A timeline of the Karen Learn case and the story behind the high-profile Massachusetts homicide trial

Karen Learn was discovered not responsible of probably the most severe prices in her high-profile Massachusetts homicide retrial Wednesday. Of their fourth day of deliberations, jurors acquitted Learn of second-degree homicide and manslaughter within the dying of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. She was convicted of driving drunk.

Learn’s first trial, which began in April 2024 at Norfolk Superior Courtroom in Dedham, ended months later in a mistrial resulting from a “starkly divided” hung jury. 

After months of further pretrial hearings following the mistrial, jury choice in Learn’s second trial started on April 1, 2025. The jury obtained the case and commenced deliberations on June 13, 2025.

Learn was accused of hitting O’Keefe together with her SUV in 2022 and leaving him to die. Protection attorneys argued she was the sufferer of an elaborate cover-up and was being framed by a bunch of people who included legislation enforcement.

Here’s a take a look at the timeline of occasions within the Karen Learn investigation and trials.

January 29, 2022 – the night time John O’Keefe died

Shortly after midnight: Karen Learn, John O’Keefe and a bunch of pals went to the Waterfall Bar and Grill in Canton on the night time of January 28, 2022. In response to prosecutors, Learn consumed a number of alcoholic drinks. Learn drove O’Keefe to the house of Boston police officer Brian Albert. That’s the place police stated individuals from the bar have been assembly again up. 

1 a.m.:  Courtroom paperwork later revealed that within the weeks earlier than and even the hours main as much as the night time out, textual content messages between Learn and O’Keefe in addition to voicemails confirmed a strained relationship. Investigators stated that round 1 a.m. on January 29, Learn allegedly left O’Keefe a voicemail that stated “…you’re a f—— loser, f— your self” and “John, I f—— hate you.”

4-5 a.m. – At 4:23 a.m. whereas heavy snow was falling, O’Keefe’s niece referred to as Jennifer McCabe, Brian Albert’s sister-in-law and a pal of O’Keefe’s. She stated Learn was “distraught” as a result of O’Keefe had not come residence and was not answering his cellphone. In response to court docket paperwork, McCabe stated she heard Learn screaming “John did not come residence. We had a struggle.” Round 5 a.m. Learn referred to as one other girl whose husband was pals with O’Keefe. Prosecutors alleged that Learn stated whereas they searched “What if he is useless? What if a plow hit him? … I do not bear in mind something from final night time, we drank a lot I do not bear in mind something.”

5:07 a.m. – Learn, McCabe, and the third girl went to search for O’Keefe. Prosecutors stated Learn talked about to the ladies that she had a crack in her tail gentle and puzzled if she may have hit O’Keefe. At 5:07 a.m., a surveillance digital camera at O’Keefe’s home exhibits Learn’s SUV coming “extraordinarily shut” to O’Keefe’s SUV within the driveway. Prosecutors say no tail gentle items have been discovered within the driveway. Learn’s protection argues the automobile did strike the SUV, breaking the tail gentle and offering an evidence for harm to SUV.

6 a.m. – Round 6 a.m., Learn sees O’Keefe mendacity within the snow outdoors Brian Albert’s residence. An emergency responder stated that whereas hysterical and inconsolable, Learn repeatedly says “I hit him. I hit him.” The protection argues that one of many first responding officers from Canton police gave “false and misleading testimony” to the grand jury that will later indict Learn.

January 29, 2022 – Prosecutors and protection attorneys agree that in some unspecified time in the future the morning O’Keefe was killed, somebody googled “hos (sic) lengthy to die in chilly.” The perimeters disagree on when the search was made. Prosecutors say the search occurred at 6:23 a.m. and 6:24 a.m. after O’Keefe’s physique was discovered. The protection says a federal forensic knowledgeable decided the search was made at 2:27 a.m., earlier than police have been alerted that O’Keefe’s physique had been discovered.

How did John O’Keefe die?

January 29, 2022 – Police say they discovered a damaged cocktail glass and items of tail gentle on the scene. A forensic toxicologist estimated that Learn’s blood alcohol content material (BAC) would have been round .13-.29 round 12:45 a.m., greater than the authorized restrict.

January 31, 2022 – An post-mortem is accomplished on O’Keefe. Prosecutors stated the health worker dominated the reason for dying was blunt impression accidents to the pinnacle and hypothermia. They are saying the health worker didn’t discover “any apparent indicators of an altercation or a struggle.”

Karen Learn arrested

February 2, 2022 – Learn seems in Stoughton District Courtroom for the primary time, pleading not responsible to manslaughter, motorcar murder, and leaving the scene of a motorcar collision inflicting dying.

June 10, 2022 – A Norfolk County grand jury indicts Karen Learn on prices of second-degree homicide, manslaughter whereas working drunk, and leaving the scene of private harm and dying. Learn is arraigned on the brand new prices in O’Keefe’s dying. She pleaded not responsible in Norfolk Superior Courtroom in Dedham and was ordered held on $100,000 bail. Learn made bail and was launched.

