13.Karen McWatters — Direct
200 linesKAREN McWATTERS, duly sworn
COURT CLERK: State your name, spell your last name for the record, keep your voice up and speak into the mic.
KAREN MCWATTERS: It's Karen McWatters.
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. PELLEGRINI:
MS. PELLEGRINI: Good afternoon, Mrs. McWatters.
MS. PELLEGRINI: As a matter of fact, I know that most people might refer to you as Karen Rand, but your name has changed.
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And why is that?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I got married. This month it will be a year.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right.
KAREN MCWATTERS: So I'm McWatters now, yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And, Mrs. McWatters, can you tell the jury just by giving the town and city and state where you live?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I live in Somerville, Massachusetts.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And are you currently employed?
MS. PELLEGRINI: And your previous employment?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I worked for Jasper White at the Summer Shack.
MS. PELLEGRINI: What did you do there?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I was his personal assistant.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what did that entail?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Everything that he needed me to do. It was a great job. They own several restaurants, and I just was his right-hand man, girl, whatever. And whatever he needed me to do, that's what I did.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Okay. And how long did you have that position?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I was there for eight years.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And while you were there, did you happen to meet Krystle Campbell?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I did. I met her right at the beginning almost. When I first went there, I met her. She had already been working there.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And so, therefore, how long had you known Krystle?
KAREN MCWATTERS: For the eight years that I worked there and -- yeah, for eight years.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And how would you describe your friendship with her?
KAREN MCWATTERS: We got to be fast friends right away. We both had the same work ethic, we both enjoyed our job there. And she was a manager, and in my role I had to work with a lot of the managers. And right away I liked her personality, and we started to enjoy time outside of work beside just being at work.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And was one of those activities enjoyed outside of work going to the Boston Marathon?
KAREN MCWATTERS: We did. We did lots of sporting events together and the Boston Marathon was one fun day that we got to do too.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And prior to 2013 had you and Krystle ever gone to the marathon together?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Not together. We had both gone before but not together.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And how many times would you say you had gone before 2013?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I went two other times before that.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what else did you do with Krystle?
KAREN MCWATTERS: We did lots of fun stuff. We had a lot of the same friends, so a lot of times -- we liked to try different restaurants, go out for drinks, watch sporting events together, go to games. And we did have a lot of mutual friends. And eventually she had a boyfriend, and one of my boyfriend's friends, so then we got to do a lot of things as couples.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And was the 2013 marathon day one of those events?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes, it was.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And was your boyfriend-now-your-husband participating in the Boston Marathon?
KAREN MCWATTERS: He was. He was running the marathon.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And how about for Krystle?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Krystle -- all of Kevin's friends came to see him run as well. And so her boyfriend was also there floating around that day. We were supposed to be meeting up with all of our friends. At that time we were kind of spread out. Krystle and I stopped where we stopped because we happened to get a good spot to get a picture of Kevin. So we actually hadn't met up with them yet, but that was the plan for the day, to watch him run, and then afterwards all meet up to go out and have a little bit of fun.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Now, before you got to Boylston Street, where had you gone?
KAREN MCWATTERS: We took the Red Line from Porter Square. I was living over in Porter Square at that time, and so was she. And we took the Red Line from Porter Square and we got off at Park Street. And we stopped at Park Street at the Beantown Pub -- I think that's what it's called -- and we had one drink there, trying to decide how we were going to get where we were going and where exactly we were going. We were supposed to be meeting friends at the Summer Shack and Bukowski's, which is next door to the Summer Shack. And we couldn't get a cab, so we decided to walk. It was such a beautiful day. We walked through the park, we walked through the gardens. And we ended up on the wrong side of the street to get over to the Summer Shack and Bukowski's. So we had been texting our friends back and forth to say where we were and where we ended up. And Krystle and I walked around a little bit, trying to find a spot. And once we found a spot near the finish line, we said, "We might as well just stay here." We had gotten texts that Kevin was going to be coming in soon, there were friends that were tracking his time, and it just seemed like a good spot to just stay and try to take a picture. So that's where we ended up, and we were separated from our friends.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. Now, before that where you said "the gardens." You mean the Public Garden?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Uh-huh.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And do you recall when you were there having a picture taken?
KAREN MCWATTERS: We did. It was a beautiful day and we were being kind of silly and touristy. And we just said, "Let's take a picture here because it seemed like a good spot." And a girl walked by and she said, "Let me take the picture for you." And we were all laughing about it saying, "We're really not tourists. We're from here. We've been here a million times." And she said, "Oh, that's the best. Anyway, let me just take it," and she took a picture. And that was the picture that was widely spread around.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. So, Mrs. McWatters, prior to coming in you've seen some photographs and some videos. And in particular, what has been marked as Exhibit 15 for identification --
MS. PELLEGRINI: Actually, your Honor, may we have that up on the screen for the witness? All right.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mrs. McWatters, do you see what's portrayed on the screen?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yeah, that's the picture.
