Sources & References

Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe is found unresponsive in the snow outside fellow officer Brian Albert's home in Canton, MA. Karen Read, O'Keefe's girlfriend, finds his body around 6 AM. He is pronounced dead at the hospital with blunt force trauma and hypothermia.

Karen Read is arraigned and charged with manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide, and leaving the scene. She pleads not guilty. Prosecutors allege she backed her SUV into O'Keefe and left him to die in the cold.

A Norfolk County grand jury indicts Read on upgraded charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while OUI, and leaving the scene. Read pleads not guilty and is held on $100,000 bail.

Blogger Aidan Kearney (Turtleboy) begins extensively covering the Karen Read case on his TB Daily News website. He promotes the defense theory that Read was framed and O'Keefe was actually killed inside the Albert home.

Kearney leads dozens of supporters on a "Rolling Road Rally" visiting the homes of several witnesses in the Read case, using a bullhorn to question the official investigation.

Aidan Kearney is arrested by Massachusetts State Police on nine counts including witness intimidation and conspiracy. He's released on personal recognizance but ordered to stay away from witnesses. He vows: "I will never, ever be silenced."

Additional charges are filed against Kearney, bringing the total count to 16 charges related to witness intimidation and harassment. He remains free on bail but under strict conditions.

Kearney is arrested on new charges and held without bail over alleged violations of no-contact orders. He spends nearly two months in custody, maintaining the charges are retaliation for his journalism.

After 51 days in jail, Kearney is released on conditions including GPS monitoring. He immediately resumes his coverage of the Karen Read case.

The first Karen Read murder trial begins in Norfolk Superior Court. Turtle Riders gather outside the courthouse daily in support of Read, with their presence becoming a major story in itself.

After 27 hours of deliberation over 5 days, Judge Beverly Cannone declares a mistrial when the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict. Prosecutors announce they will retry the case.

Karen Read's retrial begins. The defense again argues that Read was framed by a cover-up involving law enforcement. Turtle Riders maintain their vigil outside the courthouse.

Judge Michael Doolin dismisses six of the 16 counts against Kearney, including charges related to Michael Proctor and Yuri Bukhenik. The judge rules insufficient evidence of intent to obstruct the Read case.

A jury finds Aidan Kearney not guilty on all remaining witness intimidation charges. He exits the courthouse to cheers from Turtle Riders and declares victory for free speech and citizen journalism.

Karen Read is found not guilty of second-degree murder and leaving the scene. The jury deadlocks on lesser charges. Read walks free to thunderous applause from supporters including thousands of Turtle Riders.

Kearney still faces remaining witness intimidation charges but maintains his actions were protected First Amendment journalism. The Turtle Riders continue to rally for his complete exoneration. As Kearney says: "They will never shut me up."