Karen Learn’s protection claims she was framed

Could 3, 2023 – Protection attorneys Alan Jackson and David Yannetti allege that O’Keefe was concerned in a struggle inside Brian Albert’s residence. They declare O’Keefe was overwhelmed and his physique was later dumped outdoors. Jackson and Yannetti centered on wounds to O’Keefe’s arms, which they stated confirmed he was attacked by Albert’s canine throughout the struggle.

“This isn’t simply fishing,” Jackson stated throughout the Could 3 listening to. “We have got a fish on the hook, we simply want the court docket to assist us reel it in.” Norfolk Assistant District Legal professional Adam Lally argued that O’Keefe by no means went within the residence and added “There isn’t any proof that Mr. O’Keefe was overwhelmed and left for for useless.”

Could 24, 2023 – Throughout a pretrial listening to, Learn’s attorneys laid out what they allege to be a cover-up by legislation enforcement. 

“Definitely the Massachusetts State Police is concerned. There are people who have been in that home which can be concerned,” Jackson stated. “Brian Albert is concerned. Jennifer McCabe is concerned. The remainder of the oldsters that have been in that home, there’s some degree of involvement by each certainly one of them. Each single certainly one of them. We’re not going to relaxation till we unravel precisely who’s behind this cover-up. Not solely Karen Learn deserves this. John O’Keefe deserves this, and has deserved this from second one. And that is why they don’t seem to be going to relaxation.”

Following the dramatic listening to, Learn spoke to reporters for the primary time. 

“We all know who did it. We all know. And we all know who spearheaded this cover-up. You all know,” Learn stated on the courthouse steps. “I attempted to save lots of his life. I attempted to save lots of his life at 6 within the morning, I used to be lined in his blood. I used to be the one one making an attempt to save lots of his life.”

Courtroom battles over proof

August 1, 2023 – Choose Beverly Cannone denied a prosecution request for a gag order within the case. The Norfolk District Legal professional’s workplace had requested for the gag order saying witnesses have been being harassed. Yannetti countered by saying it was prosecutors who’re “controlling the narrative.”

August 25, 2023 – Norfolk County District Legal professional Michael Morrissey launched a video assertion slamming what he described as “completely baseless” harassment of witnesses within the case. 

“Conspiracy theories aren’t proof,” Morrissey stated. “The concept a number of police departments, EMTs, Hearth personnel, the health worker, and the prosecuting company are joined in, or taken in by, an unlimited conspiracy must be seen for what it’s – utterly opposite to the proof and a determined try and re-assign guilt.”

Why was “Turtleboy” arrested?

October 11, 2023 – Aidan Kearney, the blogger who operates the location “Turtleboy Information,” was arrested on prices of witness intimidation associated to the Karen Learn case. Kearney had been overlaying the case for months, typically recording himself confronting witnesses. His protection legal professional informed the choose that Kearney was exercising his First Modification proper.

December 26, 2023 – A choose revoked Kearney’s bail amid new assault and battery prices. Kearney allegedly went to his ex-girlfriend’s residence, demanded to see her telephone, then shoved her throughout a confrontation. Kearney remained in jail for practically two months however was later launched on private recognizance.

Proof below scrutiny

February 22, 2024 – In court docket filings, prosecutors stated they’ve DNA proof recovered from a damaged tail gentle that implicates Learn in O’Keefe’s dying. They stated the tail gentle is similar materials from Learn’s SUV, and that the DNA matched O’Keefe’s. In addition they stated damaged tail gentle materials was discovered on O’Keefe’s clothes.

March 12, 2024 – Learn’s protection workforce stated {that a} federal investigation into the case led to an FBI knowledgeable concluding that proof doesn’t help the idea that O’Keefe died after being hit by an SUV. 

“The harm on the automotive was inconsistent with having made contact with John O’Keefe’s physique. In different phrases, the automotive did not hit him, and he wasn’t hit by the automotive,” Jackson stated. Prosecutors disagreed, accusing Learn’s legal professional of “protection by obfuscation.”

March 13, 2024 – In a short assertion, Massachusetts State Police stated they’ve opened an inside investigation into “a possible violation of division coverage” by Trooper Michael Proctor, who was the lead investigator within the case. Police didn’t say what prompted the investigation, however stated he stays on full responsibility. Learn’s protection attorneys stated the federal investigation confirmed Proctor hid private ties to individuals concerned within the case. In a press release, Proctor’s legal professional Michael DiStefano denied any wrongdoing.

“Trooper Proctor has been totally cooperative in responding to the investigations carried out by the US Legal professional’s Workplace and the Massachusetts State Police Inner Affairs Unit,” DiStefano stated. “To be clear, Trooper Proctor stays steadfast within the integrity of the work he carried out investigating the dying of Mr. John O’Keefe. To the extent that Trooper Proctor’s private textual content messages are alluded to in court docket proceedings relating to Ms. Learn, he respectfully submits that the target investigative steps he and members of his unit took are on no account undermined by the content material of the non-public messages.”

