Jurors began deliberating the fate of Karen Read, accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, as a high-stakes murder retrial reaches its conclusion.
At a Glance
- Karen Read faces second-degree murder charges for allegedly hitting her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow
- The defense claims O’Keefe was beaten and attacked by a dog inside a house, with evidence planted to frame Read
- Prosecutor Hank Brennan presented broken taillight evidence and Read’s statements, while defense attorney Alan Jackson highlighted investigation flaws
- The first trial ended in a mistrial with a hung jury; Read now faces potential life imprisonment if convicted
- Key investigators from the first trial, including a fired state police officer, were not called to testify in the retrial
The Prosecution’s Case
Special prosecutor Hank Brennan presented a straightforward theory to jurors: Karen Read, while intoxicated, struck John O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV in Canton, Massachusetts, then abandoned him in freezing conditions. Forensic evidence showed O’Keefe’s DNA on both the damaged taillight and a broken cocktail glass. Prosecutors also highlighted Read’s own statements following the incident, which they claim indicate consciousness of guilt.
“She was drunk. She hit him and she left him to die,” Brennan told jurors in closing arguments. The prosecution emphasized Read’s blood alcohol level and her alleged decision to leave the scene after hitting O’Keefe with her vehicle. If convicted of second-degree murder, Read faces 15 years to life in prison, with the manslaughter charge carrying 5 to 20 years.
This was the devastating ending to the debate between @DoctorTurtleboy and I (via @lawcrimenews) as to the lonesome death of #JohnOKeefe, and his accused murderer, #KarenRead.
I dismantled Kearney's argument about a "dog bite", which is not at issue in the case, whatsoever, and… https://t.co/4F29IcF2b1 pic.twitter.com/SfdKW9xybe
— Grant Smith Ellis (@GrantSmithEllis) April 19, 2024
The Defense Strategy
Defense attorney Alan Jackson has mounted an aggressive counterargument, repeatedly insisting: “There was no collision. There was no collision. There was no collision.” The defense team suggests O’Keefe was actually beaten and bitten by a dog inside the home of retired police officer Brian Albert, where a party was taking place that night. They’ve questioned why Albert rehomed his dog and renovated his basement following the incident.
“What happened inside that house, that basement or that garage? What evidence was there for investigators to look into? What did they ignore?”, said Alan Jackson.
Jackson has worked to create reasonable doubt by suggesting a law enforcement conspiracy to frame Read. The defense pointed to suspicious circumstances, including a web search by party attendee Jennifer McCabe about hypothermia death that was made before O’Keefe’s body was discovered. They also noted that the damaged taillight could have occurred earlier when Read backed out of O’Keefe’s driveway.
Full clip of the excellent discussion between @WBZNewsRadio’s Dan Rea (@wbznightside) and myself regarding the case of accused murderer #KarenRead, and the lonesome death of #JohnOKeefe.
I explained the state's theory of malice second degree murder in the case, and Dan said I am… https://t.co/hlRCyjzXba pic.twitter.com/pafGhSPEVE
— Grant Smith Ellis (@GrantSmithEllis) April 20, 2024
A Troubled Investigation
The defense has repeatedly highlighted problems with the police investigation. The lead homicide detective, former State Police officer Michael Proctor, was suspended and later fired after the first trial. He was found to have communicated inappropriately during the investigation and was notably absent from the witness stand during the retrial, a point the defense emphasized to jurors.
“John O’Keefe is not a body. John O’Keefe is not a buffalo on a prairie. He was a person, and he was murdered by Karen Read,” said Hank Brennan
The retrial has featured contentious moments, including two denied motions for mistrial by Read’s attorneys. One dispute centered on a prosecutor mistakenly presenting evidence related to O’Keefe’s sweater. As in the first trial, Read chose not to testify in her own defense, though jurors have heard her voice through interview clips presented as evidence, including her statement, “I didn’t think I hit him.”
The Jury’s Decision
After hearing extensive testimony over multiple weeks, jurors are now deliberating whether Read is guilty of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of the fatal incident. The first trial ended with a hung jury, and appeals by Read’s lawyers to prevent a retrial on certain charges were denied. The case has drawn significant public attention, with supporters on both sides closely watching the proceedings.
The jury must weigh whether Read was responsible for O’Keefe’s death or if, as the defense suggests, something more sinister occurred inside the house where the party was held. The verdict will determine whether Read faces a potential life sentence or can put this legal ordeal behind her after two lengthy trials.
