Massachusetts – Karen Read was found not guilty on murder charges in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, after a second trial that ended in her acquittal of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death.
The jury deliberated for several days, ultimately reaching a verdict on June 18, 2025. However, Read was found guilty of operating under the influence of liquor and sentenced to one year of probation for the offense, the standard for a first-time offender.
Read, who faced the tough process of a second trial after the first trial ended in a mistrial in July 2024, was visibly emotional as the verdict was read. She embraced her legal team and shed tears of relief as supporters in the courthouse cheered.
Details of the Case
The case centered around the death of John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, in January 2022. Prosecutors alleged that Read struck O’Keefe with her car outside the home of fellow officer Brian Albert after a night of heavy drinking and left him to die during a major blizzard.
The defense, however, argued that Read’s vehicle did not hit O’Keefe. Instead, they suggested that O’Keefe had been attacked by a dog and beaten by other people inside the house before being thrown into the snow to die. Read maintained her innocence throughout the case.
Trial and Verdict
The jury began deliberations on June 13, 2025, and continued until reaching a verdict on June 18. The prosecution had presented the theory that Read was responsible for O’Keefe’s death due to her actions on the night of his death.
But the defense countered with the theory that the situation had escalated through a series of unfortunate events involving other people and not Read’s car.
One of the key points during the trial was Read’s decision not to testify in her own defense. She had previously stated to reporters that the jury had already heard enough of her voice through interviews and statements.
Her legal team also included an alternate juror from her first trial, Victoria George, who added legal expertise to Read’s defense strategy.
Reactions to the Verdict
Following the verdict, witnesses who had testified against Read expressed frustration. Members of the Albert and McCabe families, who had supported O’Keefe throughout the case, called the retrial’s outcome “a devastating miscarriage of justice.”
They expressed their continued mourning for O’Keefe and criticized what they described as “lies and conspiracy theories spread by Read and her defense team.”
The First Trial and Legal Journey
Read’s first trial in 2024 ended in a mistrial after the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on the manslaughter charge related to her operating a vehicle under the influence.
Her legal team had filed several appeals, including one to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that retrying her would violate the principle of double jeopardy, but the appeals were denied.
Throughout both trials, Read’s defense attorneys filed motions for a mistrial, but the judge denied these motions. Read was also not allowed to testify in her own defense during the second trial, which was consistent with her stance during the first trial.
The Aftermath
The acquittal on the most serious charges and the conviction on the OUI charge leaves questions about the case’s long-term impact.
Supporters of Read cheered outside the courthouse, relieved that the nearly four years of legal battles were finally over for her. However, many of O’Keefe’s supporters feel that justice has not been fully served.
A new “20/20” special titled “Karen Read: The Verdict” airs June 18 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET on ABC, offering a deeper look at the case and its intricacies.