Karen Read acquitted of murder in death of Boston⁤ police officer boyfriend

⁣ Updated June 18, 2025
⁢

A Massachusetts jury found Karen Read not⁣ guilty of ⁢murdering her Boston
police officer ⁢boyfriend in 2022, ‌nearly a year after⁣ her first
​ ‍prosecution ⁣ended in⁣ a ⁣mistrial.
⁤

She was acquitted of the most serious charges, including second-degree
⁢ ‌ murder, manslaughter, and leaving the​ scene⁤ after an accident⁢ resulting in
⁢ ⁤ death.

The jury did ‌find her ⁤guilty of‍ operating under the influence of liquor.
‌ The judge immediately⁣ sentenced her​ too one-year probation, the standard
‌ ⁤ for a ⁣first-time offense.

Cheers‌ could be ‍heard from outside the​ courthouse, where supporters ⁢of
read had gathered, while the verdict was being read. Read embraced her
‍ legal team and cried following the verdict.
‍ ⁢

⁢ ‌ The jury began ⁣deliberating the afternoon of June 13 in Norfolk County
before reaching a verdict Wednesday afternoon.
‍

‍ ⁤ ⁢⁤ ‌Prosecutors alleged‍ Read hit ‌her boyfriend,​ John O’Keefe, with her car
outside the Canton home of fellow⁢ police officer Brian Albert after a night
of heavy drinking in January 2022 and then left him to die there during a
⁣ ‍ ⁢ major blizzard.
​

⁢ ‌The defense had argued⁣ that Read’s vehicle did⁣ not hit O’Keefe and instead
‍ said O’Keefe was ⁣attacked by a⁣ dog and beaten by other people who were in
‌ the house before ⁤he was ⁤thrown out in the ‌snow ‌to die.

Read pleaded ‍not guilty ‍to the charges and ⁢has⁤ maintained her innocence.

⁢ In brief ‌remarks upon ⁤leaving the courthouse, she thanked ‌her “amazing
supporters” for thier financial and emotional support for the past nearly
four years.
‍

‌ ⁢ “No one has fought harder ‌for⁢ justice than John O’Keefe than I ‌have — than
I have and my team,” Read added.
⁤

What’s next

⁣ ⁤ A new ‌”20/20″ special, “Karen‍ read: The verdict,” airing Wednesday, June
⁤ 18, ⁢from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming the‌ next ‍day ‍on Hulu,
⁣ examines ⁢the case.
‍