Karen Read Breaks Silence on Murder Trial Acquittal

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Karen Read is slowly readjusting to private life.

Approximately two and a half months following the acquittal of a 45-year-old woman in the second-degree murder case related to the 2022 demise of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, she is sharing insights about her current lifestyle.

She mentioned on The Howie Carr Show on August 28th that things didn’t turn out as she had anticipated. She thought there would be a reversal of the switch that was turned against her at 6 a.m. on January 29, 2022, but it wasn’t exactly like that.

However, as the individual from Massachusetts elaborated, it’s felt more like a “gradual increase in brightness, as if a light dimmer is being turned up a bit every week.

Read mentioned, “Every day, I experience moments that surprise me by being the first of their kind in the past four years since I’ve been free from that ongoing nightmare.

Additionally, she delved into her life following her February 2022 detention and ensuing legal struggle, expressing that she had to relinquish her home to cover the mounting lawyer expenses, particularly as she prepared for the second trial this year. She was particularly distressed about losing her position at Fidelity Investments.

“That job was not just a job,” Read reflected. “That was my career, and I still miss it.”

However, despite the challenges faced during her legal predicament, Read was profoundly thankful for the backing she received from various sources. This included her parents, William Read and Janet Read, whom she’s resided with since selling her home, as well as those who stood by her version of events.

When asked about her statement made outside the courthouse following her acquittal, she explained that she had simply expressed gratitude to numerous individuals. Reflecting on those moments, she remarked that it seems like a distant past, yet it has only been two months.

She stated, “These individuals – journalists, advocates, and community members – have been the emotional pillars supporting me.

Read too conveyed a remark directed towards Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey and the state investigators, stating, “You’ve been defeated. Your loss was significant, and you are fully aware of your actions.

While she has been preoccupied with life post-trial, Hollywood has been eagerly working on adapting her story for television. Elizabeth Banks is slated to portray her in an upcoming limited series on Amazon Prime Video, as reported by Deadline. However, according to Read herself, she has no involvement in the show and was not informed about the casting decision.

She clarified, “I likely read it at the same time as you, plus or minus a few minutes. I have no connection to it whatsoever. I didn’t approve of it in any manner.

Read indicated that she “didn’t approve of it” due to the fact that “there’s a lot more to this situation.

There seems to be more to the situation than what I believe Elizabeth Banks is currently aware of,” she continued, “however, we haven’t had a conversation with each other.

It is widely acknowledged that Read was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run incident on January 29, 2022. Specifically, she is accused of striking her boyfriend O’Keefe, a 46-year-old Boston police officer, with her car and leaving him in harsh blizzard conditions following a house party, rather than seeking help for his injuries.

In 2024, an attempt was initially made to prosecute an individual for murder. However, following 25 hours of discussions, the trial resulted in a deadlock among the jurors, known as a hung jury.

In April, her second trial commenced, with her lawyers claiming that she was being falsely implicated to conceal an altercation that occurred earlier within the residence of Brian Albert, a well-known law enforcement official and friend of O’Keefe’s. Before he was supposedly forced outside onto the lawn, it is alleged that the conflict took place in Canton, Massachusetts.

After the second trial, it was determined that Read was free from charges of manslaughter involving motor vehicles while driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident during the June 18 verdict. However, she was found guilty of a lesser charge, operating a vehicle under the influence, for which she received a sentence of one year’s probation.

Regarding Morrissey, who had earlier labeled the defense’s case as a “desperate effort to shift blame,” in reference to the June decision, he subsequently stated to WBZ, “The jury’s verdict has been made clear.

For a deeper dive into everything we know about Read’s case, keep reading. 

Karen shared with authorities that on January 28, 2022, herself and her boyfriend John O’Keefe, a Boston Police Officer, had been drinking with friends at C.F. McCarthy’s bar in Canton, Massachusetts. Following this, they spent approximately an hour at Waterfall Bar & Grille located across the street. According to Karen, she drove O’Keefe to the Canton residence of Boston Police Detective Brian Albert shortly past midnight, and then returned to O’Keefe’s house.

