Former big-name Dem sheriff joins GOP, rips ‘paid protests,’ ‘pronouns’ in explosive goodbye
Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva is now a registered Republican after leaving the Democratic Party.
“As of today, I’m leaving the party of paid protests, purple hair, and pronouns. And I’m joining the party of faith, family, and freedom — the Republican Party,” Villanueva told the Unite Inland Empire Conservative Conference on Saturday.
“Today I announced ending 44 years as a registered Dem and joining the [GOP] Time to make [California] purple again!” he posted to X.
The former sheriff led the large blue county’s department from 2018 to 2022, as he was defeated by a significant margin by Sheriff Robert Luna in 2022.
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The move was met with open arms by Republican leaders in the Golden State.
“I left the [California Democratic] Party when I saw it no longer stood for the values I was raised with: personal responsibility, public safety, and freedom. [Alex Villanueva] made the same call. It takes courage, but it’s the right move. Welcome to our movement to restore common sense!” California Republican Party Chairwoman Corrin Rankin posted to X.
“[Alex Villanueva], you are not alone. Many classic liberals have noticed that [the California Democratic Party] has lost their way, and that they champion crime and criminals. You don’t *need* to be a Republican to vote for sanity, but it helps,” Roxanne Hoge, chairwoman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles, posted to X.
TRUMP ORDERS FEDS TO REOPEN ALCATRAZ TO HOUSE ‘AMERICA’S MOST RUTHLESS AND VIOLENT’ CRIMINALS
Some critics of the former former sheriff welcomed the move away from the party.
“Not a surprise. Hasn’t been a DEM. Votes for him in ‘18, regretted it & happily helped vote him out in ‘22. At least we won’t have to see him again in elected office now with party switch,” podcaster Scott Moore posted.
“The democrats have selected the Wu Tang Clan. Republicans can have Villanueva,” Democratic strategist Michael Trujillo posted.
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Republicans are still far behind Democrats in party registration numbers in the Golden State, but there is a sense of ambition and optimism among party leaders in the state ahead of the 2026 midterms, especially as three seats in the Democrat supermajority legislature went from blue to red in November, according to CalMatters.
In Los Angeles County alone, political tensions remain high after the devesting aftermath of the Pacific Palisades fire as a recall effort against Mayor Karen Bass is ongoing.
Police slam GoFundMe for man accused of killing deputy after his son was killed in car chase
A GoFundMe created for Rodney Hinton Jr., the Ohio father accused of killing a sheriff’s deputy one day after police fatally shot his son during a stolen vehicle pursuit, is raising thousands of dollars for his attorney fees.
Hinton Jr. is charged with aggravated murder after he allegedly “intentionally” struck Hamilton County Deputy Larry Henderson, who was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati during a graduation ceremony, with a vehicle around 1 p.m. Friday, according to Cincinnati police.
The deputy’s murder came after Hinton Jr.’s 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, was shot and killed by a Cincinnati officer on Thursday.
Cincinnati Police Department Chief Teresa Theetge said officers were pursuing a vehicle stolen from an apartment complex when four individuals exited the stolen car and began to flee authorities.
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One officer pursued Ryan Hinton, who was allegedly armed at the time and hid behind a dumpster. When Ryan emerged from the dumpster, the officer fired, fatally striking the 18-year-old suspect, Theetge said.
Two other suspects involved in the stolen vehicle incident have been apprehended, and one remains at large, according to Theetge.
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A GoFundMe titled “Justice for Rodney Hinton Jr and his Son” has raised more than $5,000 and aims to “help raise funds for Rodney Hinton Jr lawyer [sic] for the justice of his sons [sic] murder” and “also to stop police brutality against innocent people and children.”
A separate GoFundMe titled “Help Honor Ryan Hinton’s Memory and Seek Justice,” which aims to help the 18-year-old’s family “seek justice for Ryan in the form of legal representation and a proper memorial for his life,” has raised more than $7,000.
The National Police Association slammed the online support, saying in a post on X that GoFundMe needed to take down the fundraiser because it violates the company’s policy.
Fox News Digital reached out to GoFundMe for comment.
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The Hinton family’s attorneys told Fox News Digital in a statement that the Cochran Firm “was hired by Ryan Hinton’s estate to conduct an investigation into his shooting death by an officer with the Cincinnati Police Department.”
