In a dramatic conclusion to one of Massachusetts’ most talked-about trials, Karen Read was found not guilty of murdering her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. The jury delivered its verdict on Tuesday after four days of deliberations, clearing her of all major charges—including second-degree murder and multiple manslaughter counts.
Read, 45, was only found guilty of a single misdemeanor: driving under the influence of alcohol. She won’t face jail time and was sentenced to a year of probation.
The emotional courtroom moment capped off years of legal battles, conspiracy theories, and a trial that gripped the state and captivated national audiences.
The Night That Started It All
The case began in January 2022, when O’Keefe’s body was discovered in a snowbank outside a fellow police officer’s home in Canton. Prosecutors claimed Read had dropped him off there after a night of heavy drinking and accidentally ran him over with her SUV before driving away.
But Read and her defense team painted a very different picture—one that accused members of law enforcement of staging a cover-up to protect their own. They argued that O’Keefe never made it outside alive and was instead injured or killed inside the house, with his body later placed outside to shift the blame.
A Trial Fueled by Suspicion and Supporters
The trial didn’t just unfold in the courtroom—it played out in the public eye. Read became a symbol for those who felt the justice system was rigged. Her supporters showed up in droves, wearing pink, holding signs, and sharing slogans. They pointed to what they saw as sloppy police work, missing evidence, and inconsistencies that made the official story hard to believe.
The defense leaned heavily into that narrative, using expert witnesses to challenge the physical evidence, including whether her SUV could have caused O’Keefe’s injuries. They also highlighted problems in how the investigation was handled—especially the late discovery of broken taillight fragments and questionable actions by the lead state trooper.
Jury Believed There Was Doubt
Ultimately, the jury appeared convinced that there were too many unanswered questions. Even if they couldn’t say exactly what happened to O’Keefe, they didn’t believe the prosecution had proved that Read was the one responsible.
As the verdict was read, Read broke down in tears and hugged her defense team. Her family, sitting just behind her, held each other and cried. Outside, dozens of her supporters celebrated. Her father said justice had finally been served.
Mixed Reactions From O’Keefe’s Family
Not everyone agreed. O’Keefe’s relatives and friends were visibly upset. Some called the outcome a “miscarriage of justice,” insisting that John had been failed twice—once by whoever caused his death, and again by the justice system.
The family is continuing to pursue a civil lawsuit against Read, which could now become the next chapter in this already complex and emotional saga.
What Comes Next
With the criminal trial over, Karen Read will serve probation for her DUI charge. But questions still linger: What really happened that night? Why were parts of the investigation so flawed? And will the civil trial reveal anything new?
No matter where you stand on the verdict, one thing is clear—the case has left a deep impact. It exposed cracks in the justice system, challenged public trust in law enforcement, and showed how one tragedy can become the center of a storm far bigger than a single courtroom.
