A medical examiner testified that she could determine the cause of John O'Keefe's death as head injury and hypothermia, but could not determine whether it was murder in the murder case of a 46-year-old Boston police officer at Karen's murder trial, by chance or any other way.
Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, forensic pathologist at the Massachusetts Chief Medical Examiner's Office, conducted an autopsy on O'Keefe on January 31, 2022.
Although Scordi-Bello found O'Keefe died of head trauma and hypothermia, there was an undecided way of death (how he suffered these injuries).
She testified that the blunt effect on his head was the main cause of death, but that hypothermia contributed. There was a deep cut and bruise behind his head. Once she looked at it from the inside, she found multiple fractures of the skull and bleeding in the brain. When he arrived at the hospital, his body temperature was 80.1 degrees, while his normal body temperature was 98.6.
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Defendant Karen spoke with her attorney, Alan Jackson, ahead of her trial at Norfolk Chorever Court on Thursday, May 15, 2025 in Dedham, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell, Swimming Pool)
She first discussed external inspections, saying she found other witnesses, including paramedics and police, who had described similar injuries to the jury.
She testified that there were "superficial" scratches and cuts on his arms, which did not penetrate the skin or expose fat or muscle tissue.
Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner who performed the autopsy on the murder victim John O'Keefe, testified during the trial at the Norfolk Superior Court in Didem, Massachusetts on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell, Swimming Pool)
She also conducted internal inspections and studied other injuries.
Behind his skull, she found multiple fractures from the incision on the right side of her head.
She fell backwards and landed on the frozen ground, which was consistent, and she testified during cross-examination by defense attorney Robert Alessi, who asked Scordi-Bello if he should have suffered a circular wound rather than a linear wound found at the autopsy.
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Defense attorney Robert Alessis tried Maureen Hartnett, a Massachusetts police forensic scientist, at the Norfolk Chorep Court trial at the Norfolk Chorever Court on Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell, Swimming Pool)
"There is no inconsistent injury and falls behind the head with a blunt surface."
"Falling backwards, the person affects the back of the head on a flat frozen ground... Are you expecting this type of fall?" Yaris followed. "Not only the general fell backwards, but especially backwards, the back of the head on the flat frozen ground. Are you expecting?"
"I can," said Scody Bello. "Yes."
However, she also said she found no signs of grass behind O'Keefe's head.
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John O'Keefe is pictured in an undated photo. O'Keefe died on January 29, 2022. His girlfriend Karen Read is charged with hitting him with a Lexus SUV and running away. (Contributed by Karen Read)
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Alessi also roasted her on a low temperature discovery, asking if O'Keefe's internal stomach and pancreas injury could be caused by factors other than the freezing temperature.
She testified that his pancreas may bleeding from equipment used to assist caregivers in CPR efforts, but that would not damage his stomach. However, she later testified that the gastric ulcer may have been caused by O'Keefe's drinking alcohol without taking antacids.
Toxicology reports did not find any drugs or prescription drugs in his system when he died. His blood alcohol level is .21%. He was prescribed antacids to fight stomach ulcers.
Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner who performed the autopsy on the murder victim John O'Keefe, explained to the jury that during the trial at the Norfolk Superior Court on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Didem, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell, Swimming Pool)
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Even if the revised death certificate was issued, O'Keeffe's death method was not determined. Scordi-Bello testified Thursday that she was concerned about the causes, head trauma and hypothermia.
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After Judge Beverly Cannone sent the jurors home, Alessi argued that the new disclosure of the report to the prosecutor was a new disclosure of Aperture's expert testimony and would put the "whole defense" at risk if this permitted later in the game.
He said the disclosure date was May 8, but was received by the defense on May 11.
Karen Read listens to Jennifer McCabe's testimony during the Read murder trial at Norfolk Superior Court in Didem, Massachusetts on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Greg Dell/Patriot Ledger, via AP, swimming pool)
"I don't like using hyperbolic words, but the word has been used on us - ambush, ambush, ambush, ambush, ambush," Alessi said. "If there is an example of ambush, that's it."
Brennan disclosed evidence of significant differences between the internal clocks between the Lexus SUV described as Read and the John O'Keefe's cell phone data during the heating round-trip.
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The shells did not announce the decision before the adjournment court that day.
Reading will be back at 9 a.m. Friday
If convicted of the worst charge, she could face life in jail.