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 critical fees 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 loss of life 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 extra pretrial hearings following the mistrial, jury choice in Learn’s second trial started on April 1, 2025. The jury obtained the case and started deliberations on June 13, 2025.

Learn was accused of hitting O’Keefe along 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 evening John O’Keefe died

Shortly after midnight: Karen Learn, John O’Keefe and a bunch of associates went to the Waterfall Bar and Grill in Canton on the evening of January 28, 2022. In accordance with 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 folks from the bar had 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 evening 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 known as Jennifer McCabe, Brian Albert’s sister-in-law and a buddy 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 accordance with court docket paperwork, McCabe stated she heard Learn screaming “John did not come residence. We had a battle.” Round 5 a.m. Learn known as one other lady whose husband was associates with O’Keefe. Prosecutors alleged that Learn stated whereas they searched “What if he is lifeless? What if a plow hit him? … I do not bear in mind something from final evening, we drank a lot I do not bear in mind something.”

5:07 a.m. – Learn, McCabe, and the third lady 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 had been discovered within the driveway. Learn’s protection argues the car 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 exterior 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 sooner or later the morning O’Keefe was killed, somebody googled “hos (sic) lengthy to die in chilly.” The edges 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 skilled decided the search was made at 2:27 a.m., earlier than police had 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 medical expert dominated the reason for loss of life was blunt affect accidents to the pinnacle and hypothermia. They are saying the medical expert didn’t discover “any apparent indicators of an altercation or a battle.”

Karen Learn arrested

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

June 10, 2022 – A Norfolk County grand jury indicts Karen Learn on fees of second-degree homicide, manslaughter whereas working drunk, and leaving the scene of private harm and loss of life. Learn is arraigned on the brand new fees in O’Keefe’s loss of life. 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 battle inside Brian Albert’s residence. They declare O’Keefe was crushed and his physique was later dumped exterior. Jackson and Yannetti centered on wounds to O’Keefe’s arms, which they stated confirmed he was attacked by Albert’s canine in the course of the battle.

“This isn’t simply fishing,” Jackson stated in the course of 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 Lawyer 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 crushed and left for for lifeless.”

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

“Actually the Massachusetts State Police is concerned. There are people who had been in that home which might be concerned,” Jackson stated. “Brian Albert is concerned. Jennifer McCabe is concerned. The remainder of the parents that had been in that home, there’s some stage of involvement by each one in every of them. Each single one in every 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 – Decide Beverly Cannone denied a prosecution request for a gag order within the case. The Norfolk District Lawyer’s workplace had requested for the gag order saying witnesses had been being harassed. Yannetti countered by saying it was prosecutors who’re “controlling the narrative.”

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

“Conspiracy theories will not be proof,” Morrissey stated. “The concept a number of police departments, EMTs, Fireplace personnel, the medical expert, and the prosecuting company are joined in, or taken in by, an unlimited conspiracy needs to be seen for what it’s – fully opposite to the proof and a determined try to re-assign guilt.”

Why was “Turtleboy” arrested?

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

December 26, 2023 – A decide revoked Kearney’s bail amid new assault and battery fees. 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 almost two months however was later launched on private recognizance.

Proof underneath 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 loss of life. They stated the tail gentle is similar materials from Learn’s SUV, and that the DNA matched O’Keefe’s. Additionally they stated damaged tail gentle materials was discovered on O’Keefe’s clothes.

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

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

March 13, 2024 – In a short assertion, Massachusetts State Police stated they’ve opened an inner 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 obligation. Learn’s protection attorneys stated the federal investigation confirmed Proctor hid private ties to folks concerned within the case. In a press release, Proctor’s lawyer Michael DiStefano denied any wrongdoing.

“Trooper Proctor has been absolutely cooperative in responding to the investigations carried out by the US Lawyer’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 loss of life of Mr. John O’Keefe. To the extent that Trooper Proctor’s private textual content messages are alluded to in court docket proceedings concerning 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 heart stage

March 26, 2024 – Decide 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 – Throughout the ultimate 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 a lot of them. 

Amongst them was an argument by Learn’s attorneys that they need to have the ability to make a third-party offender protection in the course of the trial. They are saying Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Brian Higgins, all of whom had been current on the get together John O’Keefe was on the evening he died, may have killed O’Keefe. 

Prosecutor Lally known as it a “fanciful story,” however advised the decide “there’s truly 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 had 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 had been added, however one from a earlier day was excused, bringing the full variety of jurors seated up to now to 12. 

April 24, 2024 – A jury was seated on the fifth day of jury choice over the course greater than per 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 known as. John O’Keefe’s brother Paul and his spouse Erin had 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 staff 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 properly 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 staff 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 Decide Cannone heard arguments about whether or not Aidan Kearney, who publishes as “Turtleboy” for his website, TB Each day Information, needs to be allowed within the courtroom. He’s dealing with fees of witness intimidation involving folks within the Learn case. The decide dominated that Kearney should depart 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 evening of the incident. 