Karen Learn homicide trial takes middle stage

March 26, 2024 – Choose Cannone denied a protection movement to dismiss the case. Cannone stated she was denying the movement resulting from “intensive proof supporting the indictments.”

April 12, 2024 – In the course of the last pretrial listening to within the case, Cannone heard 30 totally different motions on which she needed to rule, listening to arguments from each side on lots of them. 

Amongst them was an argument by Learn’s attorneys that they need to be capable to make a third-party wrongdoer protection throughout the trial. They are saying Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Brian Higgins, all of whom have been current on the occasion John O’Keefe was on the night time he died, may have killed O’Keefe. 

Prosecutor Lally referred to as it a “fanciful story,” however informed the choose “there’s really no precise proof.”

Jury choice begins

April 16, 2024 – Karen Learn’s second-degree homicide trial started with jury choice. A complete of 4 jurors have been added on the primary day.

April 17, 2024 – Jury choice continued for a second day, with seven extra jurors added. 

April 17, 2024 – A 3rd day of jury choice wrapped and not using a full jury seated. Two extra jurors have been added, however one from a earlier day was excused, bringing the overall variety of jurors seated thus far to 12. 

April 24, 2024 – A jury was seated on the fifth day of jury choice over the course greater than every week. The trial is scheduled to final 6-8 weeks as soon as a jury is seated.

Testimony underway

April 29, 2024 – Opening statments and testimony obtained underway with the first witnesses referred to as. John O’Keefe’s brother Paul and his spouse Erin have been the primary two on the stand. Canton police officer Steve Saraf additionally started his testimony. Prosecutors confirmed video from Saraf’s dashboard digital camera as he arrived on scene.

April 30, 2024 – A Canton paramedic who handled John O’Keefe the day he died testified that he heard a lady saying “I hit him, I hit him.” Learn’s protection workforce argued that the person’s testimony has modified over time.

Could 2, 2024 – 4 paramedics and firefighters testified about what they heard Learn say the morning O’Keefe’s physique was discovered.

Could 6, 2024 – Jurors heard the 911 calls from the day O’Keefe’s physique was discovered. Police who responded to the scene testified as nicely on the fifth day of testimony.

Could 7, 2024 – A number of Canton cops testified about their dealing with of the crime scene. Amongst them was Sgt. Michael Lank, who Learn’s protection workforce argued had private connections to the house the place John O’Keefe’s physique was present in 2022.

Could 10, 2024 – There was a pause within the trial as Choose Cannone heard arguments about whether or not Aidan Kearney, who publishes as “Turtleboy” for his website, TB Each day Information, must be allowed within the courtroom. He’s going through prices of witness intimidation involving individuals within the Learn case. The choose dominated that Kearney should go away the courtroom when sure witnesses take the stand.

Additionally that day, retired Boston police officer Brian Albert took the stand. He owned the house the place O’Keefe’s physique was discovered. Albert testified that O’Keefe and Learn by no means entered his residence the night time of the incident. 

Could 14, 2024 – A girl who was at Brian Albert’s Fairview Street residence the night time O’Keefe died stated she noticed a “black blob” within the garden as she was leaving. The protection referred to as it a “made-up story.”

Could 15, 2024 – Allie McCabe, a prosecution witness, broke down in tears on the stand describing harassment within the case. Colin Albert, who the protection claims may have been concerned in a struggle that killed O’Keefe, was additionally referred to as as a witness.

Could 16, 2024 – Colin Albert completed his testimony with cross-examination that centered on what protection attorneys declare is a historical past of violent habits. 

Could 17, 2024 – Jennifer McCabe, a key witness within the case, took the stand. She was with Learn the morning O’Keefe’s physique was discovered. McCabe testified that Learn requested her to Google how lengthy it could take somebody to die within the chilly. Protection attorneys argue the search really occurred earlier than O’Keefe’s physique was discovered. Courtroom ended for the day earlier than Learn’s attorneys started to cross-examine McCabe.

Could 21, 2024 – Jennifer McCabe was again on the stand, this time for a number of hours of contentious cross-examination by Alan Jackson. This present day marked the primary time Kearney’s “Turtleboy” website has been straight referenced. 

Jennifer McCabe stated protection legal professional Alan Jackson had put the data out on social media, however Jackson stated he had not. “I am sorry. Turtleboy did,” the witness responded. Earlier within the day, Jennifer McCabe referred to Kearney as “some named blogger that I believe the protection may be very acquainted with.”

Could 24, 2024 – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Brian Higgins was on the stand. Prosecutors introduced “flirty” textual content messages he and Learn shared within the weeks main as much as O’Keefe’s dying. Protection attorneys have stated Higgins is certainly one of three males they declare may have been accountable for killing O’Keefe throughout a struggle.

Could 28, 2024 – Brian Higgins accomplished his testimony. Different witnesses have been referred to as, together with O’Keefe’s niece and nephew. They testified a few strained relationship between Learn and O’Keefe. 

June 3, 2024 – Testimony centered on damaged taillight items that have been discovered on the scene of O’Keefe’s dying.

