DEDHAM, MA – A Norfolk Superior Court jury has found Karen Read not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.

Key Facts

• The Verdict – After four days of deliberation, the jury acquitted Read of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a collision causing death. She was convicted of a lesser charge of operating under the influence (OUI).
• Prosecution’s Case – The prosecution, led by Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan, argued that an intoxicated Read fatally struck O’Keefe with her SUV in reverse and left him to die in a snowstorm.
• Defense’s Argument – Defense attorney Alan Jackson successfully argued that O’Keefe was killed during an altercation inside another officer’s home and that Read was framed in a wide-ranging cover-up by law enforcement.

The verdict, delivered Wednesday, marks the conclusion of a contentious eight-week trial that drew national attention. While cleared of the most serious charges, Read was sentenced to one year of probation for the OUI conviction.

A Decisive Acquittal in Court

The jury of six men and six women deliberated for approximately 21 hours before reaching their decision. The reading of the verdict saw an emotional reaction from Karen Read and cheers from a large crowd of her supporters who had gathered outside the courthouse daily.

The case hinged on two dramatically different narratives of how John O’Keefe died outside a Canton, Massachusetts, home during a blizzard. The jury was tasked with determining whether the evidence proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Read was responsible for his death. Ultimately, they found that the prosecution had not met that burden for the felony charges.

The Case Against Karen Read

During the trial, the prosecution built its case around the theory of a domestic argument turned fatal. Special Prosecutor Hank Brennan presented evidence including pieces of a broken taillight from Read’s Lexus SUV found at the scene and testimony from first responders who claimed Read said, “I hit him.”

Prosecutors alleged that after a night of drinking, Read dropped O’Keefe off at a house party, struck him with her vehicle while making a three-point turn, and drove away. They presented expert testimony suggesting O’Keefe’s injuries were consistent with being hit by a vehicle.

A ‘Frame-Up’ Defense Prevails

The defense, led by attorney Alan Jackson, countered with a powerful counternarrative of a conspiracy and cover-up. Jackson argued that O’Keefe was never struck by Read’s vehicle but was instead beaten inside the home, attacked by a dog, and dragged outside.

The defense attacked the credibility of the police investigation, highlighting what they described as sloppy police work and conflicts of interest. They pointed to a separate federal investigation into the handling of the case and presented their own forensic experts who testified that the damage to Read’s SUV was inconsistent with striking a person. By raising questions about the integrity of the evidence and the actions of those inside the home, the defense created the reasonable doubt that led to the acquittal.