Could 14, 2024 – A girl who was at Brian Albert’s Fairview Highway residence the evening O’Keefe died stated she noticed a “black blob” within the garden as she was leaving. The protection known 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 battle that killed O’Keefe, was additionally known 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 might take somebody to die within the chilly. Protection attorneys argue the search truly 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 immediately referenced. 

Jennifer McCabe stated protection lawyer Alan Jackson had put the knowledge 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 feel 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 offered “flirty” textual content messages he and Learn shared within the weeks main as much as O’Keefe’s loss of life. Protection attorneys have stated Higgins is one in every of three males they declare may have been chargeable for killing O’Keefe throughout a battle.

Could 28, 2024 – Brian Higgins accomplished his testimony. Different witnesses had been known as, together with O’Keefe’s niece and nephew. They testified a couple of strained relationship between Learn and O’Keefe. 

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

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

June 6, 2024 – Protection lawyer Alan Jackson advised reporters that Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, who Learn’s attorneys have tried to indicate may have planted proof to assist associates 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 present underneath investigation by Massachusetts State Police for his conduct within the case, although the particular cause shouldn’t be identified and he has denied wrongdoing. It isn’t but identified when Proctor will take the stand.

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

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

Trooper Proctor additionally took the stand that day, studying derogatory textual content messages he despatched to associates 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 evening of O’Keefe’s loss of life, in addition to the time of when Jennifer McCabe search on Google how lengthy it might 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 ultimate three witnesses. 

June 25, 2024 – Attorneys offered 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 Decide Beverly Cannone.

June 28, 2024 – Jurors despatched a be aware to Decide Cannone, telling her they’re deadlocked. The decide 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 Decide 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 ultimate spherical of deliberations. Later within the day, a mistrial was declared because of the 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 obligation.”

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 fees. 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 depart associated to Proctor’s testimony in the course of the trial. 

July 10, 2024 – In a brand new court docket submitting, Learn’s attorneys say one other juror advised 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 to get two of the three fees in opposition to 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 concern for his or her security. 

July 22, 2024 – An nameless juror tells WBZ-TV that the jury did not know the best way to talk to the decide that they’d unanimously agreed to acquit Learn of two fees. Decide 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 decide to throw out two fees in opposition to Learn. Decide Beverly Cannone took arguments into consideration, however didn’t make a ruling.

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

September 11, 2024 – Karen Learn’s authorized staff 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 depart in the course of the trial.

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

September 20, 2024 – Karen Learn’s enchantment of two fees will likely be heard by the full panel of Massachusetts’ highest court docket, however it may delay her trial.

September 23, 2024 – Self-discipline was introduced for 2 folks 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 method 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 inner affairs investigation. Bukhenik was in one of many group chats by 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 information 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 inner affairs investigation, was transferred out of the Norfolk County District Lawyer’s Workplace. Tully testified throughout Learn’s first trial.

October 28, 2024 – Legal professionals for Karen Learn desire a wrongful loss of life lawsuit in opposition to her to be delayed till after her second felony trial, a problem they argued earlier than Decide William White, Jr. in Plymouth Superior Courtroom in Brockton.

October 29, 2024 – Vainness Honest releases the first half of its extremely anticipated Karen Learn interview. She advised the journal she owes no less than $5 million in authorized charges.

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

November 1, 2024 – The decide overseeing the wrongful loss of life lawsuit in opposition to Karen Learn guidelines that she is not going to must 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 to get some felony fees in opposition to 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 in the course of the listening to. No choice has been introduced but.

November 7, 2024 – The Norfolk County District Lawyer’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 decide to permit them to acquire telephone information for Karen Learn’s dad and mom. The protection known as the request a “fishing expedition.” Decide Beverly Cannone didn’t rule on the request and took arguments underneath advisement.

November 29, 2024 – Decide Cannone rejects the prosecution’s request for the telephone information of Karen Learn’s dad and mom.

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

December 5, 2024 – Decide Beverly Cannone authorized 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, Decide Cannone authorized 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 in the course of the investigation, died.

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

January 6, 2025 – In accordance with 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 staff desires the state to pay for journey bills for one in every of her protection consultants. Learn’s attorneys say that the Canton Police Division didn’t protect video footage, however that was not disclosed. In consequence, they are saying their skilled wasted his time.

January 29, 2025 – John O’Keefe’s household supplied a press release to WBZ-TV as they marked three years since his loss of life. “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 at all times 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 must pay for a protection skilled who says he was unsuccessfully in a position to analyze video from the Canton Police Division. Following the listening to, the decide dominated in opposition to the protection’s request to have the state pay for the skilled.

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 among the fees in opposition to 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 loss of life of Sandra Birchmore.

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

February 20, 2025 – Decide Cannone points a scheduling order that reads, partly, “Counsel needs to be ready to deal with points associated to the Defendant’s latest 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 regarding the ARCCA witnesses.”

