Probe of town police in Karen Read case finds no sign of 'conspiracy to frame' slain officer's girlfriend
Town residents demanded an outside review in November 2024 to probe the police department's response to O'Keefe's death. Officials chose a firm called 5 Stones intelligence (5Si) to conduct it between Nov. 18, 2024, and March 30 this year.
The 206-page report was unveiled Tuesday, the same day as the start of jury selection for the second trial of Karen Read, O'Keefe's girlfriend who is accused of killing him in a drunken hit-and-run after an argument.
Read's first trial ended in a mistrial after her defense alleged bias against her from the lead investigator, missteps at the crime scene and a potential cover-up.
The auditors addressed allegations of a cover-up specific to Canton police – but members of several different law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation or as witnesses who were with O'Keefe that evening.
"Our team has not discovered any information that would indicate that any actions by Canton PD officers or detectives were a part of a conspiracy to frame any individual for the murder of Mr. O'Keefe," 5Si found.
The 5Si report found a number of faults within the department, including:
They recommended that Canton detectives undergo "advanced training" on crime scene investigations and that all patrol vehicles should be equipped with crime scene kits and evidence collection bags. They called for an increase in the police department's budget.
They also found that department-issued radios don't have full coverage of the community and that officers are not given work cellphones. They recommended giving all officers work phones and rewriting department policy to have them use their work phones to take crime scene photographs, never their personal phones.
Auditors also referenced the Sandra Birchmore case, recommending that supervisors review all death cases for accuracy.
"A Canton PD detective wrote that Sandra Birchmore died of a suicide in the initial report," auditors wrote. "It was later determined that she had been killed by strangulation."
A suspect in that case was indicted in August, and he was a police officer in the nearby town of Stoughton, another Boston suburb. Matthew Farwell, 38, is accused of strangling her after she told him she had become pregnant with his child and then staging the scene to make it look like she had killed herself. He has pleaded not guilty.
SIGN UP TO GET TRUE CRIME NEWSLETTER
Read's retrial began with jury selection this week after the first fell apart, arguably due to the defense's ability to attack investigators and the way they handled the investigation, experts say.
"Sloppy investigation [or] a rush to judgment argument is defense lawyer 101," said Neama Rahmani, a Los Angeles-based trial attorney and former federal prosecutor who is following the case. "They use it in almost every murder case where they don't argue accident or self-defense."
In Read's case, the lead investigator had a tough time on the witness stand as jurors were seen shaking their heads during a reading of his text messages in which he joked about searching her phone for nudes and called her a "c---." State police fired him last month after a months-long review of his conduct.
"The investigation was botched beyond belief; evidence, witnesses and the entire crime scene was mishandled," Rahmani told Fox News Digital. "Throw in Michael Proctor, the worst law enforcement witness I've seen since Mark Fuhrman in O.J., the defense is having a field day with this case."
Read the full report:
As of Thursday afternoon, eight jurors had been empaneled, according to WCVB-TV, a local station. There will be 12 sitting jurors and four alternates selected before opening statements kick off.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
an hour ago
- News24
Trump administration used ‘brutal, excessive, and unnecessary force' against LA protests
Protests over immigration erupted in California in June. But the law enforcement response was excessive, said a Human Rights Watch report. The Trump administration sent 4 000 National Guard and 700 Marines into Los Angeles. Law enforcement used excessive force and deliberate brutality against Los Angeles protesters and journalists during demonstrations against Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in June, a Human Rights Watch report said on Monday. Scores of people were injured as officers fired hard foam rounds, flash-bang grenades, pepper balls and tear gas from close range, during the largely peaceful response to a dramatic increase in immigration arrests across Southern California. 'Law enforcement officers... used brutal, excessive, and unnecessary force against people standing up for human rights and those reporting on the protests,' said Ida Sawyer, the rights group's crisis, conflict and arms director. The protests erupted on 6 June, in anger at raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has been ordered by the Trump administration to target undocumented migrants across the sprawling, heavily Latino city. The demonstrations were mainly confined to a small section of downtown Los Angeles. Largely non-violent, they at times spiralled into chaotic scenes that Trump pounced on to send 4 000 National Guard and 700 Marines into the city - a move loudly protested by local officials. Compiling the report, Human Rights Watch staff observed protests, visited locations of immigration raids in mid-June, and interviewed dozens of people. The report documented 65 cases in which law enforcement officers injured protesters and journalists but warned that the 'actual number is most likely much higher'. On one occasion, a police officer shot three people at 'very close range with kinetic impact projectiles, leaving them in serious pain for days. 