Brain Surgeon Claims Officer Died From Fall But Defense Challenges Other Injuries In Read Murder Trial

A stunning medical claim was made in a courtroom drama gripping the nation.

Did a brutal cold spell mask the true cause of death?

The high-profile murder trial of Karen Read continues to deliver dramatic testimony.

Read, 45, stands accused of hitting her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her vehicle.

Prosecutors allege she left him for dead in a blizzard outside a Canton, Massachusetts home in January 2022.

But a leading medical expert has presented a potentially different picture of the fatal injury.

Expert Takes the Stand

Dr. Aizik Wolf, a Yale-educated brain surgeon, testified Wednesday about the nature of O’Keefe’s injuries.

He told jurors his experience included treating similar traumas in frigid climates, like Minneapolis.

Many of those cases, he noted, involved falls on ice.

According to Dr. Wolf, O’Keefe suffered “a classic blunt-trauma injury.”

He detailed how skull fractures and subsequent “raccoon eyes” – bruising around the eyes – can result from a significant impact.

Hypothermia Played a Role?

While head trauma was significant, Dr. Wolf stated it wouldn’t typically cause immediate death.

Fatal swelling usually occurs within 24 to 48 hours, sometimes faster.

However, O’Keefe’s body was discovered with a temperature of just 80 degrees.

This is considered severe hypothermia, a critical factor in his death.

Defense Points to Other Injuries

During cross-examination, defense attorney Robert Alessi challenged the focus solely on the back of the head.

He questioned Dr. Wolf about other injuries O’Keefe sustained.

These included a laceration to the face and injuries to the arm.

The defense suggests these injuries are inconsistent with being struck by a vehicle.

They argue the presence of these wounds implies another cause or incident may have occurred.

Other Evidence Explored

Testimony also continued from a state police crime lab expert regarding glass and plastic fragments.

Pieces of a broken taillight and a shattered cocktail glass were analyzed.

Some plastic debris found on O’Keefe’s clothing was consistent with Read’s vehicle materials, but could also come from other sources.

Crucially, none of the glass on Read’s bumper matched the shattered cocktail glass found near O’Keefe.

Evidence from a sample collected by former Trooper Michael Proctor, who is involved in controversy over his handling of the case, was the only match for the bumper glass.

The Surgeon’s Core Belief

Despite questions about other injuries, Dr. Wolf maintained his primary conclusion regarding the fatal trauma.

He testified that the only way O’Keefe could have sustained the severe head injury was by falling backwards and hitting the back of his head on a hard surface.

He specifically pointed to the frozen ground as the likely impact point.

The confluence of head trauma and severe hypothermia is presented as the cause of death.

Karen Read faces significant charges, including second-degree murder, and could face life in prison if convicted.