Latest news with #ABodyintheSnow:TheTrialofKarenRead
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Karen Read's defense set to call its first witness in her retrial in the killing of her Boston police officer boyfriend
Karen Read's defense is set to call its first witness on Friday, marking a new phase in her retrial in the killing of John O'Keefe, her off-duty Boston police officer boyfriend whose body was found buried in the snow outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts, in January 2022. Read – whose first trial ended with a hung jury – has already promised a 'more robust' case than the one her attorneys put on last year, when they called six witnesses for less than two full days of testimony. Their case this time is 'broader and deeper,' Read told reporters last week, saying it will include 'more witnesses' and last at least a week. Prosecutors have accused Read of putting her Lexus SUV in reverse and striking O'Keefe with her vehicle just after midnight on January 29, 2022, after the couple went out with drinking with friends who were gathering for an after party at a home on Fairview Road. But Read's defense argues she has been framed by other off-duty law enforcement who were inside that home, alleging they killed O'Keefe and conspired to frame her. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. A key question is whether Read will take the stand. She did not testify in the first trial. But jurors in her retrial have already heard from the defendant: Throughout their case, prosecutors – led by special prosecutor Hank Brennan – have played numerous clips taken from interviews Read gave reporters or documentary film crews, working to use her statements against her. 'This is my version of testifying. Doing this film is my testimony,' she said in Investigation Discovery's 'A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read.' (Investigation Discovery, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery) 'I want to say what happened,' she added, 'exactly as it happened.' Prosecutors for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts rested their case in chief on Thursday after calling 38 witnesses over more than 20 days of testimony, including the victim's friends and family; members of state and local law enforcement who played a role in the investigation; and experts who analyzed a raft of digital and physical forensic evidence. Notably absent from the prosecution's case was Michael Proctor, the former Massachusetts State Trooper who led the investigation into O'Keefe's death but was dishonorably discharged from the agency earlier this year for sexist and offensive text messages he sent about the suspect. Proctor apologized for the texts during his testimony in the first trial, but Read's defense attorneys used them to paint a picture of a flawed and biased investigation – a strategy they have so far echoed in the retrial. Proctor is included on the defense's list of prospective witnesses, but whether he will testify again remains to be seen. This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNN
3 days ago
- General
- CNN
Karen Read's defense set to call its first witness in her retrial in the killing of her Boston police officer boyfriend
FacebookTweetLink Follow Karen Read's defense is set to call its first witness on Friday, marking a new phase in her retrial in the killing of John O'Keefe, her off-duty Boston police officer boyfriend whose body was found buried in the snow outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts, in January 2022. Read – whose first trial ended with a hung jury – has already promised a 'more robust' case than the one her attorneys put on last year, when they called six witnesses for less than two full days of testimony. Their case this time is 'broader and deeper,' Read told reporters last week, saying it will include 'more witnesses' and last at least a week. Prosecutors have accused Read of putting her Lexus SUV in reverse and striking O'Keefe with her vehicle just after midnight on January 29, 2022, after the couple went out with drinking with friends who were gathering for an after party at a home on Fairview Road. But Read's defense argues she has been framed by other off-duty law enforcement who were inside that home, alleging they killed O'Keefe and conspired to frame her. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. A key question is whether Read will take the stand. She did not testify in the first trial. But jurors in her retrial have already heard from the defendant: Throughout their case, prosecutors – led by special prosecutor Hank Brennan – have played numerous clips taken from interviews Read gave reporters or documentary film crews, working to use her statements against her. 'This is my version of testifying. Doing this film is my testimony,' she said in Investigation Discovery's 'A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read.' (Investigation Discovery, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery) 'I want to say what happened,' she added, 'exactly as it happened.' Prosecutors for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts rested their case in chief on Thursday after calling 38 witnesses over more than 20 days of testimony, including the victim's friends and family; members of state and local law enforcement who played a role in the investigation; and experts who analyzed a raft of digital and physical forensic evidence. Notably absent from the prosecution's case was Michael Proctor, the former Massachusetts State Trooper who led the investigation into O'Keefe's death but was dishonorably discharged from the agency earlier this year for sexist and offensive text messages he sent about the suspect. Proctor apologized for the texts during his testimony in the first trial, but Read's defense attorneys used them to paint a picture of a flawed and biased investigation – a strategy they have so far echoed in the retrial. Proctor is included on the defense's list of prospective witnesses, but whether he will testify again remains to be seen. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
I'm obsessed with Max's Karen Read trial documentary — you should get on this wild ride
