In the ongoing Massachusetts murder trial of Karen Read, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Brian Higgins took the stand and testified about several "flirty" text messages he had exchanged with the defendant. Read stands accused of hitting and killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow outside a Canton home in 2022. The defense argues that Read is being framed and alleges a cover-up involving law enforcement.

Higgins, who was present at the after-party on the night of the incident, is one of three men suggested by the defense as alternate suspects in O'Keefe's death. The defense previously presented surveillance footage showing Higgins and Brian Albert play-fighting at a bar before the after-party, which they claim demonstrates a connection between the two men.

During his testimony, Higgins stated that he considered both O'Keefe and Read as friends. He revealed that on the night in question, he sent a "flirty" text message to Read, admitting that he found her attractive. However, he asserted that after leaving the Waterfall Bar and Grille, he did not see Read or O'Keefe again. Higgins claimed to be the first to leave the after-party and later received a call from Albert, informing him about O'Keefe's discovery on the front lawn.

The prosecution presented text messages exchanged between Higgins and Read before O'Keefe's death, in which Read expressed attraction towards Higgins and shared personal details about her relationship with O'Keefe. One message revealed that O'Keefe had shown Read a video of her interacting with Higgins, sparking a jealous reaction from O'Keefe.

The defense's cross-examination of Higgins is anticipated to be intense, with Read's attorney, Alan Jackson, hinting at "fireworks" during the questioning. The trial has already seen contentious exchanges, including the cross-examination of Jennifer McCabe, who was present when O'Keefe's body was discovered in the snow. McCabe denied deleting a search on her phone related to hypothermia and the time it takes to die in the cold.

As the trial proceeds, additional witnesses have testified about tension and jealousy between Read and O'Keefe during a New Year's Eve trip to Aruba, just weeks before O'Keefe's tragic death.

Legal experts have pointed out that the trial's duration risks losing the jury's attention. Both the prosecution and defense face the challenge of maintaining jurors' engagement as the proceedings continue.