By Adam | April 10, 2025 | Boston, MA
The retrial of Karen Read, a Massachusetts woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend in 2022, opened this week with sharply conflicting narratives. Prosecutors painted her as a vengeful girlfriend who fatally struck Officer John O'Keefe with her SUV after a night of tension and alcohol. The defense, however, cast Read as the scapegoat in a broader cover-up by members of the Boston law enforcement community.
The case, which has drawn national media attention and spurred passionate public debate, stems from the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe on January 29, 2022. O'Keefe's body was found in the snow outside a colleague's home in Canton, Massachusetts. He had suffered blunt force trauma to the head and hypothermia. Prosecutors allege Read hit him with her car and left him to die after an argument.
A Tense Relationship and a Tragic Night
During opening statements Tuesday, special prosecutor Hank Brennan asserted that Read, frustrated with the deteriorating state of her relationship with O’Keefe, struck him while backing out of the driveway after a night of drinking. He said she was angry, intoxicated, and made a conscious decision that had fatal consequences.
“She knew what she had done,” Brennan told the jury, arguing that Read’s SUV left physical evidence linking it to the injuries sustained by O’Keefe.
Brennan also emphasized that Read’s own statements — including those made to friends, family, and in interviews — would play a critical role in the case. “She has embarked on a campaign of public statements, interviews, and media appearances,” he said, adding that many of her words contradict the evidence.
Defense Alleges Police Cover-Up
In a dramatic rebuttal, Read’s defense attorneys portrayed her not as a murderer, but as a woman ensnared in a conspiracy to protect powerful figures. They argued that O’Keefe was attacked inside the home of a fellow officer, then dragged outside to make it appear as if Read had hit him.
Lead defense attorney David Yannetti told jurors, “Karen Read did not kill John O’Keefe. She loved him. She has been set up by the very people who should have sought justice for him.”
The defense claims that the initial investigation was flawed, with key evidence either ignored or manipulated. They pointed to what they called suspicious behavior by several individuals inside the house that night, including police officers, and questioned why forensic tests weren’t more thoroughly conducted on the premises.
Public Trial in the Court of Opinion
Karen Read has been unusually vocal for a criminal defendant. In recent months, she has spoken to reporters outside court, participated in lengthy interviews for documentaries, and appeared in a national magazine piece. Her legal team contends this transparency is part of a desperate effort to fight what they believe is an institutional cover-up.
Her public visibility has made the trial a cultural flashpoint, with factions forming online in support of her innocence or condemnation. Outside the courthouse on Tuesday, supporters held signs that read “Justice for Karen” and chanted in protest of the state’s handling of the case.
Retrial Follows Hung Jury
The retrial follows a nine-week trial in the summer of 2023 that ended in a mistrial when jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. The inability to convict — or acquit — has only deepened public fascination with the case, which touches on themes of domestic violence, abuse of power, and gender dynamics in the justice system.
Notably, while many of the arguments being presented now echo those heard during the first trial, Tuesday’s opening statements hinted at key differences in approach. The prosecution seems more determined to tie Read’s own words to the outcome, while the defense appears to be emphasizing institutional corruption more strongly than before.
What’s Next?
The trial is expected to last several weeks, with testimony from friends, neighbors, forensic experts, and members of the Boston Police Department. Surveillance footage, phone records, and physical evidence from the scene are also expected to be presented.
If convicted of second-degree murder, Read could face life in prison. But if her defense succeeds in convincing the jury that she’s the victim of a cover-up, it could send shockwaves through Boston’s legal and law enforcement communities.
The courtroom saga continues — and so does the fight for justice, whichever side you believe.