'Before shooting one of them in the groin, the officer said: 'I'm going to pop you, as you are taking up my focus,'' the report found. READ | Marines to patrol LA streets as some residents say: 'Our city is not at all on fire' Other reported injuries included broken bones, concussions, an amputated finger, and severe eye a statement, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said it 'does not deploy less-lethal tools indiscriminately'. 'Such tools are used only when all de-escalation efforts have been exhausted,' it added. The law enforcement agency said any time a deputy uses force, they are required to report it to a supervisor and undergo 'a thorough, fair, and objective review', including analysing evidence and video footage to determine 'that the actions taken were objectively reasonable and fully aligned' with policy. An Agence France-Presse photographer was shot in the face with a rubber bullet by law enforcement while covering a protest in downtown Los Angeles on 14 least three other journalists were also injured. The US Constitution guarantees the right to free speech and peaceful assembly, and protects against the use of excessive force by law enforcement. California has laws restricting the use of 'less lethal weapons' during protests, and protecting the rights of journalists.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Lansing schools made security upgrades over the summer. Here's what's new
LANSING — The metal detectors that moved into Dwight Rich School of the Arts late last school year will still be around when students return on Wednesday, Aug. 20. And a 'secure vestibule,' which prevents parents, volunteers and strangers from freely entering the school's hallways, also is being built at the K-8 building in southwest Lansing. Secure vestibules were built over the summer and are ready to be used at Attwood New Tech Magnet School, which serves elementary and middle school grades, and Lyons School and Forest View Elementary School, two elementary buildings. The vestibules are just one of the school safety features, planned long ago, that will greet students and parents this school year, district officials said. There also is fencing around the elementary- and middle-grade buildings, damage-resistant film on windows, and camera upgrades and installations, said Kristina Sleight, chief operating officer of the Lansing School District. 'We're happy to have them in the schools,' she said of returning students. 'We hope that they feel as safe and secure as we know that they are. We appreciate parents' feedback when we're looking to do these types of projects at our schools. We're just excited to see our kiddos.' Lansing School District officials placed metal detectors and handheld wands at Dwight Rich after a gun was found on campus the Thursday before the long Memorial Day weekend. Metal detectors were already at the high school buildings including Everett High School, where a teenager was found with a gun after officers responded to a fight call at the school on May 27. Paul Elam, chief strategy officer at the Okemos-based Michigan Public Health Institute and a leader in the development and operation of Advance Peace Lansing, estimated, based on conversations he has had with Lansing teens, that there's over 100 guns owned by or easily accessible to children and teenagers in the city. 'Children as young as 12 have access to these weapons,' he said earlier this year. 'Guns are everywhere. ... There's not a kid we talk to who doesn't know someone who has a gun, doesn't know someone who's been shot or been shot at or doesn't think guns are easy to acquire.' Sleight said the district annually spends about $1 million on safety improvements. 'There are additional funds that are being made available to school districts to upgrade security features,' she said. 'We've been taking advantage of applying for grants and getting additional funding to update our school facilities. 'We want everybody to feel as safe as we know that they are in our care, so we want to make sure we do have those extra layers of security for our students and for our staff members.' Sleight said the district is 95% done with fencing the appropriate schools, and that two-thirds of the schools now have secure vestibules. Dwight Rich should have its secure vestibule by the second semester. Visitors would get buzzed into the secure vestibule from the outside and then get buzzed into the office for checks before entering the rest of the building. 'Student and staff safety remains our top priority,' school board President Robin Moore said in a statement. 'The addition of cameras, fencing, window film, and secure vestibules reflects the district's ongoing commitment to protecting the well-being of the LSD community.' The district continues to work on drafting a comprehensive safety plan. 'There's currently an audit being done at every single school in conjunction with principals, our public safety department and our district leadership,' Sleight said. Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@ or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing school safety improvements include cameras, secure vestibules Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tea app fuels divorce and controversy in Dearborn, sparks copycat platforms like Teaborn
