BREAKING: Karen Read Acquitted in Retrial Over Death of Boston Police Officer
GoLocalProv News Team
BREAKING: Karen Read Acquitted in Retrial Over Death of Boston Police Officer
The verdict was reached after several days of deliberations in the high-profile retrial, which has drawn national attention.
She was convicted of operating under the influence.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
The Case
Read, a former equity analyst and professor, was accused of fatally striking O’Keefe with her SUV during a snowstorm in January 2022 and leaving him to die outside a fellow officer’s home in Canton, Massachusetts. Prosecutors argued that Read was intoxicated and deliberately fled the scene.
The defense contended that Read was framed by law enforcement officers attempting to cover up a violent incident at a party where O’Keefe was assaulted and left outside.
The first trial ended in a mistrial in July 2024 due to a hung jury. In the retrial, which began in April 2025, the prosecution presented evidence suggesting that Read's vehicle was involved in the incident, including taillight fragments and DNA traces.
The defense countered with expert testimony disputing the crash reconstruction and suggesting alternative scenarios. Notably, the lead investigator from the first trial was not called to testify due to his discrediting.
Verdict
The jury deliberated for several days before returning a not guilty verdict on all charges save for driving under the influence.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
This story was written with Chat GPT in conjunction with apnews.com, boston.com, abc7.com