Paula Barrows

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Wondery Plus subscribers can binge all episodes of Karen early and ad-free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

From Law & Crime, I'm Paula Barrows, and this is Karen. At the turn of 2023 into 2024, nearly two years after the untimely death of John O'Keefe, chatter around the case of Karen Reed had quieted. But the calm was short-lived. On January 31st, 2024, a Massachusetts state police affidavit by Detective Lieutenant Brian Tully dropped a bombshell revelation.

From Law & Crime, I'm Paula Barrows, and this is Karen. At the turn of 2023 into 2024, nearly two years after the untimely death of John O'Keefe, chatter around the case of Karen Reed had quieted. But the calm was short-lived. On January 31st, 2024, a Massachusetts state police affidavit by Detective Lieutenant Brian Tully dropped a bombshell revelation.

Karen Reed and Turtle Boy had been in contact, and they weren't just exchanging glances in the court halls. In fact, the report alleged the two exchanged 189 phone calls lasting over 40 hours, dating back to April 2023. But how did the Massachusetts State Police get to those staggering numbers? In the investigation into Turtle Boy, a.k.a.

Karen Reed and Turtle Boy had been in contact, and they weren't just exchanging glances in the court halls. In fact, the report alleged the two exchanged 189 phone calls lasting over 40 hours, dating back to April 2023. But how did the Massachusetts State Police get to those staggering numbers? In the investigation into Turtle Boy, a.k.a.

Aiden Kearney's witness intimidation charges, led by Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey, a warrant was ordered to seize two cell phones from Karen Reed's residence. The state troopers tasked with retrieving the cell phones were operating under the assumption that these phones could contain evidence of the ongoing conspiracy with Turtle Boy to intimidate witnesses.

Aiden Kearney's witness intimidation charges, led by Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey, a warrant was ordered to seize two cell phones from Karen Reed's residence. The state troopers tasked with retrieving the cell phones were operating under the assumption that these phones could contain evidence of the ongoing conspiracy with Turtle Boy to intimidate witnesses.

But evidence of the phone calls between Karen and Turtle Boy were not the only thing they found. Here's prosecutor Adam Lally with what the investigation revealed.

But evidence of the phone calls between Karen and Turtle Boy were not the only thing they found. Here's prosecutor Adam Lally with what the investigation revealed.

In special prosecutor Ken Mello's investigation into witness intimidation, a new name popped up that caught his team's interest, Natalie Burschneider. Natalie was a college friend of Karen's based in California. The two had reconnected after Natalie had caught wind of the case.

In special prosecutor Ken Mello's investigation into witness intimidation, a new name popped up that caught his team's interest, Natalie Burschneider. Natalie was a college friend of Karen's based in California. The two had reconnected after Natalie had caught wind of the case.

Massachusetts State Police interviewed Natalie, who then claimed that Karen expressed interest in Turtle Boy reporting on her ongoing legal battle. Using the encrypted messaging app Signal, Natalie would send screenshots of her text conversations with Karen and send them to Turtle Boy. And what Karen shared with Natalie to pass along to Turtle Boy could, understandably, raise some eyebrows.

Massachusetts State Police interviewed Natalie, who then claimed that Karen expressed interest in Turtle Boy reporting on her ongoing legal battle. Using the encrypted messaging app Signal, Natalie would send screenshots of her text conversations with Karen and send them to Turtle Boy. And what Karen shared with Natalie to pass along to Turtle Boy could, understandably, raise some eyebrows.

Natalie told investigators that Karen shared everything with her. Her charges, information about witnesses, photos of witnesses, the home address of trooper Michael Proctor, photos of the crime scene evidence, police reports, motions filed by her attorneys, and even John O'Keefe's autopsy report.

Natalie told investigators that Karen shared everything with her. Her charges, information about witnesses, photos of witnesses, the home address of trooper Michael Proctor, photos of the crime scene evidence, police reports, motions filed by her attorneys, and even John O'Keefe's autopsy report.

These messages were frequently signed off with notes like, "'Tell Turtle Boy,' from Karen, and, "'Not for public, but you and Aiden can see.'" Adding insult to injury, it was discovered that Karen also shared the audio of the 911 call when John O'Keefe's body was found, with the subject, do not share. And these discovery motions didn't just implicate Karen either.

These messages were frequently signed off with notes like, "'Tell Turtle Boy,' from Karen, and, "'Not for public, but you and Aiden can see.'" Adding insult to injury, it was discovered that Karen also shared the audio of the 911 call when John O'Keefe's body was found, with the subject, do not share. And these discovery motions didn't just implicate Karen either.

Phone records revealed Turtle Boy had been in direct contact with her attorneys, Alan Jackson and David Yannetti, too. In response, the two claimed they had not spoken with Turtle Boy until after he began publishing information about Karen, insinuating they never fed the blogger information.

Phone records revealed Turtle Boy had been in direct contact with her attorneys, Alan Jackson and David Yannetti, too. In response, the two claimed they had not spoken with Turtle Boy until after he began publishing information about Karen, insinuating they never fed the blogger information.