The Tea Dating Advice app, advertised as "the first-ever dating safety platform for women," has taken social media by storm. In metro Detroit — particularly among the Muslim community — it has been especially popular. A Dearborn-based app developer even launched Teaborn, a rival gossip app to Tea open to everyone, but it was short-lived after nude photos were shared, its creator said. Tea, which recently experienced security issues, allows users to anonymously share information about men they have dated or interacted with, or seek insight on men they are interested in. Family attorney Mohamed Ali Hammoud of Mourad Law in Dearborn said he has handled about a dozen divorce filings in which the women-only platform played a role. "One party may have suspicions about the other person cheating, and then the Tea app just confirmed it, or was the final straw for them," he said. "Due to the public embarrassment" and "shock from it, they felt like divorce was the right option." Hammoud said many of his clients are Muslim, and within the small, tight-knit community, gossip 'spreads like wildfire.' While the app may help women uncover hidden truths, he said, it can also spread false claims fueled by jealousy or resentment. Detroit resident and social media influencer Denise Bradley, known online as Aunt Karen, says she uses the Tea app only to observe what others are saying rather than post anything herself. "I joined the app because I was interested to see what the big deal was after I saw people on TikTok, primarily men, complaining about it," Bradley told the Free Press. "I think the app allows women to give their perspective on men who they're dating, men who are in their lives, who may have messaged them or are maybe seeking to date them." Tea has drawn significant backlash since rising to prominence this summer, but women like Bradley say it provides a necessary space. As of August, the app says it has more than 6.2 million users. "All women should deserve to be safe, especially in the society and the world that we live in," Bradley said. "Having some sort of knowledge and utilizing that knowledge for your own safety is important." How Tea works Tea was founded by Sean Cook "after witnessing his mother's terrifying experience with online dating — not only being catfished but unknowingly engaging with men who had criminal records," according to the app's website. Users are shown posts of men in their area with photos and first names, allowing women to assign a 'red flag' or 'green flag' and comment based on personal experience or what they've learned from others. Women can search names or phone numbers directly or set up custom alerts for specific men. Additional features include background checks, criminal record searches, sex offender searches and reverse image searches to help identify catfishing attempts, according to Tea. To join Tea, women must verify their identity by submitting selfies. There is now a waitlist to be approved into the app, which could take days. All users are meant to remain anonymous, and the app disables screenshots. To her surprise, Bradley said, she knows some of the men who have been posted. "A few of my friends and others in my circle have had their husbands posted, and now they're questioning, 'Are you talking to other people?'" she said. "One of my friends' husbands did admit to talking to someone else, and they're currently trying to see if they're going to work on things or if they're going to get a divorce. So, the Tea app has definitely brought some things out into the light." Similar apps keep popping up: Teaborn, TeaOnHer Similar gossip platforms have emerged since Tea grew in popularity. And because the app became so prevalent in Dearborn, 21-year-old app developer and resident, Mohamed Saleh, decided to create one for the city: Teaborn. Open to all, not just women, it quickly scaled the Apple App Store's social networking charts but was shut down only three hours later, after nude photos of women were posted without their consent. Saleh, who previously focused on creating self-improvement apps, said he rushed to launch Teaborn after seeing Tea's success. He said he took it offline himself when he began receiving alarming messages due to the explicit photos — including one from a man claiming his sister had been taken to the ER for a panic attack, and another from a woman threatening to harm herself if a post wasn't removed immediately. 'That was the final straw,' he said. 'I put up a pop-up saying I was no longer participating, and that was the end of the app.' More: Attorneys say WDIV's Hank Winchester 'exonerated and cleared,' call accusations 'baseless' Teaborn has since been acquired by a group, which Saleh said he could not disclose. The 21-year-old emphasized he is no longer involved with Teaborn or any of the copycat apps that have been created after it — such as Teaborn: Dating Advice, which also disappeared from the app store within days in late July, but recently returned under a new name. "I think all these apps are terrible," he said, adding that he regrets creating Teaborn. "If I could go back in time, I would not have made it at all. I was in a greedy zone where I just saw an opportunity. I just didn't think it would be that bad. ... I should have gone straight to working on what I'm working on right now instead of making a stop on a gossip app." Saleh has since teamed up with a friend to create DermSense, an AI-powered skin cancer detection model they claim could save lives. But there is currently no way of stopping other gossip apps from being created in response to Tea. One of the more prevalent men-only versions, TeaOnHer Dating Advice, briefly surpassed the women-only platform on Apple's free apps chart on Aug. 12 — TeaOnHer ranked second while Tea ranked third. As of Aug. 18, Tea sits at No. 3 while TeaOnHer has fallen to No. 8. Security breaches raise privacy concerns, lead to lawsuits Tea says identity verification selfies are deleted after review. However, that promise of privacy was called into question after the company detected unauthorized access to one of its systems on July 25. Tea confirmed about 72,000 images were accessed, including roughly 13,000 selfies and ID photos, and 59,000 images publicly visible in posts, comments or messages. Only users who signed up before February 2024 were affected. The app had phased out ID verification before the leak. On July 28, 404 Media reported a second security breach that exposed more than 1.1 million direct messages exchanged on the app between early 2023 and July 2025. According to Tea, it has since temporarily taken down the direct