“We are in the preliminary stages of that investigation,” the family’s attorneys said, adding that on Friday, Hinton family members and Cincinnati police attended a meeting together “to view body camera video of Ryan Hinton’s shooting death.”
“Ryan Hinton’s family, including Ryan’s father, was present at the meeting and they were understandably distraught as they watched the bodycam video,” the family’s attorneys said. “After the meeting with the police department, Ryan Hinton’s father left in his own vehicle and that was the last we heard from him until learning about the tragic incident involving a law enforcement officer who was working a traffic detail near the University of Cincinnati.”
The attorneys offered their “heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of the officer who was killed yesterday.”
“This is an unimaginable tragedy for this community. Ryan Hinton’s family is heartbroken by this tragic turn of events and we are all devastated for the family of the officer who was killed,” the attorneys said.
Ohio Franternal Order of Police (FOP) President Jay McDonald said in a Monday statement that Ryan’s father, Rodney Hinton Jr., “intentionally murdered a retired deputy who was working special duty at a graduation just because he was a police officer.”
Henderson was a 33-year officer with the HCSO and served in multiple specialized units since 1991, including the dive team, HCPA SWAT, FBI Task Force Officer and the HCSO Bomb Unit.
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“In Deputy Henderson’s early tenure as a Sheriff’s Deputy, I recognized his talent for teaching and presentation,” Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said in a Sunday statement. “Larry began his journey as a Sheriff’s Office trainer early in his career. He developed an expertise and became an excellent trainer. Subsequently, he trained divisions of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office that included hundreds of deputy sheriffs. His ability to relate to and touch officers’ lives was extraordinary. We will continue to honor Larry’s life of service.”
Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine ordered flags be lowered to half-mast in Henderson’s honor on Sunday.
WNBA’s top pick scorches own ‘White privilege’ with claim about race and media coverage
Paige Bueckers received national attention in the middle of her collegiate career with the UConn Huskies when she lamented the lack of coverage Black women received in sports at the 2021 ESPY Awards.
Nearly four years later, Bueckers remained of the belief that Black women do not receive enough coverage from the media and added that she thinks White people benefit more from marketing opportunities.
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“It’s still an issue, every single day,” the Dallas Wings rookie told Time magazine in an interview published on Monday. “There’s not ever equal coverage.”
“There’s White privilege every single day that I see,” she said in terms of marketing opportunities. “I feel like I’ve worked extremely hard, blessed by God. But I do think there’s more opportunities for me. I feel like even just marketability, people tend to favor White people, White males, White women. I think it should be equal opportunity. I feel like there is privilege to what I have, and to what all White people have. I recognize that. I want to counteract that with the way I go about my business.”
Bueckers is set to be among the next generation of basketball stars to lead the WNBA into the future.
The rookie’s comments echoed what Caitlin Clark told Time magazine last year and what she reiterated to comedian David Letterman in her interview with him.
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“I definitely have privilege,” Clark said on Netflix’s “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.”
“I’m obviously White but I think … I’m somebody that grew up a huge fan of this league. I grew up watching this league, going to games, supporting this league. So, I know where this league comes from.
“A lot of Black women that grew up making this league what it is. That’s kind of the shoulders that we stand on. So, I think that was something I’m very aware of and something I’m very thankful for. And they definitely deserve all the credit and the more we can give credit to them, the better. I’m very aware of that and I know that and I think there is responsibility in acknowledging that.”
The Indiana Fever star spoke of having “privilege” in her interview with Time months after several of her league colleagues expressed their belief that race played a factor in her popularity.
“I want to say I’ve earned every single thing, but as a White person, there is privilege,” Clark told Time. “A lot of those players in the league that have been really good have been Black players. This league has kind of been built on them.
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“The more we can appreciate that, highlight that, talk about that and then continue to have brands and companies invest in those players that have made this league incredible, I think it’s very important. I have to continue to try to change that. The more we can elevate Black women, that’s going to be a beautiful thing.”
Trump’s late-night call hints at major shifts in war-torn countries
President Donald Trump on Monday said he held a “productive” call with Turkish President Recep Erdogan on a range of topics, including the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump shared details of the call in a post on his TRUTH Social platform.
“I just had a very good and productive telephone conversation with the President of Turkey, Recep Erdoğan, concerning many subjects, including the War with Russia/Ukraine, all things Syria, Gaza, and more,” Trump wrote.