June 5, 2024 – A number of movies have been performed that prosecutors say present Learn consuming quite a few cocktails within the hours earlier than O’Keefe died. In addition they centered on what they are saying was a damaged taillight in Learn’s SUV. 

June 6, 2024 – Protection legal professional Alan Jackson informed reporters that Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, who Learn’s attorneys have tried to point out may have planted proof to assist pals who’re witnesses within the case, will take the stand as a witness for the prosecution. There had been uncertainty when and the way Proctor would testify, as he’s listed on the protection and prosecution’s witness lists. Proctor is at the moment below investigation by Massachusetts State Police for his conduct within the case, although the particular purpose is just not recognized and he has denied wrongdoing. It isn’t but recognized when Proctor will take the stand.

The identical day as Jackson’s feedback, Choose Beverly Cannone informed jurors “I can safely say that you’re going to get this case to your deliberation someday within the final week in June.”

June 10, 2024 – Cannone heard arguments from each side with out the jury current in regards to the prosecution’s movement to exclude testimony from a witness who is anticipated to testify that scratches on O’Keefe’s arm have been per accidents from a canine assault. 

Trooper Proctor additionally took the stand that day, studying derogatory textual content messages he despatched to pals and colleagues about Learn whereas investigating the case.

June 12, 2024 – Proctor accomplished tense cross-examination and stepped down from the witness stand. Throughout his testimony, Proctor was grilled over a textual content message he despatched about Learn saying “hopefully she kills herself.”

June 14, 2024 – Testimony centered on Learn’s SUV touring in reverse the night time of O’Keefe’s dying, in addition to the time of when Jennifer McCabe search on Google how lengthy it could take an individual to die within the chilly.

June 20, 2024 – Prosecutors performed offended voicemails that Learn left for O’Keefe not lengthy after prosecutors say she hit and killed him.

Karen Learn homicide trial ends, deliberations start

June 21, 2024 – The prosecution rested its case and protection attorneys started calling witnesses. 

June 24, 2024 – The protection rested its case after calling its last three witnesses. 

June 25, 2024 – Attorneys introduced closing arguments and jurors started deliberating.

June 26, 2024 – Day two of juror deliberations ended and not using a verdict after about seven hours. Whereas jurors deliberated, Learn’s attorneys query the decision slip, resulting in a tense second with Choose Beverly Cannone.

June 28, 2024 – Jurors despatched a be aware to Choose Cannone, telling her they’re deadlocked. The choose responded that she didn’t consider they’d deliberated lengthy sufficient, and requested them to proceed making an attempt to succeed in a verdict. 

Mistrial declared in Karen Learn homicide trial

July 1, 2024 – The jury despatched one other be aware to Choose Cannone, for a second time telling her they’re unable to succeed in a unanimous verdict. The jury stated they’re “deeply divided,” and Cannone requested them to return for one last spherical of deliberations. Later within the day, a mistrial was declared as a result of hung jury.

July 1, 2024 – Hours after the mistrial was declared, Massachusetts State Police introduced that Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator within the case, has been “relieved of responsibility.”

July 3, 2024 – In an unique interview with WBZ-TV, John O’Keefe’s brother addressed the mistrial.

Fallout from the Karen Learn trial

July 8, 2024 – Learn’s protection attorneys filed a movement to dismiss for 2 prices. Within the submitting, they declare the jury unanimously agreed that Learn was not responsible on these counts whereas being deadlocked on a 3rd cost.

July 8, 2024 – Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor was suspended with out pay following an obligation listening to.

July 9, 2024 – The union for Massachuestts State Police troopers responded to the suspension, calling it “disappointing.”

July 9, 2024 – The Board of Selectmen introduced that Canton police officer Kevin Albert was placed on go away associated to Proctor’s testimony throughout the trial. 

July 10, 2024 – In a brand new court docket submitting, Learn’s attorneys say one other juror informed them there was a unanimous settlement that Learn was not responsible on two counts.

July 12, 2024 – Prosecutors fired again on the protection’s try and get two of the three prices towards Learn dismissed, saying she consented to the mistrial.

July 18, 2024 –  An unnamed juror within the case stated in a court docket submitting that they worry for his or her security. 

July 22, 2024 – An nameless juror tells WBZ-TV that the jury did not know the right way to talk to the choose that they’d unanimously agreed to acquit Learn of two prices. Choose Cannone units a brand new trial date for Jan. 27, 2025.  

August 9, 2024 – The case returned to court docket for a dismissal listening to because the protection tried to persuade the choose to throw out two prices towards Learn. Choose Beverly Cannone took arguments into account, however didn’t make a ruling.

August 23, 2024 – Choose Cannone rejects Karen Learn’s try and get two of the costs towards her dismissed. Learn’s attorneys plan to enchantment.

September 11, 2024 – Karen Learn’s authorized workforce recordsdata an enchantment to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Courtroom.

September 12, 2024 – Canton police officer Kevin Albert, the brother of Brian Albert, is again on the job after being positioned on go away throughout the trial.