MS. PELLEGRINI: That's the picture that you're talking about?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Uh-huh.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And this is you and Krystle on that day, on April 15, 2013?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Your Honor, I would ask that this be moved into evidence as Exhibit 15.
JUROR: We don't have it.
THE COURT: That's because I haven't given it to you yet. Now it's in evidence and you may see it.
(Government Exhibit No. 15 received into evidence.)
BY MS. PELLEGRINI:
MS. PELLEGRINI: And so, Mrs. McWatters, I just want to ask you about what you and Krystle are wearing, all right? So looking at first you, the black sweater, but are you also wearing something around your waist?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yeah, I had a black jacket -- like a lightweight jacket, but it was warm that day and I had taken it off and tied it around my waist.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And for Krystle?
KAREN MCWATTERS: She didn't bring a jacket.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Did she remain wearing this bright blue sweater?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And about what time was this, do you think, that this picture was taken?
KAREN MCWATTERS: If I had to say, I would guess it was probably maybe two o'clock. It might not have been quite that late but it was pretty close to -- we were almost to the place we were standing, so.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Okay. And so from here you went to try to find a spot?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And if you will, again -- I'm sorry I interrupted you -- could you tell the jury where you ended up on Boylston Street?
KAREN MCWATTERS: We were close to the finish line. We were across the street from the stands. We were under the flags.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right.
MS. PELLEGRINI: So may I have -- I believe it's already in evidence -- Exhibit 18, please.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mrs. McWatters, I'm going to ask you to look at this photograph and I'm going to direct your attention to what is -- I'm drawing a circle in magenta -- actually, I hope I draw a circle in magenta -- on this side of the screen. Do you recognize the woman right there?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Who's that?
KAREN MCWATTERS: That's me and Krystle.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And do you remember being at this location?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. And so what's happening here?
KAREN MCWATTERS: People are crossing the finish line. We actually took a picture of these flags too, this area that we were standing, and we put it on Facebook.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And from this location did you move to another spot, if you remember?
KAREN MCWATTERS: We were shuffling around but we were right in -- we stayed in that same area. We were shuffling around. As people were watching their loved ones cross, and friends, they would move out of the way and we would shuffle up a little bit. So we never ventured too far out of that space, it was just kind of shuffling up.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And now we know that -- we talked about the flags that are pictured throughout this photograph. And looking this way, and I'm pointing to the right-hand side of the screen, do you know what's here, what stores are here, where you were in front of?
KAREN MCWATTERS: You know, I didn't really pay attention to what was behind us that day. And even though I'm on that street a lot, I wasn't really familiar with the businesses and stuff there. And that day it was so busy and so full of action and things going on, I don't really recall what was behind me for a store.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Uh-huh. And what's the next thing that you remember happening?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Once we got moved up a little bit we -- I kept getting texts about Kevin, and someone had said that he had got a cramp and he was slowing down and that it might take him a little bit longer to reach it. And shortly after that -- I mean, I remember looking at my phone and then I remember being on the ground. So shortly right after that the explosion happened.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. So you said you're looking at your phone?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And then you're on the ground?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Okay. Tell us what you heard, what you saw, what you felt.
KAREN MCWATTERS: It was chaos. It was confusion, screaming, yelling, smoke. And I remember that my ears -- it was difficult -- it was weird hearing and trying to figure out what happened, just remembering that I had been smiling, and laying on the ground wondering if I was dreaming, did I really get to the marathon. And it only took a few minutes because I could hear people screaming for people to get down -- you know, nobody really knew at that point what really had happened -- and then there was another explosion and then there was more chaos, even worse than the first time, and more screaming and yelling. And by that time I had tried to sit up and looked at my foot and my leg and realized something terrible had happened to us.
MS. PELLEGRINI: When you say "to us" -- so first talk about you.
KAREN MCWATTERS: Okay.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Okay. When you said "something terrible had happened," with respect to you, what happened?
KAREN MCWATTERS: At that point I really didn't know how bad my injury was. I could see the front of my leg and I could see that my foot was over sideways. And I tried to sit up and move closer to Krystle where we could talk to each other. And when I put my hands on the ground and tried to shuffle myself and move, there were hot pieces of things all over the ground. And at that point I didn't really understand what it was; I just knew it was burning my hands and I was having trouble moving. But also, as I was trying to move I was in excruciating pain and I knew that something, you know, was really bad with my leg. But I wanted to drag myself over to her. And so that's what I did. I got as close as I could to her and, you know, waited -- screamed, waited for help.
