Karen Read Found Not Guilty of Murder in Retrial
Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, was found not guilty of murder.
The verdict was delivered Wednesday, June 18, by a Norfolk County jury, who also acquitted Read on charges of leaving the scene of a deadly crash. She was found guilty of operating under the influence, a lesser offense that earned her one year of probation.
It’s the latest chapter in a legal saga that began more than two years ago, when O’Keefe was found dead in the snow. Two trials, a mistrial, and a massive amount of national media coverage later, jurors delivered the outcome that many saw coming, but not everyone agrees on.
The Night Officer O’Keefe Died
It was the morning of January 29, 2022, when O’Keefe’s body was discovered partially buried in the snow outside the residence of a fellow Boston police officer. Reports state that O’Keefe sustained head trauma. And there were no witnesses.
Prosecutors claimed Read struck O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV after dropping him off at a party and then left the scene. They pointed to physical evidence: a broken taillight, glass fragments, and a strand of O’Keefe’s hair on her bumper.
The implication? That Read, drunk and angry, hit him intentionally.
A Defense Strategy Built on Police Corruption Allegations
From the beginning, Read's legal team painted a radically different picture. According to her legal team, O’Keefe never made it out of that house alive. They argued he was assaulted inside, his body then moved outside to frame Read.
The theory was bold: a cover-up, orchestrated by fellow officers and protected by a justice system riddled with bias.
They also called into question the integrity of key detective Michael Proctor, who was removed from the investigation before the second trial due to crude, misogynistic text messages and allegations of inappropriate conduct. He never took the stand in round two.
Trial #1: A Hung Jury and a Public Torn in Two
The first trial in July 2024 ended in a hung jury. Several jurors came forward afterwards, saying they had already agreed Karen Read was not guilty of the most serious charges. Still, the state pushed ahead with a second trial, brushing off public backlash and growing questions about whether she should’ve been charged at all.
Trial #2: A Narrowed Focus and New Faces
The second trial, which began on April 1, 2025, looked different:
The prosecution brought in Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan.
Read’s team added attorneys Robert Alessi and Victoria George.
Investigator Proctor was out, removed before testimony.
Read’s blood alcohol level was recalculated to a staggering 0.14–0.29% at the time of the incident.
Still, her attorneys argued, being drunk doesn't equal intent. And the evidence of a collision, they claimed, didn’t hold up under scrutiny.
The jury deliberated for four days before delivering their verdict.
A Nation Watches, a Courtroom Reacts
The verdict sparked audible gasps in the courtroom, with supporters of Read sobbing and embracing. On the courthouse steps, some waved signs reading "Justice for Karen" while others questioned whether the whole truth would ever come to light.
The case has drawn intense media interest, inspired episodes on Dateline, 20/20, Netflix, and countless podcasts. Armchair detectives picked apart Reddit threads. Facebook groups turned into battlegrounds.
Even now, the broader public remains split: was Karen Read a wrongfully accused woman caught in a web of power and corruption? Or did a flawed system fail to convict a guilty one?
What's Next for Karen Read?
Read walks free on the most serious charges, but her legal troubles may not be over. Civil lawsuits are a possibility. The OUI conviction, while comparatively minor, still leaves a mark on her record. And there’s growing momentum behind calls for a deeper investigation into the investigators, particularly around evidence handling and misconduct.
As Read stood outside the courthouse flanked by her legal team, she addressed the cameras:
No one has fought harder for justice for John O’Keefe than I have.
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