September 18, 2024 – Norfolk County District Legal professional Michael Morrissey appoints Particular Assistant District Legal professional Hank Brennan to steer the Commonwealth’s retrial of Karen Learn. 

September 20, 2024 – Karen Learn’s enchantment of two prices can be heard by the full panel of Massachusetts’ highest court docket, but it surely may delay her trial.

September 23, 2024 – Self-discipline was introduced for 2 individuals related to the Karen Learn investigation. Canton Police detective Kevin Albert was suspended with out pay for 3 eight-hour shifts. An investigation discovered that the detective, whose brother Brian Albert owned the house the place John O’Keefe’s physique was discovered, behaved in a means that was unbecoming of a police officer and violated division insurance policies about alcohol consumption or possession on the job.

Massachusetts State Police introduced the identical day that Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik, who was one of many lead investigators within the case, forfeited 5 trip days following an inside affairs investigation. Bukhenik was in one of many group chats through which Trooper Michael Proctor despatched the inappropriate textual content messages.

October 17, 2024 – Massachusetts State Police say they spent $258,278.94 on safety for Karen Learn’s first trial.

October 18, 2024 – Prosecutors search telephone data from Karen Learn’s father. When her second trial begins, prosecutors plan to name William Learn as a witness.

October 18, 2024 – Detective Lieutenant Brian Tully, the topic of an ongoing inside affairs investigation, was transferred out of the Norfolk County District Legal professional’s Workplace. Tully testified throughout Learn’s first trial.

October 28, 2024 – Attorneys for Karen Learn need a wrongful dying lawsuit towards her to be delayed till after her second felony trial, a problem they argued earlier than Choose William White, Jr. in Plymouth Superior Courtroom in Brockton.

October 29, 2024 – Self-importance Truthful releases the first half of its extremely anticipated Karen Learn interview. She informed the journal she owes not less than $5 million in authorized charges.

October 30, 2024 – The second half of Self-importance Truthful’s interview with Karen Learn is launched. She responds to criticism from the O’Keefe household, together with straight responding to quotes from Paul O’Keefe’s interview with WBZ-TV in July.

November 1, 2024 – The choose overseeing the wrongful dying lawsuit towards Karen Learn guidelines that she is not going to should be deposed within the civil case till after her second felony trial is over. 

Preparations for Karen Learn’s second trial

November 4, 2024 – The prosecution and protection groups filed a movement in court docket calling for Learn’s second felony trial, scheduled to begin on Jan. 27, 2025, to be postponed till April 1, 2025. 

November 6, 2024 – Learn’s try and get some felony prices towards her thrown out on the grounds of double jeopardy got here earlier than the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Courtroom. Attorneys for each side made their case throughout the listening to. No determination has been introduced but.

November 7, 2024 – The Norfolk County District Legal professional’s Workplace requests the unredacted audio recordings, notes, and texts between Karen Learn and a Boston Journal reporter.

November 26, 2024 – Throughout an evidentiary listening to, prosecutors requested the choose to permit them to acquire telephone data for Karen Learn’s mother and father. The protection referred to as the request a “fishing expedition.” Choose Beverly Cannone didn’t rule on the request and took arguments below advisement.

November 29, 2024 – Choose Cannone rejects the prosecution’s request for the telephone data of Karen Learn’s mother and father.

December 3, 2024 – Prosecutors are asking Choose Cannone to maintain knowledgeable testimony about an alleged canine assault out of Karen Learn’s second trial.

December 5, 2024 – Choose Beverly Cannone authorised a request from prosecutors to get entry to unedited and off-the-record recordings from interviews with Karen Learn and her household.

December 9, 2024 – After simply over a month, Choose Cannone authorised the joint movement by the protection and prosecution to delay the beginning of Karen Learn’s second trial.

December 30, 2024 – Former Canton Police Chief Ken Berkowitz, who alerted Massachusetts State Police to taillight proof throughout the investigation, died.

January 2, 2025 – Prosecutors requested to exclude testimony from protection knowledgeable Richard Inexperienced surrounding Jen McCabe’s “ho[w] lengthy to die in chilly” Google search.

January 6, 2025 – In response to a court docket submitting, Trooper Michael Proctor has a misconduct listening to scheduled for January 15.

January 15, 2025 – Trooper Michael Proctor’s misconduct listening to obtained underway at Massachusetts State Police headquarters in Framingham.

January 23, 2025 – Karen Learn’s authorized workforce desires the state to pay for journey bills for certainly one of her protection specialists. Learn’s attorneys say that the Canton Police Division didn’t protect video footage, however that was not disclosed. Consequently, they are saying their knowledgeable wasted his time.

January 29, 2025 – John O’Keefe’s household offered a press release to WBZ-TV as they marked three years since his dying. “It has been 3 years since Johnny was senselessly taken from us. The void in our lives grows with every passing day, week, month and 12 months. His absence is profound and we are going to proceed to hunt justice for him. He’s all the time in our hearts,” the O’Keefe household stated.