At the manslaughter hearing held on February 2, 2022, prosecutors claimed that they had evidence suggesting that Read struck O’Keefe with her vehicle, then continued to drive away, leaving him stranded in harsh winter temperatures.

A financial analyst living in Mansfield nearby stated that she went to Albert’s house the next morning because O’Keefe hadn’t returned home and couldn’t be reached on his phone. She explained that she phoned a few individuals who were with her when they discovered him unconscious in the snow outside the Albert residence at 6 a.m.

A 46-year-old police officer was found with deep scratches on his right arm and both eyes swollen shut, along with blood and vomit on his clothes, as stated by the prosecution. He was subsequently taken to Boston’s Good Samaritan Hospital, where he tragically passed away later that morning.

Following an autopsy, it was discovered that O’Keefe had sustained several skull fractures and lacerations on his head and nose. Ultimately, the medical examiner determined that his death was due to hypothermia and trauma caused by physical force.

On February 1, 2022, he was taken into custody for the charges of manslaughter, fleeing the scene after a fatal car accident, and vehicular homicide.

Upon investigation, authorities found a damaged 2021 black Lexus SUV belonging to her parked at her parent’s residence. The vehicle sported a broken rear taillight and some scratches on the back bumper, as per prosecutors.

Read pleaded not guilty Feb. 2 and was released from custody after posting $50,000 bail.

During the court hearing, David Yannetti, her lawyer, stated that the manslaughter charge seemed excessively extreme and asserted there was no criminal intent on her part. He clarified that this wasn’t an incident involving a casual acquaintance but rather her boyfriend, someone she held dear. (As reported by NBC Boston)

The Boston Police Department announced that the individual behind John’s demise has been apprehended, and they described O’Keefe as a thoughtful person who prioritized his family.

At her hearing, prosecutors stated that one of O’Keefe’s friends, who went searching for him with Read, informed the police that their mutual friend had called around 5 a.m., expressing concern about John’s wellbeing and wondering if he might have passed away due to the snowfall, as he might have been struck by a snow plow.

In simpler terms, during Read’s trial, Firefighter Lieutenant Anthony Flematti testified that he heard Read say at the scene, “I struck him, I struck him. Oh my goodness, I struck him.

Firefighter Katie McLaughlin stated that the individual named Read appeared extremely agitated and profoundly saddened, and on multiple occasions, she overheard Read declare, “I struck him.

The statement made at trial was that she shouted at Flematti these words: “Did I strike him? Was it possible for me to strike him?”

At the trial, it was stated that what she cried out to Flematti was a question asking if she had hit him and whether she could have possibly hit him.

Or simply:
In court, it was declared that she asked Flematti if she may have struck him and whether she actually did so.

A different firefighter named Matthew Kelly declared that all he could recall was Read stating, “He’s deceased, he’s beyond help.

A grand jury indicted Read on a charge of second-degree murder on June 9, 2022.

On June 10 during Read’s court appearance, Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally asserted that there had been ongoing arguments between Read and O’Keefe prior to his death, and weeks before the incident in question, O’Keefe attempted to end the relationship with Read, but she refused to leave his house when asked. Lally claimed that on a snowy night, while under the influence, Read accidentally collided her Lexus into O’Keefe and left him to perish in the cold.

Read posted an additional $100,000 bail and later pleaded not guilty to murder.

During the June 10 hearing, Yannetti contended that Officer Read attempted to resuscitate O’Keefe using CPR. Furthermore, he claimed that the officer’s injuries did not match those typically sustained from being struck by a vehicle.

In a court setting, I’d say as a concerned observer: “I noticed numerous scratches running along my arms, their origin remains a mystery. Adding to that, I currently sport two shades of dark around my eyes and there seems to be a possible break in my nose. It appears that there’s more to this situation than meets the eye.

On September 22, 2022, during a court hearing, Yannetti claimed that O’Keefe had been severely assaulted at Albert’s residence. He further asserted that the detective, in an attempt to conceal the truth, misused his professional connections within the Canton Police Department and Massachusetts State Police by trying to falsely implicate Yannetti’s client.