MS. PELLEGRINI: What observations were you able to make of Krystle?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I -- you know, I got close to her. And there was so much chaos and so much screaming and trying to figure out what was going on, I -- for some reason, I don't know why, I got close to her head and we put our faces together and we tried to talk to each other and I never really looked at Krystle's injuries. I never really knew at that point how severe her injuries were. I truthfully didn't even realize how bad mine were either.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Were you able to talk to her?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I did. She very slowly said that her legs hurt, and we held hands. And shortly after that her hand went limp in mine, and she never spoke again after that.
MS. PELLEGRINI: For the witness, only, your Honor, can we have Exhibit 16 marked for identification up on the screen.
THE COURT: Just -- what's the number?
MR. CHAKRAVARTY: It's in.
MS. PELLEGRINI: It's in? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's already in.
BY MS. PELLEGRINI:
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mrs. McWatters, with respect to Exhibit 16, I'd ask you to take a look at that. And do you see yourself there?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And could you please, by circling the screen, show the jury where you are.
KAREN MCWATTERS: Did it do anything? (Indicating)
MS. PELLEGRINI: Not yet. You have to touch with the pad of your finger.
KAREN MCWATTERS: Okay. (Indicating)
MS. PELLEGRINI: So I'd note for the record you've made a yellow circle about three-quarters of the way over to the right. And there are two faces that you have circled there.
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And can you tell us why? Who is that?
KAREN MCWATTERS: That's Krystle.
MS. PELLEGRINI: With her mouth open?
KAREN MCWATTERS: With her mouth open, and she has the blue shirt. And that's me next to her.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And do you remember this moment?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes, I remember, you know, like everything that I said, the chaos, being afraid, trying to sit next to her. But, you know, like I said, at that moment it's hard to imagine what's really going on.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And when you said that you and she spoke and then her hand went limp, what's the next thing you remember after that?
KAREN MCWATTERS: That I was really scared. And I started screaming for help -- for somebody to help us. And I was screaming, "Help us or we're going to die," but truthfully, I didn't really think we were going to die. I was just so panicked I was screaming that. And everyone was screaming. And everyone was screaming for help. And it seemed like a long time before help got to us but it probably really wasn't.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mrs. McWatters, in addition to what you were hearing and then what you felt also, was there anything about the smell in the area after the blast?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yeah, it was a -- I don't even know how to describe the smell but it was, you know an unusual smell, you know, not like -- I truthfully thought it was a bomb right away and I don't even know why I did. I just saw things like that on TV and thought it was that. It could have been something else. But I thought it was because of the smell in the air just was so strange and, you know, all the chaos and the damage. And there were two explosions not close to each other, it just seemed like it had to be something like that.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mrs. McWatters, you just told us that you held Krystle's hand until it went limp. Did you ever see Krystle Campbell alive again?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Do you remember what happened to you after that?
KAREN MCWATTERS: After -- from there?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Yes.
KAREN MCWATTERS: When they took me to the ambulance? When finally people came over, they were yelling that we were critical and get help. "Get help." And they pulled Krystle away from me really fast and started to do CPR. And at that point I thought she didn't make it. I didn't know that she didn't, I wasn't sure, but it seemed really bad. And then they started to put belts on my leg at that point. And I was in so much pain at that point, that's all I was focusing on, and screaming and yelling in pain. And then people kept talking in my face and trying to hold my face and keep me from passing out, so I never saw Krystle after that.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Do you remember being next to her and being attended to by people who had responded to the scene?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes. Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: I do not believe -- is Exhibit 17 in evidence yet?
THE COURT: Seventeen is not.
MS. PELLEGRINI: So I would like that just for the witness, your Honor, please.
BY MS. PELLEGRINI:
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mrs. McWatters, I'd ask you to look at Exhibit 17 marked for identification. Do you recognize this -- what is here in this photograph?
KAREN MCWATTERS: This is when they came to us and they were checking our pulse and checking to see if, you know, we were alive. I don't know, whatever. And that's when shortly after that Krystle got pulled away from me.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And does this fairly and accurately represent what you recall your position with respect to Krystle and the scene looked like after the blast?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Your Honor, the government would move Exhibit 17 in evidence to be shown to the jury.
MS. CLARKE: No objection other than that as noted in the papers.
THE COURT: All right. Yes. Okay. That objection is overruled. It may be admitted.
(Government Exhibit No. 17 received into evidence.)
THE COURT: It is now being displayed.
