Karen Read civil suit accuses others in O’Keefe’s death

TAUNTON, Mass. (WLNE) — Karen Read has filed a civil complaint accusing several friends of John O’Keefe of being responsible for his death.

Read’s civil lawsuit comes months after she was cleared on charges of murder and manslaughter.

Prosecutors had argued she hit O’Keefe with her SUV and left him to die in the snow.

Throughout two criminal trials, Read’s defense claimed O’Keefe was killed by other people at a house party they’d gone to that night, and she was set up to take the fall.

Read’s civil complaint said other friends of O’Keefe used their police ties to influence the investigation by Massachusetts State Police, which was led by now former trooper Michael Proctor, who was fired over misconduct allegations from his handling of the case after Read’s first trial.

Read is seeking millions of dollars in damages, in part to cover her legal expenses from the criminal trials.