Is Jen McCabe Facilitating "Collusion" in the Karen Read Murder Retrial?
The defense team believes the prosecution's star witness is trying to frame Read for O'Keefe's murder
Jen McCabe took the stand on Wednesday, April 30. The prosecution’s star witness testified to what Karen Read told police the night of John O’Keefe’s death.
Karen Read gave her feedback about Jen McCabe’s statement on the witness stand. No love is lost between Read and McCabe, who used to be friends.
The two women were together along with Kerry Roberts, a friend of O’Keefe’s, when they discovered O’Keefe’s dying body on the lawn of 34 Fairview Road in Canton, Massachusetts.
It was the home of Boston Police Officer Brian and Nicole Albert, Jen McCabe’s sister and brother-in-law.
Multiple acts of collusion
Prosecutors hope McCabe emerged as a reliable, trustworthy witness.
But throughout Read’s first trial as well as her current retrial, the defense attorneys levied allegations that McCabe facilitated multiple acts of “collusion” between witnesses to frame Read in the death of O’Keefe.
Read’s defense attorneys have presented a theory on O’Keefe’s death, which has turned this case into an International sensation. Her attorneys argue that she is the victim of an elaborate cover-up and is being framed by a group of people that includes law enforcement.
Based on the findings from the crime scene reconstruction, Read and her defense team state that the murder of Boston police officer O’Keefe was covered up, and Read is innocent.
For both of her murder trials in 2024 and 2025, Read was accused of second-degree murder and deliberately hitting O’Keefe with her SUV. She vehemently claims her innocence.
McCabe was with Read when O’Keefe’s body was found
Jennifer McCabe is a self-described “typical” small-town mom of four who emerged as a central figure in Read’s original trial and retrial. Any of the other witnesses will be hard-pressed to top the crucial testimony of McCabe.
McCabe, who has said O’Keefe was “a very good friend,” was present for nearly every key moment the night of the officer’s death.
First, the gathering of family and friends at a local bar ahead of a blizzard; then, the after-party at McCabe’s sister’s home on 34 Fairview Road in Canton, where O’Keefe was eventually found dead.
Finally, she was part of the search for O’Keefe early the following morning. The sister of Nicole Albert was with Read when she discovered her boyfriend dying of blunt force trauma and hypothermia in the snow.
A recording of a 911 call Jennifer McCabe made in the early morning hours when O’Keefe was found was played for the courtroom. During the call, she told the 911 operator, “There is a man unresponsive in the snow. I — I don’t know if he’s breathing. I think he’s passed away.”
Read can be heard screaming in the background. McCabe described Read at the scene as being hysterical.
McCabe made the 911 call after O’Keefe was found
The Special Prosecutor for the State, Hank Brennan, asked McCabe on the witness stand, “Did you hear or remember the defendant saying anything to the first responder?”
McCabe responded, “Yes.”
Brennann, “What did she say?”
McCabe “She told the first responder, ‘I hit him, I hit him, I hit him.’”
The prosecution told the jury, “That is an admission of guilt.”
But in the cross-examination, the defense tried to show that the star witness, McCabe, had teamed up with others to ensure they all told the same story.
McCabe shook her head intensely, pushing back against Alan Jackson, Read’s attorney.
“We just give each other the heads up that someone’s coming because we’re just like normal moms; we’re not used to this.”
Making sure all the stories are consistent
Alan Jackson, Read’s defense attorney, said to McCabe, “And that helps make sure that the stories she tells are consistent with those you tell to the different law enforcement agencies. Correct?”
McCabe replied, “No, we are not telling stories.”
Later, after the court, Karen Read responded to McCabe’s testimony.
She called her one-time friend ‘a liar.’
“Inconsistencies, every statement is different, under oath, not under oath, the cops are all wrong. This is very similar to what we saw a year ago (at the first trial).
The media asked Karen, “Why is she (McCabe) so inconsistent?”
Read said, “Because she’s lying.”
An unreliable witness
The defense has been trying to expose McCabe as an unreliable witness, saying that since O’Keefe died in 2023, she’s changed her story multiple times.
Read’s defense has been painting McCabe as a master manipulator, reading texts to show McCabe coordinated stories between friends and family to frame Read.
Alan Jackson went full seek and destroy mode on Jen McCabe. He alleged that McCabe asked Kerry Roberts, a friend of O’Keefe’s, to corroborate her story about a Google search she made.
According to Read’s attorneys, McCabe played a central role in what they describe as a cover-up.
There is no love lost between Read and McCabe. Read has accused McCabe of being involved in the alleged cover-up.
When asked about McCabe outside court Friday, Read said,” I would maybe use the word quarterback.”
McCabe’s numerous familial ties with law enforcement members
Jackson reserved his most blistering attack to ask why McCabe didn’t go inside the Albert house to get help for O’Keefe or check on members of her family.
On Wednesday, Jackson initially highlighted McCabe’s numerous familial ties with law enforcement members, including her brother-in-law, Albert.
Jackson also questioned other portions of McCabe’s testimony, such as who she spoke to from law enforcement in the hours after finding O’Keefe and what she said, specifically whether she relayed Read's “I hit him” comment.
Jackson suggested that Canton police reports from that morning do not reflect McCabe’s claim that Read told her that morning on the phone that she had broken her taillight, or that Read and O’Keefe had fought hours earlier.
The defense attorney pointed to group chats between McCabe, her husband, and her sister and brother-in-law on February 1, 2022.
“You were colluding with other witnesses, percipient witnesses in this case, through those text messages, were you not?” Jackson asked.
“I did not,” McCabe testified.
Sources
Bienick, David, Kazakiewich. After Jen McCabe’s testimony, Karen Read calls her ‘quarterback’ in the alleged plot. Updated: 6:03 PM EDT May 2, 2025.
Casarez, Jean, Riess, Rebekah. A key witness just spent three days on the stand in the Karen Read murder trial. Here’s why her testimony is so important. CNN, Published 10:30 AM EDT, Sun May 4, 2025.
Rourke, Riley, Schooley, Matt, Kmitt Penney, Rex, Kristina, Jennifer McCabe, key witness in Karen Read trial, finishes testimony after heated exchange, WBZ News — CBS News, Updated on: May 2, 2025 / 6:21 PM EDT / CBS Boston.
Disclaimer: This story expresses my opinions and views only for entertainment purposes.
A lack of consistency in the statements made is a huge red flag. Hopefully, the truth will come to light, as the repercussions can be very serious.