Does Karen Read Lack The Ability To Feel Empathy?
The Trial Of Karen Read | Justice For John O'Keefe
Tony Brueski
2.2 • 614 Ratings
🗓️ 26 March 2025
⏱️ 11 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Did Karen Read kill Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe—or is she just the most unpopular person in the room?
In this episode of Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski, retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke digs into the bizarre courtroom behavior and mindset of alleged killer Karen Read. From unsettling giggles and photo ops during a murder trial to the courtroom personality split that would make Jekyll and Hyde blush, Karen's actions speak volumes—even when she says nothing at all.
While the evidence in the case is hotly contested and riddled with accusations of police misconduct, it's Read’s own words and demeanor that raise eyebrows. Is it narcissism, calculated performance, or just plain detachment? Her courtroom theatrics—posing for pics one minute, stoic statue the next—seem less like someone fighting for justice and more like someone fighting for “likes.”
But does a lack of empathy mean guilt? Or are we just watching a deeply confused person flail under the spotlight, saying things like “poor guy” about a man she supposedly loved?
When your defense sounds more like a popularity contest than a plea of innocence… what does that say about your truth?
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The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is Hidden Killers with Tony Bruske. |
| 0:03.3 | Here now, Tony Bruske. |
| 0:06.1 | And this is another thing that really, I think, speaks to her mindset of this case. |
| 0:13.4 | I don't know that she fully accepts, you know, that this is real. |
| 0:18.3 | Like, there's not other suspects here, Karen. There, another people are not on trial. You are on trial. But this is how she seems to be viewing a lot of it. Jen McCabe was at the crime scene. And something happened. John was, John was murdered. So, Jen McCabe, it's me or her. Either I'm going down Jen or you are. |
| 0:41.8 | Describe your relationship with John O'Keekeek? He was my friend. I love John. He was an amazing guy. |
| 0:50.7 | So when you went over to the storm door and looked out what, if anything, it is? |
| 0:55.8 | I saw a dark SUV. So at that point, I text him here. Pull behind me at 1231. |
| 1:03.6 | And at any point in time, did John, they'll keep respond to your text message? No. And then a few minutes later, at 1240, when I say hello, I cannot be certain whether they |
| 1:16.6 | was still out front or if they had left. |
| 1:18.6 | And what was your thought as far as where John was or where John had gone at that point? |
| 1:24.6 | At that point, I thought maybe they decided not to come in, |
| 1:29.5 | maybe they got into an argument. Did you think much of it at that point? No. |
| 1:34.1 | It's Jen McCabe or me? No, it's not. It's not Jen McCabe for you. It's very much you. |
| 1:42.0 | Thoughts on that. So in her, again, doesn't matter what we think it is. Yeah. |
| 1:48.2 | She thinks it's Jen McCabe or her, which says in her own mind, this is a popularity contest. |
| 1:54.7 | So she's trying to win the popularity contest and likability contest. And from her mind, |
| 1:58.6 | she sees herself as the most likable popular person um that's from |
| 2:03.1 | her context again it's about being in her mind to understand why she's taken the actions that |
| 2:09.0 | she's taking from her perspective and in her perspective she's won this because it's her or or |
| 2:14.7 | or uh jenn one more this is an interesting view of the two because it's her or Karen or Jen. Jen. One more. |
| 2:18.0 | This is an interesting view of the two Karen Reads that many have observed. |
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