Karen Read, a former financial analyst and college professor from Massachusetts, gained significant media attention in early 2022. This followed the tragic incident involving her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who was killed in late January of that year.
In June 2022, Read faced an indictment on murder charges. She pleaded not guilty to these serious allegations. Prosecutors accused her of using her Lexus SUV to strike O’Keefe. After an alleged drunken argument, they claimed she left him to succumb to the elements during a snowstorm.
Read’s defense team for her first trial, which commenced in April 2024, included notable attorney Alan Jackson. Jackson is recognized for his role in securing the acquittal of Kevin Spacey on sexual assault charges in 2019. Despite this high-profile legal backing, the first trial concluded with a hung jury.
Read currently faces charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a deadly accident. Despite the gravity of these charges, she continues to assert her innocence in connection with O’Keefe’s death.