Four Witnesses in Karen Read Trial File Defamation Lawsuit

Lawsuit targets acquitted defendant and 'Turtleboy' blogger for harassment and false accusations.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:55pm

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An extreme close-up of a crumpled police evidence tag reflecting the harsh light of a direct camera flash, conceptually representing the intimidation and abuse faced by witnesses in a criminal case.Witnesses who testified in a high-profile murder case now face a barrage of harassment and defamation, exposing the fragility of the justice system.Boston Today

Four people who testified against Karen Read during her murder trials in the death of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe have filed a defamation lawsuit against the acquitted defendant and the 'Turtleboy' blogger who covered the case from a pro-Read stance, alleging they have faced 'relentless false accusations, harassment, and intimidation' for assisting authorities.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights the potential consequences when witnesses in high-profile criminal cases face backlash and abuse for fulfilling their civic duty, which can undermine the justice system and discourage others from coming forward.

The details

The suit, announced Thursday, takes aim at Karen Read as well as blogger Aidan Kearney, who runs the 'Turtleboy' media brand and faces witness intimidation charges related to his coverage of the case. Read was initially charged with manslaughter and then second-degree murder in O'Keefe's death, but was acquitted on all charges except drunken driving after her defense alleged that others, including the plaintiffs, were responsible.

  • Karen Read was first tried in the summer of 2024, but that ended in a mistrial.
  • Read was retried the following summer, when the jury acquitted her on all charges except drunken driving.

The players

Karen Read

The defendant who was acquitted of murder charges in the death of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe.

Aidan Kearney

The blogger who runs the 'Turtleboy' media brand and faces witness intimidation charges related to his coverage of the Karen Read case.

Jennifer McCabe, Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Brian Higgins

The four people who testified against Karen Read during her murder trials and have now filed a defamation lawsuit against her and Aidan Kearney.

Chris Mattei

The partner at Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder law firm who is co-counsel for the plaintiffs in the defamation lawsuit.

John O'Keefe

The Boston Police Officer whose death led to the charges against Karen Read.

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What they’re saying

“For years, we have done the right thing by assisting authorities in the hope that John's family would find justice and peace. As a result, we and our families have been subjected to relentless false accusations, harassment, and intimidation based on a deliberate campaign of lies.”

— Jennifer McCabe, Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Brian Higgins, Plaintiffs in the defamation lawsuit

“Our clients testified bravely and publicly because it was the right thing to do. When witnesses are abused and defamed simply for doing their civic duty, their lives are shattered and our entire justice system is put at risk. This lawsuit seeks to right those wrongs.”

— Chris Mattei, Partner, Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder

What’s next

The judge will need to rule on the defamation lawsuit filed by the four witnesses against Karen Read and Aidan Kearney.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential consequences when witnesses in high-profile criminal cases face backlash and abuse for fulfilling their civic duty, which can undermine the justice system and discourage others from coming forward to assist authorities.