Karen Read is set to face her second trial on Tuesday, nearly seven months after the first trial ended with no clear verdict. Read is accused of murdering her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, in January 2022. Prosecutors allege that Read hit O’Keefe with her vehicle and left him to die in the midst of a major snowstorm that blanketed Boston that night. However, Read denies the charges and maintains that she is innocent.
In her first trial, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision, resulting in a mistrial. According to Read’s defense attorneys, at least four jurors who served in the first trial confirmed that they found Read not guilty of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident that led to O’Keefe’s death.
The retrial is set to begin with jury selection on Tuesday, which could take weeks. The first trial lasted over two months, including deliberations, and attracted significant media attention across the country.
Adding to the drama surrounding the case, Read recently brought an unexpected member onto her legal team for the retrial: Victoria George, an alternate juror from her first trial. George, a licensed civil attorney from Massachusetts, now plays a key role in Read’s defense. The involvement of a former juror in the case has added another layer of interest to an already high-profile trial.
Despite Read’s defense team pushing for the dismissal of the charges, a judge ruled in August that the charges would remain. The judge pointed out that no official verdict had been announced in the court, meaning Read could not be considered acquitted of the charges.
This ruling came despite claims from her legal team that the jury had essentially cleared her of the charges during deliberations. Read filed multiple appeals to both state and federal courts to have the charges dismissed, but her efforts were unsuccessful.
The events that led to O’Keefe’s death began on the night of January 29, 2022, when Read and O’Keefe went out with friends to a local sports bar before the storm hit. After spending some time at the bar, they went to another nearby location.
According to Read’s account in an interview with ABC News, around midnight, O’Keefe and several others decided to leave the bar and head to the home of Brian Albert, another Boston police officer. Read, who said she was feeling tired, claimed she dropped O’Keefe off outside of Albert’s residence before driving her SUV to her own home to sleep.
However, people who were at the gathering at Albert’s house, including Albert and others, insist that O’Keefe never entered the house. Read later and woke up to find herself alone, and became anxious when O’Keefe did not return home. She then called O’Keefe’s friends, Kerry Roberts and Jennifer McCabe (Brian Albert’s sister-in-law), to check if they had heard from him.
Read then drove around Canton, the town where the incident occurred, for about 20 minutes before meeting up with Roberts and McCabe. They drove to O’Keefe’s house, hoping he had made it home. When they found he was not there, they drove back to the place where Read had dropped him off earlier. It was there that they discovered O’Keefe’s lifeless body lying in a snowbank.
Emergency services were called, and O’Keefe was rushed to the hospital. He was pronounced dead that morning. An autopsy later determined that O’Keefe had died of hypothermia and blunt force injuries to the head. Prosecutors believe that Read intentionally struck O’Keefe with her vehicle during an argument earlier in the day, then abandoned him to die in the snowstorm.
The trial quickly gained attention when testimony emerged during the proceedings, which led to significant developments. It was revealed that Massachusetts State Police Officer Michael Proctor had been in communication with Canton Police Officer Kevin Albert in the weeks leading up to the trial.
Albert is the brother of Brian Albert, the man whose house was the last known location where O’Keefe had been. The testimony raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, and Proctor was subsequently suspended from his position in July.
In addition, Kevin Albert was placed on administrative leave after the revelations about his communications with Proctor, further complicating the already tense situation surrounding the case.
The accusations against Read have sparked a heated debate in Boston and beyond. Supporters of Read believe that she is being unfairly blamed for a tragic accident, while others argue that the evidence points to her guilt. The retrial will be closely watched by the public, as both sides continue to make their case in court.
As the second trial begins, the stakes are high. Read faces serious charges, including second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. If convicted, she could face significant prison time. The defense team will likely focus on challenging the prosecution’s narrative, while the trial will continue to argue that Read’s actions were intentional and that she left O’Keefe to die in the freezing cold.
The case has not only been a personal tragedy for those involved but has also sparked broader discussions about the role of law enforcement in criminal investigations. Proctor and Kevin Albert’s suspensions have only added fuel to the fire, raising questions about police conduct and the integrity of the investigation. The upcoming trial could have significant ramifications for all those involved.
As the trial approaches, it will undoubtedly continue to captivate the public’s attention. With new developments emerging almost daily, both sides are preparing for a long and challenging legal battle. What remains clear is that the case is far from over, and justice, whether for Read or O’Keefe, will likely continue to be a point of contention for some time to come.
Disclaimer: This article has been meticulously fact-checked by our team to ensure accuracy and uphold transparency. We strive to deliver trustworthy and dependable content to our readers.
Jon King is an experienced journalist with 3 years of experience in the field. With a strong background in investigative reporting, Jon is known for his in-depth coverage of crime news, finance news, local news, and USA news. Currently working with Mikeandjonpodcast, Jon brings his sharp investigative skills, where he provides timely updates and analysis on a wide range of topics. His commitment to delivering accurate and impactful news has earned him a reputation for providing insightful and comprehensive stories that resonate with his audience.