The president added that he is looking forward to working with Erdogan to end the “ridiculous, but deadly” Russia-Ukraine war.
TRUMP’S 16TH WEEK IN OFFICE TO INCLUDE WH MEETING WITH CANADA, ONGOING TRADE NEGOTIATIONS
Trump has vowed to end the three-year war between Russia and Ukraine, though the U.S. has tempered expectations regarding recent peace talks it’s brokering between the warring nations.
Gaza has also been a major issue for the Trump administration as Israel works to get its hostages returned after Hamas led a deadly attack on Oct. 7, 2023. As the fighting in Gaza has escalated, Trump has pushed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to be good to Gaza” because the people there “are suffering.”
Trump noted that his relationship with Erdogan during his first term was “excellent,” adding that the Turkish leader invited him to Turkey at a future date. Trump said Erdogan will also visit Washington, D.C., though no date was immediately provided.
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Trump also highlighted that he and Erdogan had “worked together closely on numerous things,” including the return of American pastor Andrew Brunson, who Trump said was freed “immediately upon my request.”
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Brunson was imprisoned and detained in Turkey for 735 days on terror and treason charges in October 2016 over his alleged ties to an outlawed group after a massive government crackdown following a failed coup months earlier.
Protests erupt after plans for affordable housing are scrapped for homeless shelter
Demonstrators stormed through the streets of Brooklyn, New York, over the weekend, rallying against city plans to build a homeless shelter following what locals call a “bait-and-switch” tactic.
On Sunday, hundreds of protestors marched through Sheepshead Bay chanting, “Vote them out,” after city officials moved to build a homeless shelter on a site residents originally approved in 2022 as affordable housing.
Residents said the change – which occurred after a developer pulled out of the project – was made in 2023 without any further input from the community.
Community activists marched for hours as they held up signs reading, “No shelters near playgrounds or schools,” “Keep our street safe, keep shelters away,” and, “Children’s safety first, no homeless shelters!”
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Mayoral candidate and Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, who led the demonstration, also voiced his disapproval of current city officials.
“The community is going into court to try to block this bait-and-switch, which was supposed to be affordable housing,” Sliwa said. “And now they’re trying to get it into a shelter. This is Eric Adams’ doing.”
“Hundreds and hundreds of people came out here to join in solidarity,” Sliwa continued. “So if you didn’t see your elected official here, I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican, clearly they were on the side of having a shelter.”
Fox News Digital reached out to city hall and the district for comment, but they did not immediately respond.
SPENDING ON HOMELESSNESS SPIKES TO A ‘SHOCKING’ AMOUNT IN PORTLAND METRO AREA
The site at 2134 Coyle St. was originally proposed to become a five-story mixed-use building with 120 apartments, approximately 36 of which were designated to become permanently affordable.
While Brooklyn’s community board approved the plans in 2021, city officials scheduled the site to become a 175-unit homeless shelter for “families with children who have no other housing options available … until viable housing alternatives become available.”
THE LEFT’S HOMELESS PLANS WRECKED OUR CITIES. NOW HELP MAY COME FROM AN UNEXPECCTED SOURCE
“The community was promised affordable housing – not another shelter,” Sliwa said in a post on X. “I showed up to lead the protest while the mayor hides and other candidates stay silent. This bait-and-switch is unacceptable. I will always stand with New Yorkers. Enough is enough.”
The New York Post reported that locals are cautious of homeless shelters as they attract crime and danger.
“I do believe homeless people should have a place to go, but I was talking to my dad earlier and he told me that he has homeless friends that are scared to be in these shelters because of how dangerous the other people that are there are, it’s not even safe for a lot of homeless people to be there,” 21-year-old Sheepshead Bay resident Fruma Feldman said to the Post. “So, with that being said, I don’t think it should be here.”
Dimple Willabus, who is running for District 46 Council, called on residents to pressure local officials to listen.
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“It’s very important for us to continue the pressure.” Willabus said. “We pressure our elected officials who put us in this situation…. we have the super power to vote for the right people, vote the wrong people out.”
How a man’s casual stroll through state park led to the discovery of a lifetime
An amateur rock collector recently hit the jackpot while exploring a state park in Arkansas.
