For many true crime aficionados, the legal part of the ongoing tale for their latest obsession drew to a close in a crowded courtroom in Dedham, Massachusetts, on June 18, 2025. After less than a week of deliberations, a jury returned a not guilty verdict in the second attempt to convict Karen Read on charges of second-degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident causing death, and manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
Read was convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence. It brings an end of sorts to the saga that had divided a small town over the unexplained death of Read's boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, whose body was found lifeless in the snow outside a friend's home in January 2022.
After the first effort to convict Read ended in a mistrial, this verdict brings the legal saga to an end. For some, closure may remain elusive as the truth about who and what caused O'Keefe's death remains unexplained. The trials may be done, but the public debate over his killer's identity is likely far from over.
A Podcaster's Delight
The Read-O'Keefe case captured the public's interest and sparked a nationwide discourse over her possible role in her boyfriend's death. Read and O'Keefe, who had been drinking and arguing on the snowy night of January 28, 2022, arrived at the house of fellow officer Brian Albert in Canton, where O'Keefe got out of her car.
That's about the last thing the two sides of the argument agree on, as two wildly divergent theories about O'Keefe's death emerge from that point. As alleged by the state of Massachusetts and O'Keefe's friend, Read backed her Lexus SUV into O'Keefe before driving off, leaving him to die on Albert's front lawn. At trial, prosecutors pointed to phone tracking data that supported their version of what happened.
Read's defense against the claims involved O'Keefe making it inside before being killed by one or more of the people gathered in Albert's house for an afterparty. After they dumped his body outside, she argued that they framed Read for his death.
Uncovering the truth was further complicated by the response of the police, which included the lead investigator from the Massachusetts State Police being fired for sending inflammatory and unethical texts about Read. Questions were also raised about local police favoring their law enforcement brothers and the alleged planting of incriminating evidence from Read's vehicle.
All this and more was welcome fodder for true crime podcasters and amateur sleuths, who in turn brought even more attention to the case. A docuseries followed Read through the first trial, allowing access to testimony, cross-examinations, and the moment when a mistrial was declared.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The defense attempted to avoid a second trial, with Read first filing a motion to dismiss before appealing the denial. Failure at the Massachusetts Supreme Court meant the matter would be tried again. This time, a jury consisting of five men and seven women was able to reach a consensus on most of the charges Read was facing.
While avoiding conviction for the more serious charge of leaving the scene of an accident causing death, Read was found guilty of operating a vehicle under the influence. It's a per se law in Massachusetts, which means a driver doesn't have to be caught in the act of driving to be charged. It carries the potential for a loss of license, a fine of up to $5,000, and jail time. As a first-time offender, maximum penalties seem unlikely for Read.
Exoneration on the more serious charges was no doubt a relief for Karen Read, but it offers no guarantee that she can pick up her life with any sense of normalcy. While her supporters outside the courtroom often numbered in the hundreds, a large contingent of detractors was a constant presence as well. Even though she was acquitted, her notoriety is likely to remain a companion for some time.
Related Resources
- The Rules of Criminal Evidence: Background (FindLaw's Criminal Procedure)
- What Is a Retrial? When Can You Get One? (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- When Does Double Jeopardy Apply? (FindLaw's Fifth Amendment Section)
