Karen Read Acquitted of Murder in Death of Boston Police Officer Boyfriend
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Karen Read stood trial for the murder of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, in a high-profile case that garnered public attention. After a lengthy legal battle, Read was found not guilty on June 18, 2025. The Massachusetts jury acquitted her of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. She was, however, found guilty of operating under the influence.
The case dates back to January 2022 when Read was accused of drunkenly running over O’Keefe, who was a Boston police officer, following a night out together. She pleaded not guilty to the charges, vehemently denying any involvement in her boyfriend’s death. Read even claimed that she was being framed as part of a cover-up by the Boston police. On the other hand, prosecutors alleged that Read, in an intoxicated state, hit O’Keefe with her SUV in a fit of anger while dropping him off at a friend’s house, leading to his tragic demise.
After an initial trial in 2024 ended in a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury, Read faced a second trial starting in April 2025. Before declaring her innocence in the retrial, she shared her side of the story in the Investigation Discovery docuseries titled “A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read.” The case attracted significant media attention due to the involvement of a police officer and the allegations of a cover-up.
Karen Read and John O’Keefe’s relationship dates back to 2004 when they first met at a birthday party. They reconnected in 2020, bonding over shared personal traumas. However, their relationship was not without challenges, including allegations of infidelity and flirtatious exchanges with other individuals. The events leading up to O’Keefe’s death on the night of January 28, 2022, involved a night out at a local bar and subsequent plans to continue drinking at a friend’s house.
The night took a tragic turn when O’Keefe was found unconscious and covered in snow in the front yard of the friend’s home. Read, upon discovering him in distress, made frantic attempts to revive him but was unsuccessful. O’Keefe was pronounced dead at a local hospital, with the cause cited as blunt force trauma to the head and hypothermia. The circumstances surrounding his death raised suspicion, leading to Read being identified as a suspect by law enforcement.
In the aftermath of O’Keefe’s death, Read faced a slew of charges, including manslaughter, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle collision causing death, and motor vehicle homicide. The lead investigator in the case, Trooper Michael Proctor, played a pivotal role in focusing on Read as the prime suspect. However, Read’s defence team argued that she was being framed for the crime as part of a wider police cover-up.
Throughout the trials, Read’s legal team highlighted alleged conflicts of interest, potential planted evidence, and questionable testimonies that pointed towards a biased investigation. Proctor’s conduct and his ties to individuals involved in the case raised concerns about the integrity of the investigation. The defence contended that key evidence against Read, such as DNA found on broken tail light pieces, was manipulated to incriminate her.
Following a strenuous legal battle, Karen Read was ultimately acquitted of the most serious charges against her. The jury’s verdict in her favour marked the end of a tumultuous chapter in her life, which saw her lose her jobs, savings, and undergo significant emotional stress. The case served as a cautionary tale about the complexities of criminal trials and the importance of a fair and thorough legal process. Karen Read’s acquittal brought relief to her and her supporters, who stood by her throughout the ordeal.