A digital forensic expert testified Wednesday that a disputed internet search on a key witness's phone occurred hours later than a timestamp initially suggested, offering evidence that counters a central defense claim in the murder trial of Karen Read.
Dr. Jessica Hyde told jurors that a search for "hos \sic\ long to die in cold" found on Jennifer McCabe's phone was conducted at 6:24 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022. This timing is after the body of John O'Keefe was discovered in the snow outside a home in Canton. Read's defense team has argued the search was made hours earlier, suggesting McCabe had prior knowledge of O'Keefe's condition.
Hyde explained that the 2:27 a.m. timestamp associated with the search in one data artifact did not indicate when the search itself took place. Instead, she said, the timestamp marked when the browser tab containing the search was opened or moved to the background. The field updates to show the most recent search within that tab, which Hyde determined happened at 6:24 a.m.
Under cross-examination, defense attorney Robert Alessi questioned Hyde's methodology, specifically her reliance on third-party forensic tools rather than Apple's proprietary source code. Alessi also referenced a prior case where a court had deemed some of Hyde's methods unreliable, although Judge Beverly Cannone instructed Alessi not to ask questions directly about that Maryland case.
Alessi also pressed Hyde regarding data from John O'Keefe's phone, noting records indicating the phone locked around 12:32 a.m. on Jan. 29 and showed step activity shortly before that time. Hyde stated she had not specifically reviewed the phone-lock artifact but could not dispute the data presented by the defense.
Also testifying was Massachusetts State Police Trooper Connor Keefe. He detailed his role in processing the scene at 34 Fairview on Jan. 29, including collecting evidence such as O'Keefe's sneaker and pieces of a broken vehicle taillight. Keefe noted during his testimony that a third, smaller piece of red taillight was discovered but not initially placed in the same evidence bag as other fragments. Pieces of red taillight were presented to the jury.
Keefe faced cross-examination from defense attorney David Yannetti regarding his working relationship with former lead investigator Michael Proctor. Keefe confirmed that he reported to Proctor during the initial investigation. Yannetti also questioned Keefe about attending John O'Keefe's autopsy and conversations with the medical examiner, though the trooper denied any law enforcement "theory" was discussed at that time.
The trial proceedings earlier in the week included testimony from Massachusetts State Trooper Nicholas Guarino, who detailed text messages and calls between Read and O'Keefe from the night of Jan. 28 into the following morning. Guarino testified that Read made numerous calls to O'Keefe that morning. Karen Read’s frantic voicemails to O'Keefe were played in court the previous day.
Karen Read faces charges including second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death. Prosecutors allege Read struck O'Keefe with her SUV and left him to die in a blizzard. The defense contends O'Keefe was beaten inside the Fairview home and left outside.
Hyde said, "That artifact will hold the most recent search that happened in the tab. It is logical that ‘hos long to die in cold’ was searched at 6:24:18" a.m.
