Digital forensics expert’s credibility questioned in Karen Read murder trial

Karen Read’s defense team launched a fierce attack on new expert findings that challenge the timeline they claim proves she did not hit her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, with her Lexus SUV and abandon him in a blizzard in 2022. Shanon Burgess, a vehicle and phone data expert from the digital forensics firm Aperture, faced intense cross-examination from defense attorney Robert Alessi.

Alessi pointed out discrepancies in Burgess’ resume and highlighted errors in a timeline that was supposed to be precise “to the second.” Despite Burgess’ findings, there was no direct evidence of a fatal crash. When asked if any information from the black box indicated a collision on Jan. 29, Burgess admitted that it did not.

Special prosecutor Hank Brennan later questioned Burgess about flaws in a previous analysis that suggested O’Keefe was using his iPhone after the alleged time of the fatal incident. Burgess explained that the synchronization of call logs between Read’s Lexus and O’Keefe’s iPhone was inaccurate, leading to a variance in timing.

The defense expert discovered user data in the Lexus that previous analysts had overlooked, leading to a variance of 21 to 29 seconds between the vehicle and the victim’s phone. However, Burgess’ credibility came into question when Alessi uncovered online resumes that falsely claimed he had a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama.

Grace Edwards, a defense attorney following the case, criticized Burgess’ work as sloppy and lacking precision. She emphasized the importance of accuracy in tech expert testimony, especially in a murder trial. Despite Burgess’ admission that he does not have a bachelor’s degree, Brennan tried to salvage his credibility by presenting updated resumes that accurately reflected his credentials.

After Burgess’s testimony, clips of Read discussing the timeline in a TV documentary were played for the jury. Read believed O’Keefe died around 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022. The next witness, Christina Hanley from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab, examined broken glass near O’Keefe’s remains and is expected to continue her testimony on Wednesday.

The trial continues to unfold with intense scrutiny of expert testimony and the timeline surrounding O’Keefe’s tragic death. Stay tuned for further updates on this high-profile case.