Karen Read Murder Trial: Key Witness Kerry Roberts Says Victim John O'Keefe Has Been "Forgotten"

As Karen Read faces her second murder trial for the alleged killing of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, one of the most critical witnesses in the case, Kerry Roberts, is speaking out. Roberts, who was a lifelong friend of O'Keefe, has become a central figure in the ongoing legal battle, providing crucial testimony for the prosecution while expressing her deep frustration over the way the case has overshadowed O'Keefe’s tragic death.

Read, accused of slamming her SUV into O'Keefe outside a police officer’s home in January 2022, is facing charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a collision causing death. Prosecutors allege that Read, drunk and angry, intentionally hit her boyfriend and then left him to die in a blizzard. Read maintains her innocence, asserting that she is the victim of a botched investigation and law enforcement cover-up.

However, Roberts, who was among the first to receive a distressing phone call from Read on the morning of O’Keefe’s death, emphasized that the focus of the trial has shifted away from the real victim: John O’Keefe.

“I think people have forgotten John in general,” Roberts told ABC News’ Matt Gutman in a “Good Morning America” interview on Wednesday. “He is the victim. He’s lost his life. He’s not coming back.”

This sentiment of O’Keefe’s forgotten memory was echoed by Roberts as she recalled the events leading up to the discovery of O’Keefe’s body. She and other close friends had spent the morning searching for him in the blizzard after Read made frantic calls expressing concern about his whereabouts.

A Disturbing First Call

Roberts’ testimony, given on Tuesday, sheds light on the early phone calls between her and Read that prosecutors argue reveal Read’s involvement in O’Keefe’s death. Roberts described the first call as chilling: Read had immediately told her, “John’s dead,” before abruptly hanging up. Although O’Keefe’s body had not yet been found, Read’s next call suggested a shifting explanation, stating, “I think he got hit by a plow.”

The prosecution believes these phone calls demonstrate Read’s admission to the crime, while the defense argues that Read’s distress was that of a concerned partner, fearing the worst.

Roberts, recounting that early morning, said she drove Read and Jennifer McCabe, another of O’Keefe’s friends, to the place where Read had last seen O'Keefe. Despite the blizzard conditions that made it hard to see, Roberts described Read as frantic, with the search growing increasingly urgent.

“When we turned to pull down Fairview, she saw him on the lawn, and I didn’t,” Roberts recalled. “We went to go find him, and make sure he got home OK. And when you find him and he’s not OK, it was, it was pretty hard.”

The Emotional Toll on O'Keefe's Family

O’Keefe’s death has left a profound impact on his family, with his mother, Peggy O’Keefe, speaking out earlier in the trial about the heartbreaking loss of her son. O’Keefe, who was close with his family, had taken on the responsibility of raising his niece and nephew after their parents died. His dedication to his family extended beyond his police work, with Roberts describing O'Keefe as a man who was fully involved in his relatives’ lives, acting as a father figure to his niece and nephew during their formative years.

Roberts, who considered O'Keefe one of her closest friends, reflected on their bond, recalling the moments she spent helping him care for his niece and nephew. “It was like all hands on deck,” Roberts said, her words filled with affection. “When they would go to dance recitals and stuff, father-daughter dances, I would do their hair and get the boutonniere and get the corsage. He did a great job. This was one of my best friends.”

This personal connection, coupled with the sorrow of losing a friend, makes the trial’s ongoing public nature even more painful for Roberts and O’Keefe’s loved ones. The town of Canton has been divided, with tensions running high as the case has split the community into factions. Neighbors and witnesses have reportedly been harassed, adding to the emotional weight of the trial.

“It’s all about which side are you on,” Roberts said, her voice tinged with frustration. “We’re John’s closest friends and family, and we still haven’t been able to grieve because of all of this. It’s all lost on this circus.”

A Personal Struggle for Justice

As the trial continues, Roberts’ testimony underscores the personal anguish felt by O’Keefe’s family and friends. While legal experts focus on the intricacies of the case, for those who loved O’Keefe, it is a matter of seeking justice for a man who was taken from them far too soon. The ongoing circus of public opinion and legal drama has made it difficult for those closest to him to properly grieve his loss.

In the coming days, the jury will be tasked with weighing the evidence presented and determining whether Read is guilty of the charges against her. For Roberts and O’Keefe’s family, however, the legal proceedings are only part of the equation. The emotional toll of the trial, the continued speculation, and the pain of losing someone they loved have made it all the more difficult to find closure.

As the case progresses, the question remains: can justice truly be served for John O'Keefe, or will the complexities of the trial continue to overshadow the real victim in this tragedy?