Karen Read Acquitted of Murder in Retrial Over Death of Boston Police Officer Boyfriend
Norfolk County, MA — Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman at the center of a high-profile case involving the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, has been found not guilty of second-degree murder following a dramatic retrial.
The jury also acquitted Read of motor vehicle manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal collision, but found her guilty of operating under the influence of alcohol, for which she was sentenced to one year of probation.
The verdict comes after more than two months of courtroom testimony and intense national media scrutiny. Read, 45, had previously faced a hung jury in 2023, prompting the retrial in Norfolk County Superior Court.
Cheers Outside the Courtroom as Read Walks Free on Major Charges
As the not guilty verdicts were read, cheers erupted from supporters gathered outside the courthouse. Inside, Read broke down in tears and embraced her family and legal team after the months-long legal battle concluded in her favor.
Prosecutors Alleged Jealousy and Intentional Hit-and-Run
Prosecutors claimed that Read, angry and intoxicated after dropping O’Keefe off at the home of retired Boston police sergeant Brian Albert during a snowstorm, intentionally reversed her Lexus SUV and struck O’Keefe, leaving him mortally wounded in the yard.
Key prosecution evidence included:
Vehicle data showing her SUV accelerated in reverse for 53 feet at 24 mph.
A biomechanical expert’s testimony suggesting injuries on O’Keefe’s arm matched a broken Lexus taillight.
Read’s own words at the scene: witnesses testified she repeatedly said, “I hit him.”
Despite this, no eyewitness accounts or video evidence confirmed the collision. The cause of death, according to the medical examiner, was blunt force trauma to the head, with hypothermia listed as a contributing factor.
Defense Focused on Flawed Investigation and Alternate Theories
Read’s defense rejected the prosecution’s narrative, arguing that she watched O’Keefe walk safely into the home and that she was the victim of a botched and biased investigation. Her lawyers accused law enforcement of tunnel vision and misconduct.
Defense highlights included:
Expert testimony stating injuries were more consistent with dog bites than a car crash.
A snowplow driver who testified he saw no body in the yard despite passing the scene multiple times.
Scrutiny of lead investigator Michael Proctor, who was fired after evidence emerged he shared sensitive case details and made offensive remarks about Read. He was not called as a witness in the retrial.
Defense Barred From Naming Alternative Suspects in Retrial
While Read’s legal team had previously introduced alternate suspect theories involving Albert and federal agent Brian Higgins, Judge Beverly Cannone barred them from naming either man in the retrial’s closing arguments. However, the defense still argued that investigators failed to pursue Higgins, pointing to flirtatious text exchanges with Read that abruptly ended days before O’Keefe’s death.
Neither Higgins nor Albert testified in the retrial.
Jury Deliberation Drama: Verdict Nearly Collapsed
In a surprising twist, jurors initially announced they had reached a unanimous verdict — only to reverse course minutes later. After four days of deliberations, the jury returned with its final decision, clearing Read of the most serious charges.
Prosecution Stands by the Evidence
Special prosecutor Hank Brennan maintained that the scientific and forensic evidence proved Read’s guilt, despite public doubts about the investigation’s integrity.
“You should be disgusted by some of the text messages,” Brennan said in closing arguments, referring to investigator Proctor. “But that doesn’t change the physical evidence, the scientific data, and what the facts clearly show.”
Karen Read’s Legal Battle May Be Over — But Public Interest Isn’t
With the verdict now delivered, questions remain about the handling of the case, the conduct of investigators, and whether the true circumstances of John O’Keefe’s death will ever be fully understood.