Yannetti underscored the fact that Brian Albert’s sibling, Kevin Albert, was likewise a detective with the Canton PD. Moreover, Michael Proctor, who oversaw the Read case as a Massachusetts State Trooper and is considered a close family friend, held this position. It’s been reported by a family representative that Brian, who retired from service due to an injury in 2023, denied any incident of physical confrontation with O’Keefe at his residence. Both Kevin and Proctor have refuted any allegations of misconduct concerning the investigation.

Defense attorney Alan Jackson asserted on NBC’s Dateline in July 2023 that his client is absolutely innocent.

According to Jackson, John O’Keefe encountered a hostile environment when he entered the house. He stepped out of his vehicle, was suddenly struck, lost balance, suffered injuries, and later, it appears, his body was relocated.

In simpler terms, Jackson (a former L.A. prosecutor) and his colleague Elizabeth Little, partners at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, once defended Kevin Spacey in a 2016 sexual assault case on Nantucket. However, the charges against Spacey were eventually dismissed.

In a video message on August 25, 2023, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey asserted that there was no evidence of a fight taking place within the Albert residence where O’Keefe met his demise. According to his statements, eleven individuals reported never witnessing the officer enter the house, and none claimed to have seen him go inside. The data retrieved from O’Keefe’s phone, which was discovered under his body, according to Morrissey, indicated that his phone did not leave its location outside of the home.

The prosecutor asserted that it was unwarranted to accuse any of the witnesses of murder. Additionally, he stated that Proctor couldn’t have had the chance to plant evidence nor a reason to do so. (It has been stated that she damaged her taillight while pulling out of the garage to find O’Keefe, but it was allegedly shattered only after her vehicle was in police custody.) Morrissey mentioned that Proctor didn’t share a “close personal bond” with anyone involved in the investigation, and any claims suggesting otherwise are false.

During a court hearing in January 2024, Prosecutor Lally opposed a defense motion to access communication records between Proctor’s wife and Jennifer McCabe, a person present when O’Keefe’s body was discovered. Lally explained that Trooper Proctor has a sister who has a friend, whose husband has a brother, whose wife is Jennifer McCabe. In simpler terms, he was indicating that the connection exists through familial relationships.

On April 12, 2023, attorneys Yannetti and Jackson declared that recently found cell phone data from McCabe’s phone provided evidence that “completely cleared Karen” since it showed that other individuals “were conscious of John being in the snow and dying before Karen even realized he was missing.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., as asserted by the defense in an April 12 court filing, McCabe searched online “For how long does one die in cold conditions,” according to NBC Boston’s report.

In their initial statement, prosecutors expressed doubts about the accuracy of the defense’s interpretation of the raw data. They emphasized that they had repeatedly requested the defense to present any evidence that could potentially clear them, in line with their assertions.

During Read’s murder trial, McCabe testified that after they discovered O’Keefe, the defendant inquired about how long it takes to perish due to cold temperatures. She stated that she had been researching something else at 2:27 a.m., used the same browser tab for the subsequent search, and did not erase her browsing history or call log entries. “I would never have abandoned John O’Keefe to freeze to death,” she asserted, “because he was my cherished friend whom I held dear.

The legal team presented their own specialist in computer investigations as a witness, aiming to reinforce their claim that McCabe’s search was conducted at 6:23 in the morning.

In a court document submitted in January 2025, the prosecution attempted to prevent the defense’s data expert from testifying once more during the retrial. They argued that his opinions had been discredited or proven wrong. However, this motion was turned down, allowing the expert to continue testifying.

On February 22, 2024, I found myself at the center of an unexpected development when prosecutors submitted a memorandum detailing the findings from the crime scene investigation. Among the revelations, my DNA was detected on Read’s shattered taillight and a strand of my hair was found clinging to the rear passenger side door of her Lexus. It’s a turn of events I hadn’t anticipated, but one I must face squarely as I navigate through this new reality.

In a court filing, as reported by NBC Boston, prosecutors stated that traces of the victim’s DNA were found on the shattered tail light and tiny fragments of what appeared to be red and clear plastic in the victim’s clothes. Comparison tests were performed, revealing that these microscopic fragments match the broken pieces of plastic from the defendant’s rear taillight.

