Karen Read Murder Trial Update: Pivotal Witness and the Judges Harsh Warnings | Crime Alert 7AM 04.30.25

In the retrial of Karen Read, jurors were presented with the concluding testimony from a cellphone expert and the initial statements from a pivotal witness, Jen McCabe.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alard hourly update Breaking Crime Needs Now.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
I'm Nicole Parton an update. In the retrial of Karen Reed,
jurors were presented with the concluding testimony from a cell
phone expert and the initial statements from a pivotal witness,
Jean mccabb. Following their departure from the courtroom, Judge Beverly
Canoni delivered a firm ruling that could have significant repercussions

(00:24):
for cases like this. Quote even with the distractions, let's
focus on the case at hand, Canoni declared, as she
decided to permit two contentious witnesses from the forensic and
engineering firm ARCA. They will take the stand today. The
judge expressed her frustration over what she termed as quote,
repeated violations by Reed's legal team regarding the disclosure of

(00:48):
information about two ARCA witnesses. However, she ultimately ruled that
the defendant's right to a fair trial is of utmost importance. Quote.
I will allow the ARCA witnesses to testify, anticipate a
thorough cross examination, and permit them to discuss everything they
have stated up to yesterday. Canoni confirmed. Daniel Wolfe and

(01:10):
Andrew Wetchler employees of ARCA had both previously testified in
the first trial, initially introduced as independent experts until it
was revealed that the company was in fact paid by
the defense. Before departing the bench, CANNONI reminded the defense
to adhere to future court orders.

Speaker 3 (01:30):
And I expect counsel to comply with all rulings and
rules of the court and all rules of professional conduct,
and no more nonsense. Let's just try this case.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
Earlier that day, Jeene mccabb took the stand as a
pivotal witness. Mccab, who was present at the house party
in Canton where O'Keefe was later discovered, had contentious interactions
with the defense during last year's trial. In her previous testimony,
mccab recounted being at the Waterfall Bar and Grill with
a couple on the night in question, and suggested they

(02:05):
visit the Albert family home on Fairview Road after the
bar closed. Both she and her husband, Matt mccabb testified
they saw Reed's SUV parked outside thirty four Fairview Road,
but maintained that neither O'Keefe nor Reed ever entered the residence.

Speaker 1 (02:23):
It wasn't until I got very close over to them
that I saw.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
I saw.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
Carrie removing the snow from John's face.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
The defense contends that McCabe's phone was used to conduct
a Google search for quote how long to Die in
Cold at two twenty seven am, several hours before O'Keefe's
body was found in the snow. The prosecution, however, disputes
the timing of the search, asserting that Reed requested that
search after the body was found. Mccave had previously testified

(03:00):
that she transported a very distraught Reed to Fairview Road
in Reed's suv, where Read allegedly spotted O'Keefe in the
snow before anyone else and made several incriminating remarks. Reid,
forty five years old, a former adjunct professor at Bentley University,
has pleaded not guilty to second degree murder and other

(03:20):
charges related to the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police
officer John O'Keeffe. Her first trial resulted in a hung jury.
Early in the proceedings, the prosecution's cell phone data expert
concluded his testimony in within a digital forensics examiner provided
a report regarding the movement and temperature of O'Keeffe's cell

(03:41):
phone During cross examination, he conceded that it was possible
that the phone may have entered the house. Defense attorney
Robert Alisi inquired about the health data on O'Keefe's phone,
which showed thirty six steps that were taken over twenty
seconds at approximately twelve thirty two am. With an ex
explained that one potential reason for inaccuracies in movement data

(04:04):
could be that the device quote entered the building. The
defense aims to persuade the jury that O'Keefe did enter
the house, and they say he was allegedly assaulted inside
later returned to the outside, where his body was found,
although the temperature of his phone's battery continued to decrease,
according to the selfon expert. Were crime and justice news

(04:26):
after this and now to Alabama, and if you hopped
on Interstate eighty five, you certainly weren't the only one.
Commuters reported an unexpected sighting a kangaroo on the loose.
The adventurous marsupial led to two vehicle crashes, as stated

(04:46):
by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, while it made its
way from Lee County into Macon County. Drivers captured footage
of the kangaroo near mile marker forty six. The unexpected
guest temporarily halted try in both directions, and the interstate
was shut down as the animal's owner rushed to the
scene to recapture. At one point, the kangaroo ventured off

(05:08):
the highway and into the nearby woods. Macon County Sheriff
Andre Brunson provided live updates during an unusual chase, confirming
that the kangaroo was successfully tranquilized before being safely collected
and taken back to his waiting vehicle. The kangaroo was
eventually secured safely relocated back home. No more hopping on

(05:30):
the Interstate for him.

Speaker 1 (05:32):
How could a beautiful, young first grade teacher be stabbed
twenty times, including in the back, allegedly die of suicide? Yes,
that was a medical examiner's official ruling after a closed
door meeting. He first named it a homicide. Why what
Happened to Ellen Greenberg? A huge American miscarriage of justice.

(05:58):
For an in depth look at the facts, see What
Happened to Ellen on Amazon. All proceeds to the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Speaker 2 (06:12):
For the latest crime injustice news, follow Crime Alert hourly
update on your favorite podcasting app with this crime alert.
I'm Nicole Martin,