Medical examiner’s testimony reveals critical details about Boston officer John O’Keefe’s death as experts clash over evidence in the high-profile Karen Read murder trial.

At a Glance

• Medical examiner Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello testified that blunt force trauma to the head and hypothermia caused Officer O’Keefe’s death, but listed the manner of death as “undetermined”
• Defense attorneys challenged prosecution testimony, claiming a crucial timestamp related to the incident was improperly revised
• O’Keefe’s autopsy revealed multiple skull fractures, brain bleeding, and a blood alcohol level of .21%
• The defense suggested O’Keefe’s injuries could be consistent with falling on ice, not being struck by a vehicle
• Karen Read faces potential life imprisonment if convicted of murder in the 2022 death

Autopsy Findings Become Central to Murder Case

The Karen Read murder trial has entered a crucial phase with testimony from medical examiner Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello detailing the autopsy findings of Boston police officer John O’Keefe. Her examination revealed O’Keefe suffered multiple skull fractures and intracranial hemorrhaging, with blunt impact injuries to the head identified as the primary cause of death. Hypothermia was listed as a contributing factor after investigators found hemorrhaging in O’Keefe’s stomach lining and pancreas, consistent with exposure to extreme cold.

When O’Keefe arrived at the hospital, his body temperature was recorded at just 80.1 degrees. The toxicology report showed a blood alcohol concentration of .21%, nearly three times the legal driving limit, with no other drugs detected in his system. Despite the extensive examination, Dr. Scordi-Bello officially classified the manner of death as “undetermined” due to unclear circumstances surrounding the incident.

After charging and later upgrading #KarenRead’s charges to second-degree murder on June 9, 2022, DA Michael Morrissey’s Office apparently still didn’t know Officer #JohnOKeefe’s cause or manner of death, and even said it was “not inconsistent with an accidental fall”.

They also… pic.twitter.com/PngX5eoLp2

— Olivia (@OliviaLambo_) March 28, 2024

Defense Challenges Vehicle Impact Theory

Karen Read’s defense team, led by attorney Robert Alessi, has actively challenged the prosecution’s theory that Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV. During cross-examination, Alessi highlighted that Dr. Scordi-Bello observed no evidence of an “impact site” on O’Keefe’s legs, which would typically be expected in a vehicle collision. This absence of lower-body trauma is central to the defense’s alternative explanation that O’Keefe may have slipped on ice and struck his head.

The trial has been marked by procedural disputes, including a heated exchange over a revised report from prosecution expert Shanon Burgess, which shifted a crucial timestamp related to the alleged incident. Alessi characterized this late disclosure as a “pretrial discovery violation” that disadvantaged the defense team’s preparation. The prosecution, through attorney Hank Brennan, countered that the revision “doesn’t change any data whatsoever.”

Controversial Investigation Under Scrutiny

The investigation itself has come under intense scrutiny during the trial. Former Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, who was involved in the case, was fired partly due to inappropriate text messages about Karen Read, raising questions about potential bias. The defense has also challenged whether O’Keefe’s injuries could have resulted from a dog attack, though prosecutors objected to this line of questioning.

Defense attorney Alessi further questioned Dr. Aizik L. Wolf’s qualifications to testify about autopsy findings, arguing that as a neurosurgeon rather than a forensic pathologist, his expertise might not extend to interpreting all aspects of the medical examiner’s report. These challenges highlight the defense’s strategy to create reasonable doubt by questioning both the physical evidence and the investigation’s integrity as Read faces potential life imprisonment if convicted.