During the trial, the defense argued that the DNA evidence found on the scene might have been planted, supporting their broader theory that Read was falsely accused. However, they also suggested that the DNA could have originated from some other source and not necessarily from it coming into contact with O’Keefe.

Yannetti stated outside court on June 14, as reported by CBS Boston, that “It was found in the vehicle, to clarify.” He then posed this question: “The query is, how did that mysterious hair endure a 30-mile trip through heavy snowfall?

Prosecutors and law enforcement denied all accusations of planting or mishandling evidence.

Judge Beverly Cannone of Norfolk Superior Court delayed the commencement of Read’s trial from March 12 to April 16, 2024. This decision was made following the release by federal prosecutors of approximately 3,000 documents related to the case, which they were investigating due to allegations of a cover-up by the defense regarding the O’Keefe inquiry.

In court on February 26th, the defense contended that the released documents contained evidence clearing their client. However, the prosecution responded by stating that most of the findings aligned with previous testimonies. In a motions hearing on March 4, 2025, special prosecutor Hank Brennan declared that the federal investigation, which concluded without charging law enforcement personnel, had ended.

At a court hearing on March 13, 2024, the defense presented an additional request to throw out the case, claiming that the prosecution misled the grand jury that indicted Read. The reason being, the grand jury was unaware of the personal connections between the investigators and witnesses involved in the case.

In court papers made public weeks after the event, the defense argued that most of the people who appeared before the grand jury were not primarily called due to their alleged witnessing of what occurred with O’Keefe. Instead, they claimed these individuals were summoned to testify about “distant and unnecessary past actions” intended to prejudice the jury against Read, specifically accusing him of misleading the grand jury, complicating issues, and wasting time.

During the hearing, Assistant District Attorney Lally countered by stating that the defense was engaging in a game of “three-card monte,” which is similar to saying, “They’re trying to distract you by showing different relationships. The defense is trying to confuse the issue with their tactics. They don’t want you to focus on the substantial evidence. Instead, they want you to focus on who sent messages to whom.

Cannone denied the defense’s motion March 26, paving the way for the trial to begin as scheduled.

During his opening statement on April 29, 2024, attorney Yannetti emphasized that he believed O’Keefe sustained deadly injuries due to a brutal assault, and that his client was innocent and had been wrongfully accused.

According to Yannetti, it’s worth noting that at that specific location resided a highly recognized and well-connected law enforcement family, the Alberts, in Canton. Given their involvement and their strong ties with the investigators handling this case, Karen Read was falsely accused of a crime she didn’t commit.

In response, the defense argued that Read was upset and had consumed excessive alcohol, which led her to accidentally hit O’Keefe with her vehicle, then flee the scene, unintentionally causing his death.

The case ended with a hung jury and Cannone declared a mistrial on July 1.

In July 2024, the defense team of Read requested that TopMob News review their motion to dismiss her murder trial on the grounds of double jeopardy. They stated that three jurors from the initial trial had directly communicated to them without prompting that they all agreed beyond doubt that she was not guilty of both murder and failing to remain at the scene after a personal injury or death. This, according to the defense, would have allowed the judge to call for a partial verdict in this case.

In February 2025, the Massachusetts Supreme Court determined that disclosures of juror’s post-trial discussions which contradicted their courtroom statements couldn’t invalidate a mistrial decision nor serve as grounds for acquittal.

Despite feeling “extremely invaded,” she refused to yield, as expressed in an interview with Vanity Fair last August, a time when she chose not to testify during her trial.

In my professional opinion, I’d rather face the uncertainty of a trial than accept a plea bargain for a crime I didn’t commit. I prefer standing firm and proving my innocence over giving in and conceding victory to them.

In the pandemic-hit spring of 2020, when they reconnected on Facebook, she found herself drawn to O’Keefe rather swiftly, despite their brief relationship 16 years earlier. However, cracks soon began to appear in their relationship, as Read revealed. On a New Year’s trip to Aruba with other couples, she claimed to have witnessed him kissing another woman. Although the woman involved denied this during Read’s trial, she also admitted to exchanging flirtatious messages with a federal agent known to O’Keefe, which she believed provided her emotional support at the time.

