Karen Read’s Fight for Justice in the Death of John O’Keefe

The Night Everything Changed: January 29, 2022

On the evening of January 28, 2022, Karen Read, a 45-year-old finance professional, and her boyfriend, 46-year-old Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, were out drinking in Canton, Massachusetts. Around midnight, Read dropped O’Keefe off at the home of retired officer Brian Albert, where a small gathering was happening. She later said she saw O’Keefe head toward the house before she drove away.

In the early morning hours of January 29, O’Keefe’s body was discovered in the snow outside Albert’s home. The medical examiner later determined he died from blunt-force trauma to the head and hypothermia. Prosecutors argued that Read struck him with her SUV during a snowstorm, then left him in the snow. Evidence included broken taillight fragments and traces of his DNA on her car’s rear light.

Read was seen on surveillance backing her SUV out of O’Keefe’s garage at 5:07 a.m., slightly hitting another parked vehicle. That same morning, she contacted friends for help, and her emotional state was noted by multiple witnesses.

The investigation into the scene raised immediate concerns. Officers used a leaf blower to clear snow from the area before collecting key evidence. Items were stored in grocery bags. These decisions later became focal points of criticism and suspicion.

Investigation Under Fire and the First Trial

On February 2, 2022, Read was arraigned on charges including manslaughter, motor-vehicle homicide, and leaving the scene. She was released on $80,000 bail. In June 2022, a grand jury indicted her on more serious charges: second-degree murder, OUI manslaughter, and leaving the scene with death resulting.

From the beginning, Read’s defense claimed that she was being framed. They argued that O’Keefe had been injured inside the house, potentially attacked during a confrontation, and then placed outside to make it appear as if he had been hit by a car.

They questioned whether the German Shepherd that lived in the house played a role in his injuries. The defense also focused on the actions of police investigators, especially the lead trooper, Michael Proctor, who sent inappropriate and biased text messages about Read to colleagues and friends.

These messages included crude insults and suggestions that Proctor had made up his mind about Read’s guilt early on. This fueled accusations of misconduct and a cover-up within law enforcement circles. Critics pointed out that no one from the house was seriously investigated as a potential suspect.

The first trial began in May 2024 and drew intense public interest. Read’s supporters wore pink to court daily. Social media pages dedicated to her defense gained tens of thousands of followers. After three weeks of testimony and complex forensic analysis, the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict. On July 1, 2024, the judge declared a mistrial due to a deadlock.

Cover-Ups, Courtroom Showdowns, and a Federal Review

After the mistrial, attention turned toward the investigation itself. On March 19, 2025, Trooper Proctor was fired by the Massachusetts State Police for his behavior, including the inappropriate messages he had sent during the investigation. Around this time, federal authorities also conducted a quiet review of the investigation. However, in early March 2025, they closed the probe without filing charges.

Meanwhile, Read’s legal team pushed back hard. In late February 2025, they filed a motion to dismiss the case entirely, citing government misconduct. In April, they filed a petition with the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, arguing that a second trial would violate her protection against double jeopardy. The court denied the request, and the second trial proceeded.

Public records released through local town meetings revealed additional concerns. Officers had moved O’Keefe’s body before documenting its original position. The home where he was last seen alive was never sealed off or examined thoroughly as a crime scene. Interview procedures were inconsistent, and important surveillance footage was delayed in being shared.

The Retrial and Final Verdict: April to June 2025

The second trial began on April 1, 2025. This time, the prosecution brought in high-profile attorney Hank Brennan, best known for representing organized crime figures. Read’s defense team included seasoned lawyers Alan Jackson, David Yannetti, Robert Alessi, and Victoria George.

Over 11 weeks, the trial explored forensic models, crash reconstructions, toxicology reports, and surveillance footage. One of the standout moments came when a toxicologist testified that Read’s blood alcohol content at around 12:45 a.m. on January 29 would have ranged between 0.14 and 0.29 percent, based on a hospital reading of 0.093 percent at 9 a.m. Another moment that drew attention was a peculiar Google search by a witness: "how long to die in cold," which the defense used to question the timeline of events.

By June 13, the jury began deliberations. Over the next several days, they sent multiple questions to the judge, asking for clarification on the evidence and legal definitions. Finally, on June 18, 2025, they reached a verdict.

Read was found not guilty on the most serious charges: second-degree murder, OUI manslaughter, and leaving the scene of an accident causing death. However, she was convicted of a misdemeanor for operating under the influence. The judge sentenced her to one year of probation.