messaging feature. In a statement to the Free Press, Tea spokesperson Taylor Osumi said the app has brought in cybersecurity experts and is working with the FBI to investigate. Tea is also working to identify impacted users and will offer free identity protection services to those affected. "I was upset to hear about the recent data leak. Women should have the ability to express ourselves in a secure and respectful space. This breach only reinforces how little support we truly have when we try to use our voices," Bradley said. "My opinion about the Tea app hasn't changed. The moment men got their hands on our data, they began exploiting it. This only confirms that they care more about silencing women than actually supporting us." As a result of the breach, at least 10 lawsuits seeking class action status have been filed in federal and state courts over negligent data practices and breach of contract, according to NBC News. Attorneys leading the cases say the app's failure to protect sensitive data has caused emotional distress, harassment and potential identity theft for users, and could have catastrophic consequences for the company. Like Tea, TeaOnHer had major security flaws, according to TechCrunch, exposing names, emails, locations, driver's license photos and other personal data. Some explicit images were also visible to guest users, the technology news outlet reported. The flaws have reportedly been fixed, but it's unclear how many users were affected. Neither TeaOnHer nor CEO Xavier Lampki has made a public statement on the security issues. More: Former graduate student sues Michigan State University for $100 million Impact on the Muslim community Imam Mustapha Elturk, president of the Islamic Organization of North America, said the Tea app illustrates the broader risks of social media. 'Social media is good when it is intended to be good, but its evil is greater than good," he said. "We have seen how social media has destroyed families, separated husbands and wives, and alienated children from their parents. ...We need to be very careful how we use these platforms, such as Tea." Bradley, who is part of the metro Detroit Muslim community and frequently visits Dearborn, said Tea's popularity reflects frustrations with traditional dating norms. "Why the app is so popular in the Muslim community right now is because we know that a lot of the men date around. We know that. The issue is how they go about it, and how a lot of them judge women," Bradley said. "Men are out here doing what they want, and then they go look for a good Muslim woman. That, to me, is not fair. In a way, the Tea app kind of gives a voice to the voiceless." She added that the attention on the community may be unwanted but is 'very important' because it forces public discussion of long-standing issues. "None of this is new. We've all known this stuff happens. What's upsetting a lot of people is that the world is seeing it. It's no longer just inside Dearborn." Saleh said he was not posted on the Tea app himself but knows "plenty of guys" in Dearborn who have been — some disputing the claims as lies or dredged-up history. "Their family has heard about it. They usually find out from their sisters," he said. "They've been sending emails to the Tea legal team, trying to get it taken down, but I don't think they've been successful." While the app has caused concerns, Saleh said he sees how it can be a modern way to vet potential partners, but still questions how reliable it is. "I think the idea of it is great; I would want that for my sisters," Saleh said. "But there's something called the Yelp bias, where people only leave bad reviews. So you never get an accurate review — because people who have a good experience just move on, and the people with a bad experience are the ones (who) actually leave a review, or leave a red flag in this case." Are these gossip apps legal? The Tea app and similar gossip platforms currently exist in a legal gray area that courts have yet to address. 'The issue becomes, is this protected speech?' Hammoud said. 'If it's determined that it's free speech, it's protected speech, then there's little recourse' for those posted. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects online platforms like Tea from liability for content posted by users, treating them as distributors rather than publishers. Hammoud said individuals posted on Tea or similar gossip apps generally have three options: ignore it, send a cease-and-desist letter to the app or hire a civil attorney. Defamation claims, however, are difficult. Plaintiffs must prove the statements were false, shared publicly and caused tangible harm — often beyond damage to reputation — such as lost income, business, contracts, emotional distress or other measurable damage. 'The hardest thing is proving damages,' Hammoud said. "That requires an expert, and it requires you getting your own attorney, so you end up spending thousands of dollars to try to clear your name. ...You have to prove (damages) in civil court, and ultimately, that would be up to a judge or jury." Because posts on these apps are anonymous, determining who shared a photo or message is another obstacle. A screenshot, for example, may have been taken from an Instagram account and sent in a private group chat before being posted on Tea, the attorney said. Tracing a post's origin often requires phone records, metadata and expert analysis. While the longevity of the Tea app remains unclear, women like Bradley want to see it last. "In society, women are often told not to speak on these things," she said. "I don't want the tea app to go away; I think men should be held accountable, and they should reflect on their behavior." Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@ Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tea app was a factor in several divorce filings, Dearborn attorney says Solve the daily Crossword