February 6, 2025 – A listening to was held within the case as attorneys mentioned potential proof for Learn’s second trial and who ought to should pay for a protection knowledgeable who says he was unsuccessfully capable of analyze video from the Canton Police Division. Following the listening to, the choose dominated towards the protection’s request to have the state pay for the knowledgeable.

February 10, 2025 – Trooper Michael Proctor was again at Massachusetts State Police headquarters in Framingham for the second day of testimony in his trial board listening to to find out his skilled future. The listening to was not open to the general public. A 3rd listening to day was scheduled for March 13. 

February 11, 2025 – The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Courtroom denied Learn’s enchantment as she sought to have a number of the prices towards her dismissed.

February 12, 2025 – Amongst over a dozen new filings within the case was a request by the protection for unredacted paperwork from the investigation into the dying of Sandra Birchmore.

February 18, 2025 – Choose Cannone abruptly halted a listening to within the case after the prosecution raised considerations about protection attorneys’ conversations with a crash reconstruction knowledgeable employed by the federal authorities.

February 20, 2025 – Choose Cannone points a scheduling order that reads, partly, “Counsel must be ready to deal with points associated to the Defendant’s current manufacturing pursuant to Rule 14, particularly because the supplies produced relate to prior representations made to the court docket on the document by protection counsel in regards to the ARCCA witnesses.”

February 24, 2025 – An individual briefed on the scenario tells WBZ it’s anticipated to be introduced at Karen Learn’s February 25 listening to {that a} federal investigation into the dying of John O’Keefe – and by affiliation, Karen Learn’s case – has ended and that no prices can be filed.

February 25, 2025 – At a tense listening to, Karen Learn’s attorneys defended their communications with a witness within the first trial. Karen Learn’s protection alleges “misdirections” by prosecution. 

February 25, 2025 – Following the listening to, supporters greeted Learn with flowers outdoors the courtroom on her forty fifth birthday.

February 28, 2025 – Karen Learn’s protection recordsdata a movement to dismiss her whole case for causes of “extraordinary governmental misconduct.”

March 4, 2025 – Particular prosecutor Hank Brennan confirmed in court docket that the federal investigation into John O’Keefe’s dying is over. Canton Police Chief Helena Rafferty later issued a press release saying the federal probe “is not lively and can be closed.”

March 5, 2025 – The case was the topic of two hearings in separate courthouses. Karen Learn appealed a current determination by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Courtroom at federal court docket in South Boston. Learn and her attorneys then headed to Norfolk Superior Courtroom in Dedham the place her protection argued its lately filed Movement to Dismiss.

March 13, 2025 – Trooper Michael Proctor returned earlier than a Massachusetts State Police trial board for a third day. Proctor’s household additionally launched a press release, accusing Learn’s protection workforce of utilizing the trooper to “deflect from the overwhelming proof.”

March 13, 2025 – A federal choose denied Learn’s request to drop two prices towards her, saying Choose Cannone was not improper in declaring a mistrial. 

March 18, 2025 – Choose Cannone admonished the protection workforce on Tuesday for “repeated misrepresentations” to the court docket. Regardless of the strict warning, Cannone didn’t take away any legal professionals from the case.

March 19, 2025 – Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in Learn’s case, was fired by Massachusetts State Police.

March 20, 2025 – For the primary time, Learn and Aidan Kearney, the blogger who writes below the identify “Turtleboy” appeared throughout a listening to collectively. Prosecutors are in search of messages between the 2, which Learn and her attorneys object to.

March 21, 2025 – Karen Learn’s attorneys requested a federal choose to delay the beginning of her subsequent trial, after the request was rejected the day earlier than by Choose Beverly Cannone. The federal choose denied Learn’s request.

March 24, 2025 – Prosecutors are in search of messages between Karen Learn and her protection legal professional David Yannetti within the days following O’Keefe’s dying.

March 25, 2025 – As anticipated, Choose Beverly Cannone rejected the request for textual content messages between Learn and Yannetti throughout the last pretrial listening to. Cannone additionally stated she expects jury choice to take a “very very long time.”

March 25, 2025 – Choose Cannone denied Karen Learn’s movement to dismiss your complete case towards her, setting the stage for her second high-profile trial to get underway.

March 26, 2025 – Karen Learn added a former juror from her first trial to her authorized workforce.  

March 27, 2025 – Karen Learn’s movement to remain state court docket proceedings pending enchantment is denied by First Circuit Courtroom of Appeals. The court docket affirmed the decrease federal court docket’s determination. 

March 31, 2025 – The protection is not going to be allowed responsible Colin Albert for John O’Keefe’s dying, Choose Beverly Cannone dominated.  

Karen Learn’s second trial begins

April 1, 2025 – Karen Learn’s second trial formally obtained underway with jury choice.

April 2, 2025 – The jury for Karen Learn’s second trial reached seven members. Learn’s supporters additionally filed a lawsuit in federal court docket, arguing {that a} court docket mandated buffer zone violates their constitutional rights. 

April 3, 2025 – Ten jurors have been seated after three days of jury choice. 

