Lecture/Presentation Notes

Overview

• Witness: Brian Higgins
• Occupation: Special Agent with the US DOJ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
• Previous occupation: Lieutenant with Cambridge Fire Department
• Testimony related to a case involving John O'Keefe and Karen Reed
• Location: Massachusetts

Key Points from Testimony

Personal Background

• Lives in Barnstable County, Massachusetts
• Previously lived in Canton, Massachusetts (2017-2022)
• Has an office at Canton Police Department due to a personal relationship with Chief Berkowitz

Event Timeline

January 27-29, 2022

• Attended funeral services in New York for officers Mora and Rivera
• Drove back to Massachusetts on January 28th due to an impending blizzard
• Traveled with friends: Kevin Albert, Brian Albert, Eddie Hernandez (law enforcement colleagues)
• Visited Hillside Bar and the Waterfall Bar & Grill on January 28th
• Socialized with Brian Albert, his family, and others
• Noted events at the Waterfall Bar: Karen Reed and John O'Keefe arrived late; Higgins sent a text to Karen Reed

January 29, 2022 (Morning)

• Returned to Canton Police Department after leaving the Waterfall
• Moved vehicles in anticipation of snow removal
• Denied seeing John O'Keefe outside Brian Albert's house the previous night

Communications

• Text exchanges with Karen Reed starting January 12, 2022
• Karen initiated contact; conversations were often flirtatious
• Texts referenced a kiss shared at John O'Keefe's house on January 16, 2022
• Communications ceased on January 23, 2022, except for a text from Higgins on January 28th to which Reed did not respond
• Final text received from Reed was about John O'Keefe's death on January 29, 2022

February 3, 2022

• Interviewed by Massachusetts State Police Troopers Proctor and Buoniconti
• Provided text exchanges with John O'Keefe and Karen Reed

Phone and Data Details

• Previously had a phone number publicly accessible, leading to security concerns
• Changed phone number in September 2022
• Disposed of the old phone approximately two months after a court preservation order
• Disposed of phone by throwing it away on a military base after removing the SIM card

Key Issues Highlighted

• Relationship with Karen Reed was scrutinized
• Phone data and text exchange handling were questioned
• Higgins’ actions regarding phone disposal raised concerns about data preservation

Legal Proceedings and Cross-Examination

• Higgins faced extensive questioning on the nature of his relationship with Karen Reed
• His actions on the night of John O'Keefe's death were scrutinized, specifically about his movements and interactions
• The destruction of his phone post-preservation order was a significant focus

Conclusion

• Higgins was a pivotal witness due to his relationships with both John O'Keefe and Karen Reed
• His testimony provided insights into the events surrounding John O'Keefe’s death and the dynamics among the individuals involved
• The testimony addressed both event timelines and issues related to evidence handling and ethical concerns in law enforcement practices.