David DeCook, a Minnesota resident, unearthed a stunning 3.81-carat brown diamond at the Crater of Diamonds State Park on April 21.
The diamond is the largest that has been found in the park in 2025 so far, according to Arkansas State Parks.
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In a press release, the government organization said that DeCook was on a family trip to the park when he found the gem.
“DeCook calmly walked over to where he had seen the diamond, picked it up and inspected it before calling to his brother,” the press release noted. “Stirring up some natural sibling rivalry, David told Derek, ‘”Oh, you’re going to be mad once you see what I found!’”
The Minnesota resident returned to the park a few days later to register the diamond.
DeCook decided to name his discovery “the Duke Diamond” after his dog.
“You just never know what you’re gonna find. It’s a chance of a lifetime.”
DeCook identified himself as a farmer to FOX 9 Minneapolis and told the outlet that the diamond “kind of looks like a candy wrapper.”
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“Real shiny looking, kind of like a Werther’s candy wrapper… As you get closer to it, you can tell it’s a diamond pretty quick,” he said.
DeCook added, “I was very surprised, I guess, and never thought I’d find one that big.”
“You just never know what you’re gonna find. It’s a chance of a lifetime.”
Arkansas State Parks also noted that after DeCook found the gem, a heavy amount of rain covered the area – a good omen for diamond hunters.
“April has been a very wet month at the park, with more than 12 inches of rain,” assistant park superintendent Waymon Cox said in a statement.
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“Many of the park’s largest diamonds are found on top of the ground,” he added.
“As rain falls in the search area, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals and diamonds near the surface.”
The Duke Diamond is the largest find at the Crater of Diamonds State Park since a French visitor found a 7.46-carat diamond in Jan. 2024.
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The tourist, Julien Navas, named the gem after his fiancée, Carine.
Legal expert reveals what may stand in the way of Trump’s plan to reopen Alcatraz
Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett and former General Counsel of the Navy Van Hipp joined “Fox & Friends” on Monday to discuss President Donald Trump’s call to reopen the Alcatraz prison in San Francisco, California.
“It’s a provocative idea, which may be why Trump is proposing it. So, the sound you hear, are all the liberal heads exploding at the same time. Progressives frown on prisons. They tend to favor nanny daycare for hardened criminals,” Jarrett told host Brian Kilmeade.
Trump called for the reopening of the notorious prison in a Truth Social post.
“It is, however, federal property, so this can be done, but it’d have to be rebuilt almost entirely. It’s so outdated and crumbling. And here’s the important part, it has landmark status. So, there would be an avalanche of lawsuits that would probably tie it up for years. Don’t forget, this is California,” Jarrett continued.
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Hipp, a former U.S. Army deputy assistant secretary, said Trump could “absolutely” reopen Alcatraz.
“For those folks who are complaining it’s going to cost too much, it’s going to be too difficult to do from a construction standpoint. We’ve had a builder in this country, the best builder in America for years and years in the commercial sector is a guy by the name of Donald Trump. I think he can give, if they try to slow roll this, and bureaucrats try to do what they like to do, I think the president can give them all the advice they need on how to reopen Alcatraz the right way,” he told “Fox and Friends” on Monday.
Alcatraz opened in 1934, but the prison, located on a 22-acre spit of rock, was shuttered after 29 years.
“REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” the president said on social media. “For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering.”
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Trump said he is directing the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, FBI and Department of Homeland Security to reopen a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” Alcatraz, “to house America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.”
Hipp told “Fox and Friends” the move was what Americans voted for.
“This is what the American people voted for at large. They’re tired of thugs and gangs roaming rampant on our city streets. They’re tired of murderers and terrorists coming across our border. And sometimes we forget why we have a federal government. The states came together to provide for the common defense of the American people. That’s why we had the federal government, and I think President Trump realizes that it’s his most important responsibility,” Hipp said.
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Former NFL star lawmaker rips Nike over alleged funding of trans study involving kids
Two weeks ago, OutKick published its first report on the youth transgender athlete study allegedly funded by sports apparel giant, Nike. Since then, the company has been virtually silent about its role.
Despite contacting Nike over a dozen times since the initial report, OutKick has only received one comment from a Nike executive who refused to go on the record. The executive told us that the study “was never initialized” and “is not moving forward.” But what exactly does that mean? Unfortunately, Nike has not provided any clarity.