April 3, 2025 – Karen Learn has appealed her case to the very best court docket attainable, the U.S. Supreme Courtroom.

April 7, 2025 – Karen Learn is asking the U.S. Supreme Courtroom to delay her state trial whereas they resolve if they may take up her enchantment.

April 9, 2025 – Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson of the U.S. Supreme Courtroom denied Karen Learn’s request to pause her trial. The Supreme Courtroom will evaluate whether or not to take the case on April 25. Fifteen jurors have been seated for the trial.

April 13, 2025 – A federal choose dominated towards Learn’s supporters who wished to have the ability to protest nearer to the courthouse forward of her second trial, saying the buffer zone doesn’t violate their constitutional rights.

April 15, 2025 – A jury was seated for Karen Learn’s second trial, with opening statements scheduled to happen in every week.  

April 16, 2025 – The last movement listening to earlier than the beginning of the trial was held. Arguments have been heard over subjects that included federal ARCCA witnesses. Aidan “Turtleboy” Kearney additionally stated by way of his legal professional that he would plead the Fifth Modification if referred to as as a witness, and prosecutors agreed to not name him.

April 22, 2025 – Attorneys gave opening statements because the trial formally obtained underway. The primary two witnesses have been additionally referred to as.

April 23, 2025 – John O’Keefe’s mom, Peggy O’Keefe, took the stand. It was the primary time she has spoken out publicly since her son’s dying.

April 24, 2025 – Textual content messages between Karen Learn and John O’Keefe within the hours main as much as his dying have been learn on the third day of trial. 

April 25, 2025 – Jurors visited Brian Albert’s former residence at 34 Fairview Street in Canton. The court docket additionally heard from two witnesses: a paramedic who took Learn to the hospital the day that O’Keefe was discovered useless, and a physician who examined her blood alcohol degree that morning.

April 28, 2025 – The USA Supreme Courtroom introduced that it’ll not hear Karen Learn’s enchantment on grounds of double jeopardy.

April 28, 2025 – A half day of witness testimony centered on Jen McCabe’s “how lengthy to die in chilly” Google search and John O’Keefe’s actions the night time of his dying. Then protection crash reconstruction specialists have been questioned with out the jury current.

April 29, 2025 – Key witness Jen McCabe started her testimony. Choose Beverly Cannone issued a stern warning for protection attorneys, however allowed upcoming testimony from protection crash reconstruction specialists.

April 30, 2025 – Jen McCabe was again on the stand for hours of tense cross-examination throughout the seventh day of witness testimony.

Could 2, 2025 – Witness Jen McCabe finishes testimony after heated alternate with Learn’s protection legal professional. 

Could 5, 2025 – Canton firefighter-paramedic Katie McLaughlin testified that she heard Learn repeatedly say “I hit him” after O’Keefe’s physique was discovered. Retired Canton Police Lt. Paul Gallagher testifies about responding to the scene, utilizing a leaf blower to maneuver snow.

Could 6, 2025 – A number of witnesses took the stand on the tenth day of testimony. Jurors heard a number of offended voicemails that Karen Learn left for John O’Keefe within the early morning hours on January 29, 2022. 

Could 7, 2025 – Forensic knowledgeable Jessica Hyde, who analyzed Jennifer McCabe’s Google search, and State Police trooper Connor Keefe testify. 

Could 8, 2025 – Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik took the stand to testify about proof assortment and the position of his former colleague Michael Proctor.

Could 9, 2025 – Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik learn textual content messages between Brian Higgins and Karen Learn.

Could 12, 2025 – After three full days on the witness stand, Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik concluded his testimony. 

Could 13, 2025 – Courtroom was canceled for the day unexpectedly simply earlier than proceedings have been scheduled to start as a result of Karen Learn was sick.

Could 14, 2025 – Jurors hear from John O’Keefe’s niece, and crime scene technicians. 

Could 15, 2025 – Massachusetts State Police forensic scientist Maureen Hartnett and health worker Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello testify.

Could 16, 2025 – Witness testimony from two Massachusetts State Police crime lab analysts, and a message from the choose to jurors about how they conduct themselves in court docket. 

Could 19, 2025 – A forensic analyst for the prosecution testified in regards to the actions of Karen Learn’s Lexus SUV on the night time in query.

Could 20, 2025 – Karen Learn’s legal professional questions forensic analyst Shanon Burgess’ timeline of the night time John O’Keefe died.

Could 21, 2025 – Choose Beverly Cannone delayed the beginning of testimony, saying she needed to query jurors individually after a problem was delivered to her consideration.

Could 27, 2025 – Judson Welcher, a prosecution accident reconstruction knowledgeable, took the stand for direct questioning.

Could 28, 2025 – Protection begins cross examination of crash reconstruction knowledgeable Judson Welcher.

Could 29, 2025 – The prosecution rested its case after Judson Welcher accomplished his testimony.

Could 30, 2025 – The first witness referred to as by protection legal professional Alan Jackson was Matthew DiSogra, a digital forensics knowledgeable who focuses on automotive information and crash reconstruction.

