Karen Read Faces Murder Trial Again for the Death of Police Officer Boyfriend John O'Keefe

 

Karen Read is back in the courtroom for a second trial, accused of the murder of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, who died in January 2022. After the first trial ended in a mistrial when a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict, Read is now facing a new round of legal proceedings.

The prosecution argues that Read, allegedly drunk and angry, intentionally struck O'Keefe with her SUV outside a private residence in Canton. Afterward, prosecutors claim, Read left O'Keefe to die in a blizzard. An autopsy determined the cause of death as hypothermia and blunt force trauma to the head.

Read's defense, however, continues to suggest a cover-up, claiming that the investigation was flawed and mishandled. Read has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of a fatal collision.

During opening statements in Norfolk County Superior Court on Tuesday, special prosecutor Hank Brennan emphasized Read's multiple media interviews, where he argues she made damaging "admissions." Brennan presented these statements, including a 2024 interview where Read appeared to acknowledge her intoxication and anger toward O'Keefe the night of his death.

"You are going to hear from her own lips," Brennan told the jury, referring to Read’s media statements. "Her admissions to her extraordinary intoxication. Her admissions to driving the Lexus. Her admissions to being angry at John that night."

One notable clip from the 2024 interview featured Read admitting, "I didn’t think I 'hit him,' hit him. But could I have clipped him, could I have tapped him in the knee and incapacitated him?"

Key Evidence and DNA Findings

Brennan outlined evidence, including video footage and DNA analysis, that he claims ties Read’s vehicle to the crime. Specifically, he pointed to DNA evidence found on Read's Lexus bumper, which reportedly contained hair samples from O'Keefe. Additionally, he highlighted evidence suggesting that Read's SUV had reversed more than 70 feet, and a broken taillight was found on her vehicle, which Brennan contends shows it struck O'Keefe.

Also read: Karen Read Murder Trial: Victim’s Mother Speaks Out for the First Time

In contrast, defense attorney Alan Jackson vehemently argued that O'Keefe was not struck by Read’s SUV. "There was no collision with John O'Keefe," Jackson reiterated, emphasizing that the assertion was "contrary to science."

Jackson also criticized the investigation, specifically targeting officers involved in the case. He claimed that personal relationships between the investigators and key witnesses had compromised the integrity of the case. He pointed to former Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, who he claimed was biased due to his close ties to the owner of the house where O'Keefe was found. Jackson even suggested that Proctor had improperly seized Read’s phone, later sharing text messages that he claimed showed the investigator making vulgar remarks about her.

Emotional Testimony from Witnesses

The trial’s emotional weight was evident in the testimony of Timothy Nuttall, a Canton firefighter and paramedic who treated O'Keefe at the scene. Nuttall recalled Read’s words when she first approached him: "I hit him, I hit him, I hit him." This statement, which was introduced in the first trial, was reiterated during Nuttall's testimony on Tuesday. Jackson, however, challenged Nuttall’s recollection, questioning an inconsistency in his statements about how many times Read made the admission.

In another key moment, witness Kerry Roberts testified that Read had pointed out an unusual defect in her SUV’s taillight after O'Keefe’s body was found. Roberts also recalled that a piece of the taillight appeared to be missing. Roberts will continue her testimony on Wednesday.

The trial is expected to last six to eight weeks, and it’s already proving to be a highly contentious and emotionally charged proceeding. On the day of the opening statements, a group of roughly two dozen protesters gathered in support of Read outside the courthouse, prompting the judge to institute a no-protest zone around the building. The presence of protesters led to an arrest after a man was caught violating the protest zone and was charged with trespassing.

As the trial unfolds, both sides will continue presenting their case, and the jury will ultimately decide whether Read is guilty of the charges against her. The proceedings are shaping up to be a battle over not only the facts of the case but also the integrity of the investigation into the tragic death of Officer John O'Keefe.

Location: United States

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