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. I believe in the Sixth Amendment. I believe people deserve a fair trial — especially when they're accused of murder. But "A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read," now streaming on Max, made me question how that's even possible when the criminal justice system is this broken. The three-part docuseries follows the 2024 trial of Karen Read, who was accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, by backing into him with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow. From the beginning, nothing about this case sat right with me. The story the state was telling didn't make sense. The evidence was flimsy. And the people building the case against Read were disturbingly close to the victim — and to each other. The series doesn't spin a conspiracy theory. It doesn't need to. It just presents the facts — and those facts are damning. This is a story about confirmation bias, conflict of interest, and a culture of protecting your own. It's about how deeply wrong things can go when the people in power decide who's guilty before the trial even begins. The facts of the case are strange. In the early morning hours of January 29, 2022, Read dropped O'Keefe off at a house party in Canton, Massachusetts, attended by fellow police officers. Hours later, his body was found on the front lawn, bloodied and covered in snow. The state argued that Read, after a fight, reversed into him while intoxicated and left him for dead. But their timeline doesn't add up — not to me, and not to the many supporters who've rallied behind Read since her arrest. If she hit him, how did he end up on the lawn? Why was there so little blood at the scene? And why did so many witnesses at the party suddenly remember helpful details months later — after talking to investigators? The series introduces these questions slowly, letting the cracks in the prosecution's case widen in real time. It also highlights how investigators zeroed in on Read almost immediately — even as evidence began to suggest that O'Keefe may have been injured inside the house, possibly by a dog, before being dragged outside. A t one point, the docuseries shows footage of a federal investigator noting that no one else at the party was treated as a suspect. Not even for a second. Watching this play out, I kept coming back to one question: how is this legal? How can it be legal for the same local police department to investigate the possible involvement of their own officers and their friends? How can it be legal for a detective who was dating one of the partygoers to oversee the case? How can you have a fair trial when the people in charge of the evidence have already made up their minds? Read's defense team eventually argued that she had been framed, that O'Keefe was injured in the house and placed outside, and that a group of insiders helped cover it up. That's a huge claim. But after watching "A Body in the Snow," I don't know what to believe anymore. The only thing I'm sure of is that this was not a fair investigation. There's one moment that sums it all up. In the final episode, we see footage of the prosecutors announcing the indictment — not in a press release, not in court, but at a press conference flanked by officers, with applause erupting in the room. It felt less like a legal proceeding and more like a pep rally. And that, more than anything, told me everything I needed to know. This documentary isn't just about one woman's trial — it's about what happens when personal relationships and institutional loyalty are allowed to contaminate a criminal investigation. Whether or not Karen Read is guilty is beside the point. The documentary shows how bias, access, and unchecked power can tilt the scales of justice beyond repair. If you're someone who cares about civil rights, due process or the credibility of the legal system, "A Body in the Snow" is a must-watch. It forces you to ask: What does a fair trial really look like? And how many people are convicted without ever getting one? Watch "A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read" on Max I just watched Netflix's 'Turning Point' documentary on the Vietnam War 50 years later — and it chilled me to the bone New on HBO and Max in May 2025 — all the new shows and movies to watch Why it's time to give 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' movie another chance — stream it on Prime Video
New York Post
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
How to watch ‘The Playboy Murders' docuseries for free: Episodes, streaming
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. A new season of the ID original 'The Playboy Murders' premieres tonight, May 5, on Investigation Discovery (ID). The docuseries, entering its third season, examines high profile murders that intersect with Playboy magazine while also exposing the pitfalls of fame that public figures often fall into. 'The Playboy Murders' is hosted by Holly Madison, a former Playboy playmate and ex-girlfriend of founder/editor-in-chief Hugh Heffner. Ahead of the season premiere, Madison spoke with The Post, calling Hefner a 'master manipulator' and compared the Playboy mansion to a cult, likening it to Scientology. When does 'The Playboy Murders' Season 3 premiere? Advertisement 'The Playboy Murders' premieres tonight, May 5, at 9 p.m. ET on Investigation Discovery (ID). It will air weekly, with new episodes coming on weekly through June 16. How to watch 'A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read' for free: If you don't have a cable subscription with access to ID, you'll need a live TV streaming service to watch 'The Playboy Murders' for free. We recommend Philo, which comes with a seven day free trial before $28/month payments begin. You can also take advantage of a five-day free trial of DIRECTV to watch 'The Playboy Murders.' Other ways to stream 'The Playboy Murders': Advertisement 'The Playboy Murders' will be available to stream live on two other services: Sling TV and Max. Both of Sling TV's streaming plans come with Investigation Discovery, so you'll be able to get it for just $23 with Sling's 50% off your first month promotion that's currently running. Max will also be airing the episodes of 'The Playboy Murders' at the same time they air on ID. Subscriptions to Max begin at $9.99/month and you can stream the first two seasons of 'The Playboy Murders' on the service, too. 