Karen Read acquitted in her second murder trial.

A jury has acquitted Karen Read in her second murder trial concerning the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. The verdict, delivered on June 18, 2025, concluded a lengthy jury deliberation that began on June 13 and was marked by intense scrutiny and complexity.

Read had faced severe charges, including second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a deadly accident. Ultimately, the jury reached a not guilty verdict on all major charges. However, she was convicted of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and received a sentence of one year of probation. As she exited the Norfolk County Superior Court, Read expressed her relief and gratitude, acknowledging supporters gathered outside.

The incident at the center of this case occurred on January 28, 2022, when Read and O’Keefe spent the evening socializing at the Waterfall Bar and Grille. After consuming alcohol, O’Keefe requested to be driven to a party hosted by a retired police officer. Prosecutors contended that Read, allegedly intoxicated, intentionally struck O’Keefe with her SUV following a disagreement over their relationship. Their narrative depicted a harrowing scene where Read purportedly fled after leaving him to succumb to injuries in adverse weather conditions characterized by a snowstorm.

In contrast, Read’s defense team argued that she was misrepresented as a perpetrator in a convoluted case marred by alleged misconduct and a law enforcement cover-up. They contended that O’Keefe might have sustained injuries from another source, describing the possibility of a violent confrontation at the party he attended. Defense attorneys pointed to expert testimonies suggesting the injuries O’Keefe sustained were consistent with blunt-force trauma rather than being hit by a vehicle.

The case’s complexity was underscored by the debates surrounding the evidence, as no witness could conclusively connect O’Keefe’s injuries to being struck by Read’s vehicle. Dr. Elizabeth Laposata, a former medical examiner, noted inconsistencies in the injuries linked to the prosecution’s claim, further muddling the circumstances surrounding O’Keefe’s death.

This trial marked a significant chapter in Read’s life, as her prior trial resulted in a mistrial due to a hung jury. Following this latest development, the implications for Read and the broader community remain to be seen, with ongoing discussions likely regarding the interactions between law enforcement and domestic situations.