Day 20 Recap: Skull Fractures & Lexus Shards: How Prosecutors Are Proving She Hit John
Day 20 Recap: Skull Fractures & Lexus Shards: How Prosecutors Are Proving She Hit John
In today’s Hidden Killers, we’re breaking down what may be one of the most scientifically significant days yet in the trial of Karen Read. Day 20 delivered not just one, but two critical expert witnesses—each bringing their own piece of the puzzle that could influence how the jury understands the final hours of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe’s life.
First, we heard from neurosurgeon Dr. Aizik Wolf, who laid out a blunt and clinical explanation of how O’Keefe died—and why the injuries don’t line up with a violent beating. According to Wolf, the fracture at the base of O’Keefe’s skull and the deep brain contusions point to one thing: a backward fall onto a hard surface. Not a bat. Not a hammer. A fall. He testified that the so-called “raccoon eyes” bruising around O’Keefe’s eyes—which develops 1 to 3 hours after injury—suggest a delayed death, and possibly a delayed discovery. His testimony didn’t just challenge assumptions—it dismantled them. And when the defense questioned his credentials, his answer cut through the courtroom like a scalpel: “I’m not a forensic pathologist. I’m a brain surgeon.”
But the day didn’t stop there.
In the second half, we heard from forensic trace expert Christina Hanley, who took jurors into the microscopic world of crime scene fragments. Hanley testified that red and clear plastic found on O’Keefe’s clothing was consistent with the material used in Lexus SUV tail lights—the same type of vehicle driven by Karen Read. She emphasized that while the fragments couldn’t be definitively sourced, they were indistinguishable from Read’s broken tail light. She also reconstructed part of a shattered cocktail glass found near the scene and noted that some glass recovered from Read’s SUV did not match—while others were too damaged to analyze.
Today wasn’t about one big revelation. It was about accumulating evidence. A fall that may have caused death. Plastic that may have transferred in that moment. Glass that may have shattered at the scene. And expert witnesses who didn’t deal in absolutes, but in probabilities and patterns that could be enough to sway a jury.
This is Day 20. And we’re just getting to the forensic backbone of the case.
Hashtags:
#KarenReadTrial #JohnOKeefe #ForensicTestimony #DrAizikWolf #ChristinaHanley #TraceEvidence #LexusTailLight #TrueCrimeDaily #HiddenKillers #KarenReadDay20
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17:49
MA v. Karen Read Murder Retrial - Day 20 Part 1
MA v. Karen Read Murder Retrial - Day 20 Part 1
This is audio from the courtroom in the high-profile murder retrial of Karen Read in Dedham, Massachusetts. She's facing second-degree murder charges and more in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. Prosecutors allege Read struck O'Keefe with her SUV and left him to die in the snow outside a friend’s home after a night of drinking. Stay tuned as both sides lay out their version of what happened that night.
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54:18
MA v. Karen Read Murder Retrial - Day 20 Part 2
MA v. Karen Read Murder Retrial - Day 20 Part 2
This is audio from the courtroom in the high-profile murder retrial of Karen Read in Dedham, Massachusetts. She's facing second-degree murder charges and more in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. Prosecutors allege Read struck O'Keefe with her SUV and left him to die in the snow outside a friend’s home after a night of drinking. Stay tuned as both sides lay out their version of what happened that night.
Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?
Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod
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54:55
MA v. Karen Read Murder Retrial - Day 20 Part 3
MA v. Karen Read Murder Retrial - Day 20 Part 3
This is audio from the courtroom in the high-profile murder retrial of Karen Read in Dedham, Massachusetts. She's facing second-degree murder charges and more in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. Prosecutors allege Read struck O'Keefe with her SUV and left him to die in the snow outside a friend’s home after a night of drinking. Stay tuned as both sides lay out their version of what happened that night.
Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?
Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod
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29:55
Karen Read’s Behavior, Consciousness of Guilt or Self-Preservation FBI Profiler Weighs In
Karen Read’s Behavior, Consciousness of Guilt or Self-Preservation FBI Profiler Weighs In
What makes someone look guilty—even if they haven’t confessed? In this psychological deep dive, former FBI profiler Robin Dreeke joins Tony Brueski to examine Karen Read’s behavioral patterns during the ongoing trial into the death of John O’Keefe. Her shifting tone, open-ended confessions, and sometimes childlike emotional responses have drawn attention—and not in the way her defense team might have hoped.
Could Read’s emotional immaturity and inconsistent storytelling be the result of trauma? Or are they deliberate tactics designed to control public perception? We explore how her responses mirror what Dreeke calls the “wound collecting victim mentality,” and why that can become a psychological red flag for manipulation.
Plus: an important new angle. The Lexus SUV she drove may have captured a critical moment—a reverse event timestamped to line up with O’Keefe’s phone going silent. As new digital forensics come into play, the prosecution’s case shifts from theory to data-driven timeline.
This episode connects forensic science and human behavior to ask a simple but powerful question: when the machine and the body both speak—do they tell the same story?
#KarenRead #JohnOKeefe #BehavioralProfiling #FBIAnalysis #LexusEventData #TrueCrimeCommunity #KarenReadDefense #SelfPreservation #CourtroomBehavior #ManslaughterTrial
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About The Trial Of Karen Read | Justice For John O'Keefe
In "The Trial of Karen Read," listeners are drawn into a gripping courtroom drama unfolding around the mysterious death of John O'Keefe. This investigative series explores the intricate details of the trial of Karen Read, the woman accused of a crime that has captivated the nation. Each episode delves into the evidence presented, the witnesses' testimonies, and the legal strategies from both the defense and the prosecution. As the trial progresses, the podcast also examines the broader implications of the case, including its impact on the local community, the justice system, and the media. With expert commentary from legal analysts, interviews with key figures close to the case, and a deep dive into the social and psychological dimensions involved, this series seeks to uncover the truth behind the headlines and answer the question: Is there justice for John O'Keefe? Join us as we piece together the story, challenge preconceptions, and follow every twist and turn in this compelling search for justice.
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