June 2, 2025 – Former Canton police officer Kelly Dever, Dr. Marie Russell, and a pal of former state police trooper Michael Proctor have been referred to as to the stand by Karen Learn’s protection workforce.

June 3, 2025 – Throughout a second day of questioning of canine chew knowledgeable Dr. Marie Russell, the protection referred to as for a mistrial with prejudice, however was denied. A Dighton police officer additionally testified about how he remembered seeing harm to Learn’s taillight in comparison with how it’s pictured hours later within the Canton Police Division storage.

June 4, 2025 – Snowplow driver Brian “Fortunate” Loughran testified about not seeing a physique on Fairview Street in Canton on the night time O’Keefe died. Loughran was cross-examined about how Aidan “Turtleboy” Kearney’s protection may have influenced his testimony.

June 5, 2025 – Jurors have been given the time without work due to warmth. The choose stated followers and air con models would create noise and make witnesses onerous to listen to.

June 6, 2025 – The one witness on the stand all day was Daniel Wolfe, a crash reconstructionist for engineering consulting agency ARCCA.

June 9, 2025 – The protection’s request for a mistrial was denied. Attorneys had accused the prosecution of a “stunt” when Hank Brennan requested Wolfe about holes in O’Keefe’s sweatshirt, and if they may have been attributable to a fall backwards. Brennan later admitted he made a mistake, and the choose later gave jurors an instruction that the holes have been attributable to a criminologist. 

June 10, 2025 – The previous health worker for Rhode Island testified, adopted by Dr. Andrew Rentschler, who’s the ultimate protection witness. 

June 11, 2025 – Karen Learn’s protection rested its case after Rentschler completed testifying that in his opinion, John O’Keefe was not hit by a automobile.

June 12, 2025 – The last listening to earlier than closing arguments was held as attorneys and the choose met with out jurors current. The protection stated it is not going to be pursuing a third-party wrongdoer argument towards Brian Albert and Brian Higgins, however can be specializing in the shortage of a police investigation into Higgins.

June 13, 2025 – Either side introduced drastically totally different closing arguments about how John O’Keefe died and what position Karen Learn performed in his dying. Jury deliberations started a short while later.

June 16, 2025 – Jurors had their first full day of deliberations, however didn’t attain a verdict.

June 17, 2025 – On the second full day of deliberations, the Karen Learn jury got here again with 4 questions for the choose. One in every of them sought readability on what occurs if they comply with not responsible on two prices however are held on the third cost. Jurors later have been dismissed for the day and not using a verdict.

Verdict reached in Karen Learn trial

June 18, 2025 – Of their fourth day of deliberations, jurors acquitted Learn of second-degree homicide, manslaughter whereas working below the affect and leaving the scene of an accident leading to dying. She was convicted of driving drunk. Choose Cannone sentenced Learn to at least one 12 months probation.

June 18, 2025 – A number of key prosecution witnesses who’re pals with the O’Keefe household issued a press release, calling the decision a “devastating miscarriage of justice.”

June 19, 2025 – Massachusetts State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble stated in a assertion that within the aftermath of the Karen Learn case, the division will proceed to work on enhancements in oversight and accountability.

June 19, 2025 – District Legal professional Michael Morrissey issued his first assertion on the decision, saying to WBZ-TV solely, “The jury has spoken.”

June 19, 2025 – A juror within the trial speaks out about their determination to acquit Learn of probably the most severe prices. 

June 23, 2025 – Particular prosecutor Hank Brennan points his first assertion because the trial ended. He was “disenchanted” within the verdict and condemned “witness abuse.”

June 24, 2025 – Karen Learn’s lead legal professional, Alan Jackson, responds to Brennan’s remarks, accusing the prosecutor of moral violations.

June 29, 2025 – Karen Learn and Alan Jackson are reportedly engaged on a movie script and guide.

July 7, 2025 – Massachusetts State Police reassign Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik from Norfolk County to an administrative position within the South Boston barracks. 

July 10, 2025 – Karen Learn filed a movement in search of to dismiss the civil lawsuit filed towards her by the O’Keefe household.

July 10, 2025 – Boston police commissioner responds to Officer Kelly Dever’s testimony in Karen Learn trial.

July 10, 2025 – Information obtained by I-Group present particular prosecutor Hank Brennan was paid $566,000 for Learn’s retrial. 

August 5, 2025 – Alan Jackson joins Karen Learn’s authorized workforce for her civil trial on a wrongful dying lawsuit introduced by the O’Keefe household.

August 12, 2025 – Karen Learn’s legal professionals requested for a choose to dismiss the emotional misery declare in a civil lawsuit filed by the O’Keefe household. 

August 26, 2025 – Fired Massachusetts State Police trooper Michael Proctor appeared at a listening to in an effort to get his job again.

August 27, 2025 – Elizabeth Banks will reportedly play Karen Learn in a restricted sequence.

September 12, 2025 – Kelly Dever, the Boston police officer who was the topic of tense questioning throughout Karen Learn’s second trial, resigns.