Karen Read acquitted of Murder: All you need to know

June 2025 — After more than three years of investigation, public speculation, and two highly publicized trials, Karen Read has been acquitted of all significant charges related to the 2022 death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe. A Massachusetts jury found Read not guilty of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident causing death.

The verdict came after a six-week retrial in Norfolk Superior Court, where jurors deliberated for over 20 hours before deciding. Read was convicted only of operating under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor charge that carries a sentence of one year of probation.

The Allegations

Prosecutors alleged that in the early hours of January 29, 2022, Karen Read, then in a relationship with O’Keefe, struck him with her SUV while dropping him off outside a friend’s house during a snowstorm. The prosecution argued that she was intoxicated, angry, and left him to die in the cold without calling for help. O’Keefe, a respected Boston police officer, was found unresponsive in the snow later that morning and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Key evidence cited by the state included taillight fragments allegedly found near O’Keefe’s body, text messages from Read expressing regret, and witness accounts of her behavior the following day.

The Defense

Read’s legal team, however, argued that she was being framed. The defense suggested that O’Keefe was fatally injured not by a car, but inside the house he was visiting, and that a group of individuals, including law enforcement-connected friends of the homeowner, were protected by a flawed and biased investigation.

Throughout the trial, the defense pointed to inconsistent forensic evidence, missing surveillance footage, and questionable investigator conduct. One key figure, State Trooper Michael Proctor, who led the investigation, was later fired for unprofessional conduct and biased communications uncovered during trial proceedings.

The Verdict

The jury’s acquittal of Read reflects what legal analysts say was the prosecution's failure to meet the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Several jurors, speaking anonymously after the verdict, expressed concerns about the credibility of key witnesses and the overall handling of the case.

This Case and Culture

This tumultuous case has gained widespread media attention and divided public reaction. Supporters of Karen Read cheered her acquittal, while some Law Enforcement community members expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling.

What Comes Next

Although Karen Read will not face prison, legal proceedings are not over. A civil wrongful death lawsuit brought by the O’Keefe family is ongoing. Unlike criminal trials, civil cases operate under a lower standard of proof, which leaves Read vulnerable to greater liability.

The Karen Read trial has sparked national conversation about due process, digital privacy, police oversight, and the limits of public trust in criminal investigations. It is also a vivid example of how reasonable doubt functions in the justice system, particularly in high-profile, emotionally charged cases.