John O'Keefe's mother sent a solemn message to his alleged murderer Karen Read last week during the trial of murder and other charges, according to a body language expert.
Read, 45, is accused of slamming O'Keefe with her 2021 Lexus SUV and died in a snowstorm on January 29, 2022.
Her lawyer denied the collision and asserted that some others killed 46-year-old Boston policeman O'Keefe.
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The defendant Karen held talks with lawyers in the murder case in the Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Mark Chavous/Enterprise News via AP, Pool)
During the entire painful court battle of her second trial, both sides repeatedly summoned the sidebars as both sides opposed each other’s inquiries.
Video shows that when Reading walked up to the bench with the legal team, Peggy O'Keefe sat in front and center every day, giving the defendant a grim look.
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"It's so obvious that she didn't even hide it because mom showed every look on her face throughout the trial," expert Susan Constantine told Fox News Digital Digital. "There is no love there. She doesn't read like Karen, distrust her, and thinks she killed her son."
Watch: Peggy O'Keefe in Karen
She said she called the appearance “the stalker’s eyes” – like a lioness – an self-spoken way of reading.
"She is following her, as if she is sending a message, 'I'm looking at you, I see you, I'm following you.' "She is doing what she usually does as a protector. ”
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Officer John O'Keefe poses for his official title. O'Keefe's girlfriend Karen Reed was found dead outside a Massachusetts house in January 2022 and was tried for murder. (Boston Police Department)
Unable to comment immediately with O'Keefe. The next day, she returned to the front row to observe the proceedings.
"She is a mother," Constantine said. “She has the right to believe what she believes.”
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John O'Keefe's mother, Peggy O'Keefe, was on trial Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court. (Mark Chavous/Enterprise News via AP, Pool)
The relationship between O'Keefe and Read has been deteriorating in the weeks before his death.
Reading the text between a potential romantic rival Brian Higgins shows she complains about having to deal with O'Keefe's adopted child.
He is taking care of his young nieces and nephews after their mother and father died within months of each other.
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Bill Read, his wife, Jenny and daughter Karen, read until he entered Norfolk County Superior Court on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Hans Pennink for Fox News Digital)
Similar to O'Keefe, Karen Read's father, William Read, is in court every day because both parents want to consolidate a sense of solidarity with their children.
Jack Lu, a retired Massachusetts senior court judge and Boston College law professor, told Fox News that “the jury got nothing about family and friends’ activities.”
But in stark contrast, Red’s father has been fusing with fans and chatting with the media, apparently in order to win public sentiment with his daughter. He was shaken by hand last Friday and took a photo with his supporters, shortly before arriving at the first day of his defence testimony.
“I’ve always been the oldest ball of these shots,” he told the group as he smiled for the camera. "I guess this is better than an alternative, right?"
Watch: Karen Read's father greets extrovert supporters at his daughter's trial
Read's father's behavior directly conflicts with O'Keefe's behavior, experts point to key differences between parents.
“He was very kind,” Constantine told Fox News Numbers. “The other side is in sharp contrast to (O’Keefe’s) mother.
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William Read often stops talking to journalists about the court steps because his daughter's entourage is going to a day, after saying he wants to be called as a witness at the trial.
William Read kisses his daughter Karen ahead of the murder trial at Norfolk Chore Court on Friday, May 9, 2025. (Mark Stockwell/The Sun Chronicle via AP, swimming pool)
"This state is doing what is persecuting Karen Read." Her father said On the court steps earlier this month. “The collection of these actors (and) witnesses is shameful.”
Constantine sees his faith as another indicator of the family’s feelings about the Red case.
"I think he feels he has a good case," Constantine said. "They obviously have great lawyers and you can say he feels very confident that his daughter represents the team. I think he feels very representative."
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After his father showed up with supporters outside the court for a few hours, Read spent Friday’s lunch shaking hands and thanking those who came to unite – a move that reflects her own father.
"You can see a lot of Karen in her father," Constantine said. "You can see them waving to everyone. I saw a picture of Karen () she waving to everyone as she waving in the car. It reminds me of Michael Jackson - he did the same thing in his case. But (William Read) put his arms down on his arm and he waving him in everyone, just like they were, I thought he was a lot of people. With everyone, trying to connect with others and supporters of Karen, I think he's very grateful."