'Keefe found to have no pulse and not breathing.

Despite mounting arguments from the prosecution, Read's defense has steadfastly maintained her innocence, challenging key aspects of the case and highlighting purported inconsistencies in the investigation.