Karen Learn and boyfriend, John O’Keefe, had a biting combat over textual content simply hours earlier than the Boston cop’s lifeless physique was pulled out of the snow — and a shocked jury heard the complete alternate Thursday as Learn sat stone confronted.
The acrimonious alternate was recited in a matter-of-fact monotone by a Massachusetts state trooper throughout an action-packed day, the third in a sensational homicide trial enjoying out in a Massachusetts prison court docket.
The texts, between 2:30 p.m. and eight:35 p.m. on Jan. 28 2022, had been launched within the final trial — which led to a mistrial — however that is the primary time a jury heard them play out in a single steady alternate.
The beleaguered couple argued over a variety of sensitive points acquainted to anybody in a strained relationship, concerning all the pieces from childcare, Fb statuses, sizzling water heaters and determined questions on their future as lovers.
“You’ve actually harm me this time,” certainly one of Learn’s texts to O’Keefe flashed on the courtroom display.
Learn and the jury watched the display because the State Trooper Nicholas Guarino reenacted the textual content combat from the stand.
“I’m sorry,” O’Keefe writes again, in response to Boston 25 Information. “This has been a difficulty w me for 8 years. It bodily hurts me to see EVERYONE else of their life do issues for them and I’m compelled to ALWAYS be the unhealthy man.”
Learn wonders about their future, and accuses O’Keefe of getting a wandering eye and having curiosity in one other lady.
“Inform me in case you are fascinated with another person. Can’t consider some other cause you’ve been like this,” she writes to her beau.
He responds, “Nope” after which “Issues haven’t been nice between us for awhile. Ever take into account that? Children are right here. Not within the temper to speak.”
Wish to be taught extra about Karen Learn’s homicide trial? Click on down under
“So that you’re not into me anymore,” she shoots again, accusing O’Keefe of missing affection together with her.
O’Keefe responds that he’s sick of combating “weekly for a number of months now.”
“So yeh I’m not as fast to leap into being lovie dovie as you apparently,” he provides.
He then textual content Learn, “Omg!! Cease calling.”
Learn’s clean, expressionless face was lit by the glow from the display as Guarino continued to recite the tense alternate. The jurors, visibly rapt, adopted alongside as effectively.
After a number of telephone calls between the 2, certainly one of which O’Keefe declines to reply, the textual content combat continues.
“I’m going to seize a drink in a bit. Are you able to pls reply??” Learn sends.
O’Keefe writes again, “No Karen. Undecided why you want to announce that you just’re grabbing a drink however have enjoyable.”
What to know concerning the Karen Learn homicide case
- Karen Learn, 44, was charged with second-degree homicide for allegedly mowing down her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, as she was dropping him off to fulfill buddies in Canton, Mass., on Jan. 29, 2022.
- The night time of O’Keefe’s loss of life, the couple had been out on a bar crawl, with Learn allegedly consuming seven drinks in simply 90 minutes, in response to reviews.
- Prosecutors declare that after Learn drunkenly ran over her boyfriend, she drove off and left O’Keefe to die outdoors as a snowstorm was set to comb in.
- Learn’s legal professionals argued she was framed in a sweeping legislation enforcement cover-up and that O’Keefe really died after stepping into an altercation together with his officer buddies.
- On July 1, 2024, Decide Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial within the case for the reason that jury was not in a position to attain a unanimous verdict after 5 days of deliberations.
- On April 22, 2025, Learn will stand trial for the second time, dealing with the identical fees regardless of her legal professionals’ failed plea try to the highest Mass. court docket to drop the homicide and hit-and-run fees.
- Learn confronted as much as life in jail if she had been convicted on the highest rely of homicide.
Learn defined that she was within the throes of a “private disaster” and that she wanted to lean on O’Keefe for emotional assist. One other time she texts about how O’Keefe’s adopted youngsters are, “slowly killing our relationship.”
“I do know your coronary heart isn’t on this anymore. I’ve felt it for awhile and esp recently,” Learn texts.
After some back-and-forth about assembly up, O’Keefe, apparently rising pissed off on the indecision, writes: “I already informed you what it’s best to do. Not going to maintain doing this.”
The couple, nonetheless, met up hours later at a bar in Canton — with video surveillance displaying them embracing, hours earlier than O’Keefe was discovered lifeless within the snow. They hit up one other bar afterward.
Learn allegedly downed seven drinks in simply 90 minutes, in response to reviews.
Learn is accused of drunkenly backing into O’Keefe together with her SUV in January 2022 after she dropped him off at a home get together. Her legal professionals have insisted that he was fatally attacked by a cop at that get together — and that she’s being framed as a part of a conspiracy.
She faces as much as life in jail.