On Monday, Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) posted a comment on X about Nike’s alleged role: “If Nike funded experiments on young children to justify putting boys in girls’ sports, the American people deserve answers. If this is true, it’s not just wrong — it’s pure evil. Time to speak up Nike,” Owens wrote.
OutKick reached out to Nike about Burgess’ comment to see if the company was finally willing to go on the record about their alleged role in funding a study on youth transgender athletes. Once again, Nike did not respond to our request.
However, Rep. Owens did respond to OutKick’s request for additional comment.
Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) demanded that Nike answer questions about its alleged role in funding a study on youth transgender athletes.
(Josh Morgan/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
“If Nike is funding experiments on children — puberty blockers, injecting hormones, sterilizing, and stunting growth — they are no better than the monsters who backed the inhumane studies of the Tuskegee Experiment,” Owens said in a statement to OutKick. “This is not science; it’s child abuse.”
You hear that, Nike? If you’re funding studies on transgender youths, you need to explain yourself. Why won’t you tell the American people exactly what your role is in all of this? We’re still waiting.
Visibly agitated Karen Read starts mouthing words in court with officer on the stand
Karen Read gave an animated response to Paul Gallagher, a retired Canton Police Lieutenant, telling defense attorney Alan Jackson he was unaware Michael Proctor was initially the lead investigator on the case.
“Michael Proctor, you know that name?” Jackson asked.
“I do,” Gallagher said.
“Who is Michael Proctor?” Jackson said.
“He was one of the troopers assigned to investigate the case,” Gallagher replied.
“As a matter of fact, he was the lead investigator for the case, correct?” Jackson asked.
“I don’t know if he was [the] lead or Trooper Bukhenik, I don’t know,” Gallagher said.
The exchange continued with Read becoming visibly agitated and mouthing words at Gallagher as he sparred with Jackson.
“Do you know that he was the lead investigator assigned to the case?” Jackson said.“I don’t, I had nothing to do with the [district attorney’s] office,” Gallagher said.
“Right, I know you didn’t,” Jackson began, with Gallagher interrupting, saying, “I don’t know how they assign the cases, counsel.”
“I don’t know what you want me to say, I can’t say what I don’t know,” Gallagher continued.
“Mr. Gallagher, I’m not asking you to, I’m just asking if -” Jackson said, before Gallagher interrupted a second time.
“I do not, I did not know he was [the] lead,” Gallagher said. “I know he was one of the leads.”
Following a tense line of cross-examination between defense attorney Alan Jackson and retired Canton Police Lieutenant Paul Gallagher, Judge Beverly Cannone dismissed Court for the day. Gallagher is set to resume his testimony on Tuesday morning.
Paul Gallagher, a retired Canton Police Lieutenant
, testified he used a leaf blower to reveal the crime scene outside 34 Fairview, noting how the weather was deteriorating with snow quickly piling up within the crime scene.
“I started with low speed and began whisking away the snow,” Gallagher said. “Then I saw how it was uncovering those pink spots [and] would become brighter red. So I verified it was frozen or coagulated blood at that time. And so out of the abundance of caution, I decided that was something we may want to collect.”
Prosecutor Hank Brennan played two videos of Gallagher using the leaf blower at the crime scene, depicting how effective it was at revealing John O’Keefe’s blood on the snow.
Gallagher also defended his choice to use red Solo cups to gather the blood-splattered snow to be taken as evidence
.
“[The cups] weren’t going to get soggy,” Gallagher said. “They were large. I needed a small sample. My thought was, because [the blood] was frozen or coagulated, that we could collect it, transport it and transfer it to the crime lab, who could extract the DNA however they saw best fit.”
Brennan noted a broken cocktail glass could be seen buried in the snow next to where O’Keefe’s body was found. Gallagher testified that he handed the glass off to another officer at the scene and did not see it again until it was moved from an evidence locker to the forensic unit.
Gallagher went on to produce the glass inside the courtroom and held it up for the jurors in Karen Read’s trial.
Prosecutor Hank Brennan called Paul Gallagher, a retired Canton Police Lieutenant with nearly 33 years of experience in law enforcement.Gallagher was called to 34 Fairview on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022 regarding reports of an unconscious man in the snow.
