By Amanda Brucculeri and Allyn Tucker
Boston University News Service
Karen Read has been found not guilty of murdering her boyfriend after four days of deliberations.
On Wednesday, the jury acquitted Read of all charges, except operating under the influence. The jury found her not guilty of second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene after an accident resulting in death.
Deliberations began on Friday after eight weeks of testimony. This is Read’s second murder trial, as her first one in 2024 ended in a mistrial after the jury could not reach a verdict.
Supporters of Read could be seen outside the courthouse wearing pink and cheering as they waited for Read to make her exit.
Read was first arrested in February of 2022 following the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, where she pleaded not guilty to the three charges brought against her. In June of that year, Read was indicted by a Norfolk County grand jury on all three charges.
Prosecutors alleged that Read hit O’Keefe with her car early in the morning in January of 2022 after a night of heavily drinking, leaving him outside to die in the blizzarding weather conditions.
Read’s defense claims that she was framed, describing an altercation between O’Keefe, officer Brian Albert and others inside Albert’s home as the possible cause of death. Her legal team also alleged that there was a coverup involved in Read’s indictment, due to the case involving multiple employees of the police department.
The difference in stories between what prosecutors alleged and Read’s defense alleged sparked major internet debate online, placing the case under a major national spotlight.
Resulting from today’s verdict, Read was sentenced to one year of probation for operating a vehicle under the influence.
