The high-profile case of Karen Read, accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe in January 2022, continues to draw intense public interest as her retrial gets underway. The 44-year-old former professor maintains her innocence, claiming she’s being framed by law enforcement.
O’Keefe, a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, was found unconscious in a snowbank outside a colleague’s home following a night of drinking. Prosecutors allege Read dropped him off, struck him with her car during a three-point turn, and fled the scene. The medical examiner determined he died from blunt force trauma and hypothermia.
Read faces serious charges including second-degree murder, which carries a potential life sentence. During the first trial, prosecutors portrayed the couple’s relationship as troubled in its final months. O’Keefe’s brother testified about their conflicts, while Read’s supporters – many wearing pink – have regularly packed the courthouse, convinced of her innocence.
The case took a dramatic turn when last year’s trial ended in a mistrial. As proceedings restart, both sides prepare to re-examine critical questions: Was this a tragic accident, domestic violence, or a police cover-up? The answer could determine whether Read spends her life in prison or walks free.
