By A judge declared a mistrial on Monday in the case of Karen Read, a former adjunct professor at Bentley College, after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict regarding the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. The case, which has captured widespread attention from true crime enthusiasts and sparked intense debate, revolved around allegations that Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV and left him in a snowstorm outside a fellow officer’s home in Canton in January 2022.
Officer O’Keefe, a 16-year veteran of the Boston police force, was found deceased, with the autopsy revealing he died from hypothermia and blunt force trauma. Prosecutors argued that Read, after a night of heavy drinking with O’Keefe, dropped him off at a party hosted by another officer, Brian Albert, and subsequently struck him with her vehicle before leaving the scene.
In contrast, the defense contended that O’Keefe was killed inside Albert’s residence and then moved outside to frame Read. They criticized the police investigation, alleging bias and mishandling of evidence. Throughout the trial, testimony highlighted questionable police practices, including crude remarks made by the lead investigator about Read and the use of unconventional methods to collect evidence.
Despite emotional testimony and conflicting expert opinions on the cause of O’Keefe’s injuries, the jury remained deadlocked after an exhaustive deliberation. Witnesses presented by the prosecution testified that Read admitted hitting O’Keefe, while the defense challenged the integrity of evidence and the motives of law enforcement involved in the investigation.
The trial drew significant public interest, with supporters of Karen Read gathering outside the courtroom daily, dressed in pink and holding signs advocating for her release. Concurrently, dissenting voices also appeared, underscoring the divisive nature of the case within the community.
Prosecutors highlighted Read’s alleged intoxication hours after the incident and presented evidence suggesting a turbulent relationship between the couple, including contentious text messages and voicemails. Defense attorneys, however, argued that critical evidence linking Read to the crime scene was potentially planted and questioned the thoroughness of the investigation into alternative suspects.
Central to the trial’s scrutiny was State Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator, who admitted to sending derogatory messages about Read during the investigation. While he apologized for his language, he maintained that his personal opinions did not influence the case’s impartiality.
Throughout the proceedings, experts provided conflicting analyses regarding the physical evidence and injuries sustained by O’Keefe, further complicating the jury’s deliberations. Despite efforts by both sides to sway the verdict, the jury ultimately remained divided on the crucial aspects of the case.
With the mistrial declared, the legal future of Karen Read remains uncertain, leaving unresolved questions about the circumstances surrounding Officer John O’Keefe’s tragic death and the conduct of law enforcement during the investigation.