However, according to Read’s statement in January 2022, he had pledged to care for his orphaned niece and nephew jointly, as O’Keefe was the primary guardian of his sister’s children, as reported by his family. He wished to maintain their bond and avoid separating them.

On January 29, 2022, when she accompanied O’Keefe to the Alberts’ home following an invitation for additional drinks, O’Keefe expressed a desire to first assess the inside ambiance before deciding whether to stay or leave. According to Read, when he stopped replying to her messages, she became angry and suspected he was involved with an ex-lover residing nearby. “I didn’t believe he was rendered incapable,” she said. After approximately 10 minutes, Read drove away, sending more texts and voicemails filled with anger in response.

reading further, it was unclear to Wonder if she indeed struck O’Keefe with her vehicle; this information she reportedly shared with VF. Moreover, she mentioned that she would take responsibility for any actions, however minor, that might have occurred.

According to the report, O’Keefe’s family expressed at the time that they continued to hold her responsible for his demise.

The family stated that unlike many people accused of murder and sued for wrongful death, Karen Read has excessively embraced her newfound fame. Their civil lawsuit against Read is currently on hold until her criminal case concludes. This excessive media campaign aimed at influencing potential jurors not only adds to the O’Keefe family’s immense grief but also delays and denies accountability for Read.

During Read’s initial trial, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Proctor acknowledged on the stand that he had used disrespectful and derogatory language towards Read in text messages to friends, family members, and colleagues. In some instances, the judge made him read these texts out loud in court. In response to a question about whether the homeowner whose house O’Keefe was found in would also face trouble, Proctor replied, “No, the homeowner is a Boston cop too.

On the witness stand, Proctor expressed remorse, admitting that his feelings had momentarily overcome him. However, he clarified that although his language was inappropriate and regrettable, it didn’t influence or impact the integrity of the investigation he conducted.

According to a report from TopMob News, it was revealed that he had been dismissed from his position just days prior to the scheduled retrial, as stated in a state police personnel directive dated March 19, 2025.

Previously, Proctor was temporarily barred from duty back in July. It’s important to note that this suspension wasn’t related to the accusations of concealment, collaboration, or intrigue brought forth by the defense, but instead, it was due to inappropriate language found in his personal text messages.

In response to his dismissal, Proctor’s family stated to NBC News that the trial board’s verdict seemed to have no prior examples and unjustly targeted one of their own, a trooper with a spotless 12-year service record, who was simply human and not corrupt, incompetent, or unsuitable for his role as a homicide detective, let alone being disqualified from serving as a Massachusetts State Trooper.

The five-episode documentary series titled “Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read” concluded on March 17, leaving Karen Read in an uncertain state following the declared mistrial.

The director, Terry Dunn Meurer, explained that they worked diligently to ensure a perfectly balanced final product, understanding full well that there would be another trial ahead.

Meurer stated, “This is a highly contentious matter, and it’s essential to acknowledge everyone’s viewpoint. Whether you support ‘Free Karen Read’ or lean towards the prosecution, I’m okay with that. However, it has been disheartening to observe the harshness – the insults and cruelty, the aggressive comments. This case has essentially played out on social media, and in my opinion, this is unfortunate. It undermines the justice system and doesn’t do justice to Karen.

Read pushed back against any notion that she was making the most of her newfound celebrity status.

When falsely accused, someone in my situation would surely make their innocence known loudly. However, if you even slightly suspect that anyone has worked more tirelessly to uncover the truth about John’s case or to make it clearer to everyone than I have, you’d be mistaken.”

By adjusting the sentence structure and using more common and conversational phrasing, the paraphrased version aims to sound less formal yet still convey the original message clearly.

Read’s retrial got underway on April 1, 2025.

In this instance, the intense court proceedings came to a close with a favorable result. On June 18, it was determined that Read was innocent of second-degree murder and manslaughter for operating a vehicle under the influence, as well as leaving the scene of an accident.

In this situation, she was determined to be driving while impaired by alcohol, leading to a sentence of supervised release for a period of one year.

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2025-08-29 23:48