The Alternate: Inside America's Biggest Trials

In this episode, we dive into what’s unfolded since the stunning verdict in the Karen Read case. We cover: Statements from jurors and what they revealed about deliberations The DA’s response and Hank Brennan's official statement post verdict Reaction from Karen Read’s defense team Comments from the Alberts and the McCabe's Comments from Michael Proctor Comments from John O'Keefe's Family Member Jo...

Welcome to the Alternate! This week, Margot recaps week seven of the Sean Combs federal trial. Week 7 also brought closing arguments and when week 8 kicks off we will officially be on verdict watch.  The prosecution said even one freak-off can equate to sex trafficking if coercion was used. The defense argued Cassie and Sean had a traditional love story - albeit plagued by domestic violence - but...

Welcome to The Alternate! This week, Margot recaps week six of Sean “Diddy” Combs' federal trial, a week filled with explicit evidence, juror drama, and damaging testimony. Prosecutors introduced sex tapes, hotel records showing tens of thousands in damages, and a detailed timeline of Freak Offs and Wild King Nights. With the prosecution nearly ready to rest, the defense is preparing to punch back...

On this emotional final episode covering the Karen Read retrial, Margot breaks down the jury’s dramatic verdict: not guilty on all major charges- second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene. Karen was convicted only of OUI and sentenced to probation. Margot recounts tense deliberations, four jury questions, and a false verdict scare before the official reading on June 18, 2025, at 3:...

Lori Vallow Daybell, already serving multiple life sentences for the 2019 murders of her two children, Tammy Daybell, and conspiracies involving Charles Vallow, was convicted on June 12, 2025 in Arizona of conspiring with her late brother Alex Cox to murder her niece’s ex‑husband, Brandon Boudreaux. The jury deliberated for under 30 minutes before returning a guilty verdict. The plot involved a ne...

Welcome to The Alternate! This week, Tab recaps week five of Sean “Diddy” Combs' federal trial, marked by intense testimony from “Jane,” Combs’ ex, detailing years of abuse, coercion, and “hotel nights.” Echoing earlier witness Cassie Ventura, Jane described emotional trauma, drug-fueled sex parties, and psychological control. The defense challenged her credibility with affectionate texts, trigger...

On Day 33, closing arguments concluded a seven-week retrial over the 2022 death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe. Defense attorney Alan Jackson repeatedly asserted, “there was no collision,” arguing the case was tainted by misconduct from lead investigator Michael Proctor, pointing to his inappropriate texts and claiming O’Keefe died inside the house and was dumped outside. Prosecutor Hank Br...

Today, Tab recaps Day 31 of the Karen Read retrial. The defense wrapped up with expert Dr. Rentschler testifying about biomechanical testing, crash dummies, and faulty reports used by the prosecution. Things got heated as Brennan cross-examined, but Rentschler held firm - debunking glancing blow theories and questioning outdated data. In a twist, the prosecution rested without rebuttal. Tomorrow,...

On Day 30 of the Karen Read retrial, courtroom tensions rose with gripping testimony from Dr. Elizabeth Laposata, who directly challenged the prosecution’s theory. She asserted that John O’Keefe died from blunt force trauma - not hypothermia - and claimed the injuries resembled animal bites, not taillight shards. Cross-examination grew heated over details, including stomach injuries and audit cont...

Day 29 of the Karen Reed retrial was marked by significant courtroom drama, including a mistrial motion related to a sweatshirt and intense expert testimonies. The defense presented two key witnesses, Dr. Wolf and Dr. Lappasato, whose analyses raised questions about the prosecution's case... Join our Jury Pool & Get Exclusive Content & Perks: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheAlternate⁠ 👩🏽‍⚖️👩🏼‍⚖️Fo...

Today, Margot discusses Day 28 of the Karen Read trial, focusing on the testimony of Dr. Daniel Wolf, an accident reconstruction expert. She details the various tests conducted by Dr. Wolf to challenge the prosecution's claims, highlighting the methodologies and results of these tests... Join our Jury Pool & Get Exclusive Content & Perks: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheAlternate⁠ 👩🏽‍⚖️👩🏼‍⚖️Follow...

In week four of the Sean Combs federal trial, covering testimonies from June 2nd to June 6th, 2025, significant evidence and key witness accounts were presented. Returning witness Mia detailed her trauma and PTSD from working with Combs, while defense attorney Brian Steele challenged her credibility. Sylvia Oaken, Eddie Garcia, and Derek Ferguson provided critical testimonies, supported by video a...