February 24, 2025 – An individual briefed on the state of affairs tells WBZ it’s anticipated to be introduced at Karen Learn’s February 25 listening to {that a} federal investigation into the loss of life of John O’Keefe – and by affiliation, Karen Learn’s case – has ended and that no fees will likely 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 exterior 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 loss of life is over. Canton Police Chief Helena Rafferty later issued a press release saying the federal probe “is not lively and will likely be closed.”

March 5, 2025 – The case was the topic of two hearings in separate courthouses. Karen Learn appealed a latest choice 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 not too long ago 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 staff of utilizing the trooper to “deflect from the overwhelming proof.”

March 13, 2025 – A federal decide denied Learn’s request to drop two fees in opposition to her, saying Decide Cannone was not fallacious in declaring a mistrial. 

March 18, 2025 – Decide Cannone admonished the protection staff on Tuesday for “repeated misrepresentations” to the court docket. Regardless of the strict warning, Cannone didn’t take away any attorneys 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 underneath the identify “Turtleboy” appeared throughout a listening to collectively. Prosecutors are searching for messages between the 2, which Learn and her attorneys object to.

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

March 24, 2025 – Prosecutors are searching for messages between Karen Learn and her protection lawyer David Yannetti within the days following O’Keefe’s loss of life.

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

March 25, 2025 – Decide Cannone denied Karen Learn’s movement to dismiss the complete case in opposition to 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 staff.  

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 choice. 

March 31, 2025 – The protection is not going to be allowed in charge Colin Albert for John O’Keefe’s loss of life, Decide 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 best court docket doable, the U.S. Supreme Courtroom.

April 7, 2025 – Karen Learn is asking the U.S. Supreme Courtroom to delay her state trial whereas they determine 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 overview whether or not to take the case on April 25. Fifteen jurors have been seated for the trial.

April 13, 2025 – A federal decide dominated in opposition to 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 per week.  

April 16, 2025 – The ultimate movement listening to earlier than the beginning of the trial was held. Arguments had been heard over subjects that included federal ARCCA witnesses. Aidan “Turtleboy” Kearney additionally stated via his lawyer that he would plead the Fifth Modification if known 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 had been additionally known 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 loss of life.

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

April 25, 2025 – Jurors visited Brian Albert’s former residence at 34 Fairview Highway 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 lifeless, and a physician who examined her blood alcohol stage that morning.

April 28, 2025 – America 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 evening of his loss of life. Then protection crash reconstruction consultants had been questioned with out the jury current.

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

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

Could 2, 2025 – Witness Jen McCabe finishes testimony after heated trade with Learn’s protection lawyer. 

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 skilled 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 had 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 medical expert Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello testify.

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

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

Could 20, 2025 – Karen Learn’s lawyer questions forensic analyst Shanon Burgess’ timeline of the evening John O’Keefe died.

Could 21, 2025 – Decide 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 skilled, took the stand for direct questioning.

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

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

Could 30, 2025 – The first witness known as by protection lawyer Alan Jackson was Matthew DiSogra, a digital forensics skilled who makes a speciality of automobile information and crash reconstruction.

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

June 3, 2025 – Throughout a second day of questioning of canine chew skilled Dr. Marie Russell, the protection known 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 Highway in Canton on the evening O’Keefe died. Loughran was cross-examined about how Aidan “Turtleboy” Kearney’s protection may have influenced his testimony.

June 5, 2025 – Jurors had been given the break day due to warmth. The decide stated followers and air con models would create noise and make witnesses arduous 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 might have been attributable to a fall backwards. Brennan later admitted he made a mistake, and the decide later gave jurors an instruction that the holes had been attributable to a criminologist. 

June 10, 2025 – The previous medical expert 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 car.

June 12, 2025 – The ultimate listening to earlier than closing arguments was held as attorneys and the decide met with out jurors current. The protection stated it is not going to be pursuing a third-party offender argument in opposition to Brian Albert and Brian Higgins, however will likely be specializing in the dearth of a police investigation into Higgins.

June 13, 2025 – Either side offered drastically totally different closing arguments about how John O’Keefe died and what position Karen Learn performed in his loss of life. 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 decide. One in every of them sought readability on what occurs if they comply with not responsible on two fees however are held on the third cost. Jurors later had 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 underneath the affect and leaving the scene of an accident leading to loss of life. She was convicted of driving drunk. Decide Cannone sentenced Learn to at least one 12 months probation.

June 18, 2025 – A number of key prosecution witnesses who’re associates 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 Lawyer 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 choice to acquit Learn of probably the most critical fees. 

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

June 24, 2025 – Karen Learn’s lead lawyer, 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 e-book.

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 searching for to dismiss the civil lawsuit filed in opposition to 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 – Data obtained by I-Workforce present particular prosecutor Hank Brennan was paid $566,000 for Learn’s retrial. 

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

August 12, 2025 – Karen Learn’s attorneys requested for a decide 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.