NORFOLK, Massachusetts – June 18, 2025 – A Massachusetts jury has found 45-year-old Karen Read not guilty of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while under the influence, and leaving the scene of a fatal crash, in connection with the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe. However, she was convicted of operating under the influence (OUI) and sentenced to one year of probation.
The case dates back to January 2022, when O’Keefe was found unresponsive in a snowbank near a fellow officer’s home in Canton. Prosecutors initially alleged that Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV following an argument and left him outside in freezing temperatures.
However, in her retrial, the defense presented a drastically different narrative, suggesting that O’Keefe may have been assaulted inside the home during a party and later left outside — and that Read had been framed.
Read’s attorneys accused investigators of serious misconduct, including bias, evidence mishandling, and the circulation of inappropriate messages by lead investigator Trooper Michael Proctor, who was later dismissed from his position.
According to AP News, the jury deliberated for approximately 22 hours before delivering what legal analysts are calling a “compromise verdict” — insufficient evidence for murder, but holding Read accountable for driving under the influence.
Public reaction was sharply divided:
- Supporters of Read — many wearing pink shirts — celebrated outside the courthouse, calling the verdict a victory for truth and a blow to corruption within law enforcement.
- In contrast, some witnesses and members of O’Keefe’s family condemned the outcome, calling it a “miscarriage of justice” fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Legal experts say the case exposed significant flaws in the criminal justice system and highlighted the tension between forensic evidence and prosecution narratives. Factors such as investigative integrity, media coverage, and the defendant’s financial resources likely influenced the final outcome.
