Karen Read 'Not Guilty' Of Murder Of Police Boyfriend In Celebrated Case

DEDHAM, MA — Karen Read was found not guilty of all murder charges against her in the death of her police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe on Wednesday, to mark the conclusion of one of the most celebrated and dramatic police and court cases in recent Massachusetts memory.

Read was found not guilty of second-degree murder, not guilty of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and not guilty of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in a death. She was found guilty of the misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Read's second trial lasted two months and came after a hung jury was declared in her first trial last year.

Crowds of Read supporters who gathered daily outside the courthouse erupted in cheers when the verdict was announced inside the courtroom.

Read broke down in tears in the courtroom and spoke on the courtroom steps as she left: "No one has fought harder for justice for John O'Keefe than I have. Then I have, and my team."

Read was accused of backing into O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV after a night of drinking during a January 2022 blizzard and then leaving him to die. But Read gained widespread support for her lawyers' contention that she was not responsible for his death and may have been the victim of a conspiracy to frame her for his death.

Read was sentenced to one year of probation on the OUI conviction at the recommendation of prosecutors.

The case was marked with sensationalism and controversy that included accusations of police corruption and led to the firing of lead investigator Michael Proctor for sending derogatory messages and sharing confidential information about Read.