BY MS. PELLEGRINI:
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mrs. McWatters, with respect to Exhibit 17, do you know what's happening to you at this time?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Right then, that's when they were starting to talk -- this person leaning over us was trying to talk to us, trying to get us to say our name or talk. And that's all I remember at that point, trying to say my name and tell him who I was.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Were you able to do so?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I did.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And how long do you recall being in the area then before you left?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I think after this point it seemed like it went really fast. Once I got the belt on, they got me onto something and were pulling me towards an ambulance and away from Krystle.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what's the next thing you recall?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Someone handed me a purse and a phone. And at the time -- I knew it was Krystle's but I didn't know what to do with it, and I do believe I put Krystle's phone in my pocket.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what hospital were brought to?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Mass. General.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what happened there?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Once I got to Mass. General, I had started to get confused and not really -- I knew I was at Mass. General and I knew that they were taking me to surgery. They were telling me right away, "Everything's going to be okay" and rushing me. And I knew but -- they cut my clothes off in the ambulance so I didn't have any of my things with me when they were taking me away, and I knew that too because I was really concerned about being able to call my sons, and I kept asking for someone to call them but I couldn't recall their phone numbers.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And you say you have two sons. And how old were they then?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Thirty-one and 33.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And so you were not able to reach them?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Were you able to reach Kevin?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Were you able to reach anyone?
MS. PELLEGRINI: What's the next thing you remember?
KAREN MCWATTERS: The next thing I remember was waking up, and my brother and my son and Kevin and our friend Michael were there.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And when did you learn the extent of your injuries?
KAREN MCWATTERS: That's when I think when I woke up, people were trying to tell me. I hadn't lost my leg at that point. They were trying to save my leg. And they were trying to explain that to me, that they were trying to save my leg. And at that point people were hopeful that I could save my leg. And that was -- I didn't -- I don't remember at that point anybody getting into a lot of detail because I was heavily drugged.
MS. PELLEGRINI: But they were not able to save your leg. Is that correct?
KAREN MCWATTERS: No, they weren't.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And I'd note for the record when you walked in today, you have a prosthetic device. Is that correct?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Tell us what happened.
KAREN MCWATTERS: After I think -- I believe it was two days but I'm not exactly sure, but I believe it was two days and then I was told that they were going to have to amputate my leg. And by that time my leg was in excruciating pain. It hadn't started to die. It wasn't doing anything. No matter how much drugs they gave me, it was killing me. So they said, "We're just going to take it." And then they just -- they took my leg that day.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And where was your leg amputated?
KAREN MCWATTERS: At Mass. General.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Above or below the knee?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Oh, below.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what types of rehabilitation have you gone through?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Lots, being the typical that everyone has to go through. I went to Spaulding for -- from Mass. General. I was in Mass. General for two weeks and then I went to Spaulding for several weeks and then I was moved somewhere elsewhere where I had some physical therapy for a few weeks before I was able to go home. And then once I went home, I continued with therapy for another six months.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And how many prosthetic devices have you been fitted with since that time?
KAREN MCWATTERS: The first one I kept for a long time, I just had socket changes on it. I wanted to be sure before I invested a lot of money in legs that I had something that fit me properly. So I did hang onto the first one for a long time. And then the first leg that I really wanted beside that one was so that I could swim. I wanted to be able to get into a pool and go to the beach in the summer. So that was the second leg I got. Then once I started to get better, I have the leg that I have currently because I wanted to be able to get more exercise.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Now, Mrs. McWatters, with respect to having Krystle's phone on you, what, if any, confusion did that cause at the hospital?
KAREN MCWATTERS: I didn't realize what was going on for several days, but when my family could not find me, none of -- my son, my brother, Kevin, Michael searched for me all night. They went to every hospital, they went to the police several times. They kept looking for me. No one could find me. And they were told that Krystle was in surgery, and Krystle's family and friends were all in the waiting room waiting for Krystle to come out of surgery. And we had got confused at the hospital because I had Krystle's phone. So when the phone rang, someone answered it and told the family that Krystle was in the hospital. And at that point everyone thought it was Krystle, and my family and friends couldn't find me. And it was them continuing to look and continuing to badger people and say I was six-feet tall. Was I in the morgue? You know, how tall was the woman that was in surgery? When they finally sent someone in to identify Krystle, they first sent in Krystle's parents in who knew it wasn't Krystle and were so devastated and sent Krystle's boyfriend, Joe, at the time in who knew me very well and knew it was me, and called Kevin and my family to come to the hospital.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And is that when Kevin and your family showed up and were able to find you?
KAREN MCWATTERS: Yes.
MS. PELLEGRINI: One moment, your Honor.
(Counsel confer off the record.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: Thank you, Mrs. McWatters. I have no further questions.
MS. CLARKE: No questions.
THE COURT: No questions? All right, ma'am. Thank you. You may step down. We've come to four o'clock. We'll recess for the day.
Jurors, we've had good progress for the first day. You know what I'm going to tell you, don't you? Please avoid any discussion of the case, any exposure to any stories. And there's likely to be stories about this case tonight. Please be sure you stay away from them and we'll see you in the morning. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of other things in your life to think about tonight. We'll see you tomorrow and continue with this case. Have a good evening.
COURT CLERK: All rise for the Court and the jury. Court will be in recess.
(The Court and jury exit the courtroom and the proceedings adjourned at 4:01 p.m.)