Today, Tab discusses Day 27 of the Karen Reed retrial, focusing on the testimonies of key witnesses including Brian Logren, a snow plow driver, and Karina Kolokithis, a Canton resident. Logren's observations during the night of the incident raise questions about the investigation, while Kolokithis provides insights into the social dynamics of the night in question. The episode emphasizes the legal...

Today, Tab discusses the proceedings of Day 26 of the Karen Reed retrial, focusing on the testimonies of Dr. Marie Russell and Sergeant Nicholas Barrows. Dr. Russell faced intense cross-examination regarding her expertise on dog bites and the credibility of her testimony, while Sergeant Barrows provided insights into the condition of Karen Reed's SUV and the damage to its taillight. The episode hi...

Day 25 of the Karen Read retrial featured intense testimony. Jonathan Demantis, a longtime friend of Trooper Proctor, confirmed Proctor’s firing over crude texts about Read, which the prosecution read aloud, including offensive remarks about her looks and MS. Officer Kelly Dever, a reluctant witness, initially claimed she saw surveillance footage contradicting police accounts but later recanted, c...

It's Day 24 of the Karen Read retrial, and the defense finally took the stage. Forensic expert Matthew DiSorga challenged the prosecution's timeline, revealing discrepancies in vehicle phone data that could cast doubt on their theory. He claimed key data was cherry-picked and that there's no collision evidence from Karen’s SUV. Brennan pushed back hard, questioning DiSorga’s expertise, but the def...

Tab recap week three of the federal trial against music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs. The allegations include sex trafficking, racketeering, and abuse. Key testimonies include a former assistant claiming kidnapping at gunpoint, an LAPD officer recounting a break-in at Kid Cuddy's house, and emotional testimony from an employee alleging repeated rape. The episode also covers Cassie Ventura's disturbing...

On Day 23 of Karen Read’s retrial, the prosecution rested its case after presenting 38 witnesses over six weeks. The final testimony came from crash reconstructionist Dr. Judson Welcher, who faced intense cross-examination regarding his methods. The prosecution concluded with a video clip from a 2024 documentary, where Read speculates, “What if I clipped him in the knee?” The defense argues that R...

Today, Tab provides a detailed recap of Day 22 of the Karen Reed retrial, focusing on the testimony of Dr. Judson Welcher and the cross-examination by defense attorney Robert Alessi. The discussion highlights the complexities of the case, including the financial aspects of expert witness fees and the analysis of injuries related to the incident... Join our Jury Pool & Get Exclusive Content & Perks...

Today, we are focusing on the testimony of Dr. Judson Welcher, an accident reconstructionist. The conversation covers the technical aspects of the case, including data analysis from the vehicle involved, the reconstruction of the collision, and the potential injuries sustained by the victim. Tabitha emphasizes the importance of the evidence presented and the implications for the jury's decision-ma...

In the second week of Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial, prosecutors presented 12 witnesses to support allegations of abuse and coercion. Singer Dawn Richard testified that Combs physically assaulted Cassie Ventura, including an incident involving a hot skillet. Rapper Kid Cudi recounted his Porsche being firebombed in 2012, allegedly after Combs threatened him ove...

On Day 20 of Karen Read's retrial, neurosurgeon Dr. Izak Wolf testified that Boston police officer John O'Keefe's fatal head injuries were consistent with a backward fall on frozen ground, not an assault. He noted that the resulting brain trauma and hypothermia likely led to death within 24–48 hours. However, under cross-examination, Dr. Wolf acknowledged a facial laceration inconsistent with a fa...

In today's episode, Tab recaps the latest developments in the Karen Read murder retrial. Defense attorney Robert Alessi resumed cross-examination of digital forensic analyst Shannon Burgess, challenging the synchronization of SUV Techstream data with John O’Keefe’s iPhone and highlighting inconsistencies in Burgess’s credentials and timelines. Burgess admitted to errors, including a 24-hour discre...

Today Margot kicks off Day 18 of the Karen Reed trial, recapping testimony from three experts. DNA specialist Nicholas Bradford revealed a mixed DNA sample on the SUV’s tail light that could include John O’Keefe but wasn’t a definitive match. Mitochondrial analyst Karl Miyasako matched a hair on the rear bumper to O’Keefe’s maternal lineage, noting it excludes almost everyone but not uniquely. Dig...

On Day 17 (May 16, 2025) of Karen Read’s retrial, Judge Cannone admonished jurors against expressive reactions. The prosecution replayed Karen’s video of finding a glass shard on John O’Keefe’s nose. DNA analyst Andre Porto testified that John’s DNA was on clothing, glass shards, and tail-light fragments but also detected at least two unknown contributors untested against key suspects. Forensic sc...