Jury finds Karen Read not guilty on murder charge

DEDHAM, Mass. (WLNE) — The jury has found Karen Read not guilty in her second murder trial.

Read was also found not guilty on her vehicular manslaughter charge, but was found guilty for operating under influence of alcohol.

Read was accused of killing her then-boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, in January 2022.

Prosecutors argued that Read had hit O’Keefe with her SUV while leaving a party and then left him to die in the cold.

The defense, meanwhile, argued that the investigators were “biased” against Read, especially lead investigator former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor, who was fired for misconduct based on his actions during the investigation.

Her original trial ended in a mistrial in 2024.

Canton Select Board Chair John McCourt released the following statement after the verdict was read:

The Town of Canton acknowledges today’s verdict in the Commonwealth’s case against Karen Read.

The town respects the legal process and the role of the jury in weighing the facts and rendering a verdict. We thank the members of the jury for their service and attention over the past several weeks.

This case has been the subject of intense public interest, scrutiny and speculation for three years. Our community has been deeply affected.

Today’s outcome may bring a sense of relief to some and continue to raise questions for others. We encourage members of the community to move forward together, treating one another with respect through civil, constructive dialogue.