Given the ongoing blizzard, Gallagher loaded up his personal vehicle with gear – including a tent to cover the body in the event the person was deceased – and drove to the crime scene.
Gallagher was the highest ranking officer upon arriving at 34 Fairview, testifying that the Canton Police Department was the only responding agency at the scene and John O’Keefe had already been transported to the hospital.
Brennan questioned Gallagher on what he saw when he located the area where O’Keefe’s body was found.
“Well, it was marked out with crime scene tape at that time,” Gallagher said. “And, what I saw was pink blood, and it was in a circular pattern.”
Following a lunch break, Karen Read’s trial resumed Monday afternoon with the state calling Paul Gallagher, a retired Canton Police Lieutenant.
Following paramedic Katie McLaughlin’s testimony on the witness stand, Judge Beverly Cannone called for a lunch break in Karen Read’s trial on Monday.
Paramedic Katie McLaughlin and defense attorney Alan Jackson sparred over a tense exchange during McLaughlin’s cross-examination during Karen Read’s trial.
Jackson questioned McLaughlin about whether she disclosed to investigators that she knew Brian Albert’s daughter, Caitlin Albert, socially. McLaughlin testified that she told the district attorney’s office she knew Caitlin before Read’s first trial only after she began getting harassed online.
“How was that harassment and insinuation if it hadn’t been disclosed at the first proceeding?” Jackson said.
“Because it’s out there everywhere on the internet and has been before the first proceeding,” McLaughlin replied.
Jackson pushed on, zeroing in on McLaughlin not mentioning the friendship during Read’s first trial, despite her saying she told investigators after she became the subject of online harassment.
“If you hadn’t testified at the first proceeding, at which point it was revealed how could you have ever suffered any harassment for it?” Jackson asked. “It wasn’t disclosed yet, Miss McLaughlin. Do you understand?”
“I don’t think you understand,” McLaughlin fired back.
Jackson went on to press McLaughlin on how well she knows Caitlin, confirming with McLaughlin that the pair had traveled with the same groups and attended events throughout the years.
Katie McLaughlin, a paramedic with the Canton Fire Department, was called to the witness stand by prosecutor Hank Brennan. McLaughlin was one of the first responders on scene when John O’Keefe’s body was found in the front yard of 34 Fairview.
McLaughlin testified that the paramedics did not sound the ambulance siren upon arriving at the home and she was unaware Brian Albert and his family lived inside 34 Fairview at the time. McLaughlin testified that she grew up with the Alberts’ daughter, Caitlin Albert, and knew her socially, but she denied having a close personal relationship.
Upon arriving at the area where O’Keefe’s body was found, McLaughlin testified that she began gathering information from Karen Read.
“I asked if there had been any significant trauma that happened that preceded this and she answered with a series of statements, that she repeated: ‘I hit him, I hit him’,” McLaughlin said. “There was a woman next to us who told her to calm down, ‘Stop talking, calm down, you’re hysterical.’ She repeated, ‘I hit him’ and a police officer asked her, ‘You what?’ And she repeated it again, ‘I hit him,’ and the officer then signaled for his sergeant to come down to the scene.”
Following a morning recess, prosecutor Hank Brennan called Sarah Levinson to the stand as the state’s next witness. Levinson was visiting 34 Fairview with Julie Nagel on the night of Jan. 28, 2022 and is a longtime friend of Brian Albert.
Levinson testified that she left the home with Nagel, Matt McCabe and Jennifer McCabe at approximately 1:30 a.m., noting the weather had deteriorated while the group was inside.
During direct examination, Levinson told Brennan she did not see anything outside 34 Fairview that stood out to her as the group was leaving.
As Karen Read’s defense attorney Alan Jackson began cross-examining Levinson, she testified she was approached by then-investigator Michael Proctor for an interview in October 2022, approximately nine months after John O’Keefe’s death.
Brennan then asked Levinson if she looked over at the flagpole area in the front yard of 34 Fairview as the group was leaving, with Levinson testifying she did not.
Key witness Heather Maxon was dating Ryan Nagel when the pair spent an evening bar hopping before driving to 34 Fairview to pick up Nagel’s sister, Julie, from the house.
Maxon testified she was in the backseat of the vehicle as they drove to 34 Fairview when she noticed a black SUV driving toward them and turning in the same direction they were also heading.
