A Massachusetts jury has found Karen Read not guilty of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene in the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, while convicting her only of operating under the influence—resulting in one year of probation.
At a Glance
- Read was acquitted of all major charges in the retrial over O’Keefe’s January 2022 death
- She was found guilty of driving under the influence and sentenced to one year of probation
- Prosecutors alleged Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV, causing fatal injuries
- Defense argued O’Keefe was assaulted inside a house party and framed
- Witnesses condemned the verdict as a miscarriage of justice
Jury Finds Doubt in Murder Theory
In the high-profile retrial, jurors rejected claims that Read intentionally hit O’Keefe with her SUV after an argument during a night of drinking. The prosecution argued that she reversed into O’Keefe outside a Canton, Massachusetts house party, causing blunt-force trauma and leaving him in the snow to die.
Defense attorneys countered that O’Keefe had been assaulted inside the house and framed, pointing to forensic inconsistencies and text messages suggesting collusion among witnesses. The case was marred by controversy after lead investigator Michael Proctor was removed for misconduct during the investigation, as reported by the New York Post.
Guilty Only of DUI, Granted Probation
The jury convicted Read solely of operating under the influence. She received one year of probation, avoiding jail time, after a legal battle that had gripped Boston and garnered national media attention. Crowds of her supporters cheered outside the courthouse following the verdict, according to People.
Families and Witnesses Speak Out
A coalition of trial witnesses condemned the jury’s decision as a “devastating miscarriage of justice.” In a public statement, they accused Read’s legal team of promoting conspiracy theories that distorted the facts of the case.
O’Keefe’s family also expressed their grief and disappointment, saying they will continue to seek justice. As covered by The Times and Vox, the retrial has renewed debates over investigative transparency, media influence, and public trust in law enforcement.
With questions still swirling around the events of that night, the case remains one of Massachusetts’ most polarizing legal dramas.
