Witnesses in Karen Read Trials Sue Over 'False Narrative'

Four people who testified say Read and blogger 'Turtleboy' harassed them to avoid responsibility for boyfriend's death.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 7:19pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a police evidence marker or crime scene tape against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the harsh treatment of witnesses in a high-profile criminal case.The lawsuit alleges a deliberate campaign of lies and harassment against witnesses who cooperated in the investigation of a police officer's death.Boston Today

Four witnesses who testified during the Karen Read trials are suing Read and blogger Aidan Kearney, known as 'Turtleboy', over what they say was an intentional effort to create a false narrative so Read could avoid responsibility in the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe. The witnesses - Jennifer McCabe, Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Brian Higgins - claim they were falsely implicated and subjected to harassment as a result.

Why it matters

The case highlights the challenges faced by witnesses who testify in high-profile trials, especially when the defendant and their allies seek to discredit and harass them. This lawsuit aims to hold Read and Kearney accountable for the alleged campaign of lies and intimidation that the witnesses say has 'torn our community apart and caused immense suffering'.

The details

The four witnesses - McCabe, Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Higgins - were among those who testified during Read's trials for the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe. Read's defense claimed there was an elaborate police cover-up and tried to implicate the witnesses, alleging they had means to harm O'Keefe. The witnesses say Read and Kearney worked together to construct and amplify this 'false narrative' about their involvement.

  • In January 2022, O'Keefe was found unresponsive outside a Canton, Massachusetts home.
  • Read was charged with killing O'Keefe, but the first trial ended in a mistrial.
  • Read was acquitted at a retrial last year.

The players

Karen Read

The defendant who was charged with killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, but was acquitted at a retrial.

Aidan Kearney

The blogger known as 'Turtleboy' who allegedly worked with Read to create a 'false narrative' about the witnesses' involvement in O'Keefe's death.

Jennifer McCabe

One of the four witnesses who testified during the Karen Read trials and is now suing Read and Kearney.

Brian Albert

One of the four witnesses who testified during the Karen Read trials and is now suing Read and Kearney. He is a Boston police officer whose home is where O'Keefe was found.

Colin Albert

One of the four witnesses who testified during the Karen Read trials and is now suing Read and Kearney. He is the nephew of Brian and Nicole Albert.

Brian Higgins

One of the four witnesses who testified during the Karen Read trials and is now suing Read and Kearney. He is an agent for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

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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. These lies have torn our community apart and caused immense suffering. We are bringing this lawsuit to hold the defendants accountable for what they have done to us, the O'Keefe family, and our community. In doing so, we hope to protect future witnesses from experiencing the devastation and cruelty that we have endured.”

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

What’s next

The civil lawsuit filed by the four witnesses will proceed through the Massachusetts court system, where they will seek to hold Read and Kearney accountable for the alleged harassment and false accusations.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges that witnesses can face when testifying in high-profile trials, especially when the defendant and their allies seek to discredit and intimidate them. The lawsuit aims to protect future witnesses from similar experiences of 'devastation and cruelty'.