'The Playboy Murders' episode guide: Six episodes of 'The Playboy Murders' will air over six weeks. Advertisement Episode 1: 'Last Dance' – May 5 at 9 p.m. ET Fresh from a breakup, a Playboy casting assistant revels in the L.A. nightlife scene until a wild night out ends in her mysterious death. – May 5 at 9 p.m. ET Episode 2: 'Terror at the Suncoast Club' – May 13 at 9 p.m. ET Panic spreads at the Suncoast Playboy Club when an aspiring photographer turns up brutally murdered right after shooting the annual 'Bunny of the Year' contest; the Playboy Bunnies fear their club is a target and that one of them could be next. May 13 at 9 p.m. ET Episode 3: 'The Doctor and the Bunny' – May 16 at 9 p.m. ET As a Playboy Bunny, Jackie Hendrickson is forbidden from fraternizing with her customers; Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Brown is impossible to resist, and their illicit affair sets off a deadly chain of events. – May 16 at 9 p.m. ET Episode 4: 'The Centerfold and the Serial Killer' – May 19 at 9 p.m. ET Kerissa Fare is thrilled to be September 2000's Playmate of the Month; just as the magazine is about to hit newsstands, a mysterious man from her past becomes a suspect in multiple murders, and investigators want to talk to her. – May 19 at 9 p.m. ET Episode 5: 'Sex, Drugs, and Playboy' – June 6 at 9 p.m. ET When Adrienne Pollack dies, her family suspects there's more to the story than meets the eye. As they dig to find the truth, they uncover that Adrienne was hiding a dark secret which, if true, could take Hugh Hefner down. – June 6 at 9 p.m. ET Episode 6: 'The Girl in the Red Tub' – June 16 at 9 p.m. ET A local waitress catapults to stardom when featured in a Playboy pictorial. She soaks up the fame and newfound attention until a surprise goes wrong, ending in tragedy, and she becomes a victim in a gruesome double murder. – June 16 at 9 p.m. ET Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping and New York Post's streaming property, Decider. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on each streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she's also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. Prior to joining Decider and New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Karen Read trial: 4 things to know about her retrial
The Brief Karen Read, the woman charged with hitting her boyfriend John O'Keefe, is getting a second murder trial after a mistrial was declared in her first one. Prosecutors say she left him to die after a night of heavy drinking, but defense attorneys say it's a police-involved conspiracy to frame Read and conceal the real killer. O'Keefe was an officer with the Boston Police Department. The retrial of Karen Read – the woman accused of striking her boyfriend with her SUV in 2022 and leaving him to die alone in the snow outside of a house party – is underway in Massachusetts. The backstory Prosecutors say Read backed her SUV into John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer, after dropping him off at a party in a Boston suburb, and returned hours later to find him dead. Defense attorneys say she was a victim of a conspiracy involving the police, and they say they have evidence pointing to the real killer. Meanwhile Read has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene. Her second trial started Tuesday after a mistrial was declared last year – jurors said they were at an impasse. Read faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted. Read's case has sparked national interest, fueled by the strange circumstances surrounding the charges and a Max documentary, "A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read." Here are four things to know about the retrial: Attorney Victoria George, an alternate juror from Read's first trial, has been added to Read's defense team, according to CBS News. George was not a part of the first jury's deliberations. Supporters of Karen Read have assembled outside court in advance of her new trial – and some are dressed in costumes. The scene among supporters Tuesday was similar to a reunion, with people hugging one another and calling out their names. Ashlyn Wade, a Read supporter from Canton, where John O'Keefe was killed, said she was there to hopefully see Read cleared of charges. "I'm here for justice," she said. "The murderer going to jail and Karen being exonerated — that would be justice." Dennis Sweeney, dressed as the judge in the case and wearing a pink T-shirt emblazoned with the word "assassin." which was inspired by Read's defense team, said he returned for the second trial because: "Karen Read is factually innocent and we want her freed." Some of Read's supporters spread out a picnic blanket covered in free snacks outside the courthouse. On Tuesday, Kerry Roberts, a friend of O'Keefe's, testified about receiving an early morning phone call from Read and that Read told her, "Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! John is dead." Read also said, "I think something happened to John. I think he got hit by a plow. He didn't come home last night," Roberts testified, describing her friend as "hysterical" during the call. She said Read also told her that "We drank so much that I don't remember anything from last night." But paramedic Timothy Nuttall testified Tuesday that Read had blood on her face at the scene of O'Keefe's death and said, "I hit him, I hit him, I hit him." Police testified during Read's first trial that she had blood on her face from attempting to perform CPR on O'Keefe. Read's defense team claims she was framed, and that O'Keefe was actually killed inside the home during a fight with another partygoer and then dragged outside. In the first trial, defense attorneys suggested investigators focus on Read because she was a "convenient outsider" who saved them from having to consider law enforcement officers as suspects. Alan Jackson, one of Read's lawyers, described the state's case as hinging on fired state trooper Michael Proctor, whom he described as a "cancer." Proctor was the lead investigator in the Read case. Jackson said Proctor is the key to the state's case and is also its "Achilles heel." Jackson listed a litany of failures in the investigation, including that investigators didn't search the house, secure the crime scene or properly collect evidence. He then touched on sexist and crude texts about Read's family and colleagues that surfaced during the first trial and eventually led to Proctor's firing. Jackson characterized Read as victimized by a police culture that sought to protect fellow cops. Jackson said O'Keefe's injuries do not suggest he was hit by a car at all. "Not a bruise," the defense lawyer said. Jackson told the jury that they will learn O'Keefe had abrasions consistent with being bitten by a dog. He said the injury to O'Keefe's head was also not consistent with falling backwards onto the ground, as prosecutors alleged. Jackson said medical evidence will also establish that hypothermia was not a factor, as prosecutors alleged. He said O'Keefe was injured somewhere warm and then moved, and that establishes reasonable doubt. The Source This report includes information from The Associated Press, Fox News Digital and CBS News.
