Karen Learn’s mother and father and brother communicate out on homicide case

Crime

“There are a handful of individuals … who know what occurred,” Learn’s father instructed Boston 25 Information.

In a brand new interview with Boston 25 Information, the mother and father of Karen Learn, the Mansfield girl charged within the loss of life of her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe, echo her attorneys’ arguments that their daughter is being framed, disputing the prosecution’s proof on the contrary.

Learn is accused of putting O’Keefe together with her automotive and leaving him outdoors to die throughout a blizzard on Jan. 29, 2022. She faces prices of second-degree homicide, motorcar manslaughter whereas driving underneath the affect, and leaving the scene of a collision inflicting harm and loss of life.

That night time, Learn was dropping O’Keefe off on the Canton residence of a fellow Boston police officer, Brian Albert, when prosecutors allege she backed over him together with her automotive. Learn’s protection group has forcefully maintained her innocence, providing the narrative that O’Keefe was attacked inside Albert’s house after Learn dropped him off.

Karen Learn’s mother and father, William and Janet Learn, doubled down on this declare within the interview with Boston 25’s Ted Daniel, who spoke with Learn’s brother as nicely. They argued that data of O’Keefe’s accidents, which included a number of cranium fractures, lacerations on his eyelid and the again of his head, and 6 cuts on his proper forearm, are extra in step with a struggle — and canine bites — than with being run over by a automotive.

“I believe John O’Keefe entered that home, was sucker punched, a struggle ensued, and he was overwhelmed,” William Learn stated, echoing his daughter’s protection group’s rivalry that O’Keefe was overwhelmed, attacked by Albert’s canine, after which dragged out of the home to the place the place he was discovered the following morning.

The Norfolk County District Legal professional’s Workplace has referred to as this idea “fanciful,” noting that eight individuals inside the house and three outdoors stated that O’Keefe by no means entered that night time. Norfolk Assistant District Legal professional Adam C. Lally added throughout a Might court docket look {that a} medical expert noticed no indicators that O’Keefe had been concerned in a struggle or bodily altercation, attributing his arm accidents to scratches from a blunt object.

In line with the district lawyer’s workplace, police discovered plastic items of damaged taillight close to the spot the place O’Keefe’s physique was discovered. Police additionally discovered harm to Learn’s passenger-side taillight, they’ve stated.

Within the interview, her mother and father argue that Learn broken her taillight hours after prosecutors say she struck O’Keefe, whereas backing out of his driveway on her solution to go search for him. The Reads say Ring digicam footage of O’Keefe’s driveway from the night time of his loss of life assist this argument, however police dispute that the safety footage truly exhibits Learn’s automotive hitting O’Keefe’s in any respect. Police have additionally stated they discovered no harm to O’Keefe’s automotive in step with this kind of accident.

Learn’s mother and father stated that she and O’Keefe “appeared to be in a contented place” on the time of his loss of life. Boston 25 performed surveillance footage of the couple embracing at a Canton bar simply hours earlier than O’Keefe’s loss of life, and the Reads asserted that Karen would by no means have harmed her boyfriend.

“My sense is that there are a handful of individuals — influential individuals — who know what occurred,” William Learn stated. “My daughter will probably be free. That’s what I consider.”

In a press release to Boston 25 Information, the Norfolk County DA’s workplace stated that claims of a coverup “have been systematically refuted by proof submitted to Norfolk Superior Court docket and offered to the protection.”

Karen Learn is scheduled to return to court docket on Sept. 15 for a standing listening to.