Maxon went on to tell prosecutor Hank Brennan she saw a woman behind the steering wheel with a man in the passenger seat as they were driving to 34 Fairview, but she testified that she only saw the woman when they were driving away minutes later. Maxon said she did not see anyone cross the front yard of the home while she was sitting outside in the driveway.
During cross-examination, Maxon testified that the group chatted with Julie for approximately five minutes before driving off and confirmed she did not see a man in the SUV as it was parked outside 34 Fairview.
Brennan concluded his redirect questioning of Maxon and the courtroom broke for morning recess.
Following the prosecution’s direct examination, defense attorney David Yannetti looked to clarify what key witness Ryan Nagel saw outside 34 Fairview while checking on his sister the morning before John O’Keefe’s death.
Nagel testified he noticed a black SUV outside the home, but only saw one person – a woman – inside.“You saw one person inside the car at that time?” Yannetti asked.
“Correct, sir,” Nagel answered.
“It was a woman with long hair in the driver’s seat, correct?” Yannetti said.
“Correct, sir,” Nagel said.
“And she looked like she was alone?” Yannetti said.
“Yes,” Nagel replied.
After prosecutor Hank Brennan asked Nagel a few questions during the redirect examination, the state called Heather Maxon as their next witness.
Prosecutor Hank Brennan called key witness Ryan Nagel to the stand
for direct examination. Nagel and a few friends drove to 34 Fairview shortly after midnight to pick up his sister, Julie Nagel, following a night of drinking with friends.
After Julie declined a ride home, Nagel was waiting for his sister to walk inside 34 Fairview when he noticed a woman sitting in a black vehicle outside the home.
“I saw that there was a woman in the driver’s seat of the black SUV in front of me, sitting there with her hands on the steering wheel at 10 and two,” Nagel said.
Nagel testified he never saw an individual standing at the front door or entering the side door of 34 Fairview.
Following direct examination, Brennan concluded his questions and defense attorney David Yannetti began cross-examining Nagel.
Defense attorney David Yannetti kicked off testimony Monday morning by grilling forensic scientist Hannah Knowles on the scientific technicalities surrounding tests of Karen Read’s blood alcohol concentration from the night before John O’Keefe’s lifeless body was found in the snow.
“Would somebody’s age be a factor in determining the amount of water in their blood?” Yannetti asked.
“I don’t know,” Knowles said.
“Could somebody’s gender affect the amount of water in their blood?”
Yannetti said.“Yes,” Knowles replied.
Knowles was assigned to prepare a serum conversion and retrograde extrapolation report pertaining to Read’s BAC on the morning of Jan. 29, 2022, with the results finding her alcohol levels were 93 milligrams per deciliter – or 0.093% – at 9:08 a.m.
Following a short line of cross-examination, prosecutor Adam Lally began redirect questioning of Knowles, focusing on the difference between comparing blood serum and a person’s whole blood when performing a BAC test.Knowles was dismissed from the stand, with the prosecution calling Ryan Nagel as the state’s next witness.
Judge Beverly Cannone has called Court into session, kicking off the third week of Karen Read’s retrial. Massachusetts State Police forensic scientist Hannah Knowles is first up on the witness stand, resuming her cross-examination following Friday’s testimony on Read’s blood alcohol concentration the night before John O’Keefe’s body was found in the snow outside 34 Fairview.
Karen Read arrived alongside her defense team at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts on Monday morning. State Police forensic scientist Hannah Knowles is set to continue her cross-examination on Read’s blood alcohol concentration from the night before John O’Keefe was killed.
The third week of Karen Read’s second trial is set to resume Monday with Massachusetts State Police forensic scientist Hannah Knowles continuing her testimony on Read’s blood alcohol concentration the morning after John O’Keefe was found frozen to death outside 34 Fairview.
On Friday, the prosecution conducted a direct examination of Knowles, who was tasked with preparing a serum conversion and retrograde extrapolation report pertaining to Read’s BAC.
Knowles testified the results indicated Read’s BAC was 93 milligrams per deciliter – or 0.093% – at 9:08 a.m. on Jan. 29, 2022.
Read is currently facing a retrial for the alleged murder of O’Keefe. The prosecution is arguing she hit O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV in a drunken rage after the pair spent the night bar hopping with friends, but Read’s defense team insists she is being framed in an elaborate scheme by law enforcement.