Massachusetts v Karen Read

Boston police officer, John O’Keefe is found deceased on the front lawn of a fellow Boston police officer, Brian Albert in Jan 2022 in Canton, MA. O’Keefe’s girlfriend, Karen Read, is suspected of drunkenly hitting O’Keefe with her car, leaving him to perish from his injuries in a snowstorm.

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Case Details

Case #: 2282CR00117

Victim(s):

1. Officer John O'Keefe

Charge(s):

1. 2nd degree Murder

2. Manslaughter while Operating a Motor Vehicle under the Influence

a. Lesser included offense options

i. Involuntary Manslaughter

ii. Motor Vehicle Homicide (felony-OUI liquor & negligence)

3. Leaving the scene of personal injury & death

Where:

Norfolk County

Canton, MA

2024 Trial Verdict:

Hung Jury

2025 Trial Verdict:

1. Not Guilty--2nd degree murder

2. Not Guilty--involuntary manslaughter

a. Guilty--Operating Under the Influence (OUI)

This was the least "lesser included" offense under the second charge. It does not involve a motor vehicle collision at all.

3. Not Guilty--leaving the scene of personal injury/death

Sentence:

1 year probation (first offender), fines and driving classes for the OUI verdict

Notes:

Trial 1--A mistrial was declared after the jury indicated they were hung on some of the charges. Just days after the mistrial, multiple jurors came forward to disclose the jury did, in fact, reach a verdict of not guilty on counts 1 & 3. Difficulty with the verdict form was an issue for them to relay that to the court.

The case was set for retrial in early 2025 pending the Supreme Judicial Court decision to overturn Judge Cannone's decision to not dismiss counts 1 & 3 per the reporting of multiple jurors. Several Massachusetts State Police (MSP) officers directly involved with this case have faced disciplinary action, up to & including termination, since this trial concluded.

Trial 2-- Karen Read was found to be not guilty on all of the major charges she faced. She was, however, found guilty of OUI/first offense. Nothing regarding a vehicle collision causing the death of John O'Keefe was proven to the jury.