Karen Read’s deadlocked jury leads to mistrial in death of her Boston police officer boyfriend
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By The Associated Press
DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) — A judge declared a mistrial Monday after jurors deadlocked in the case of Karen Read, a woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend by striking him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm, a case that drew outsize attention thanks to true crime fanatics, conspiracy theorists and Read’s pink-shirted supporters.
Read, a former adjunct professor at Bentley College, faced second-degree murder and other charges in the death of Officer John O’Keefe, a 16-year member of the Boston police who was found outside a Canton home of another Boston police officer in January 2022. An autopsy found O’Keefe died of hypothermia and blunt force trauma.
Prosecutors said Read and O’Keefe had been drinking heavily before she dropped him off at a party at the home of Brian Albert, a fellow officer. They said she hit him with her SUV before driving away.
The defense sought to portray Read as the victim, saying O’Keefe was actually was killed inside Albert’s home and then dragged outside and left for dead. They argued that investigators focused on Read because she was a “convenient outsider” who saved them from having to consider other suspects, including Albert and other law enforcement officers at the party.
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Before the jury enters, Judge Beverly J. Cannone, right, speaks to the defense and prosecution during the Karen Read trial at the Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. This is their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Read. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (Pat GreenhouseThe Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Pat Greenhouse/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Judge Beverly J. Cannone speaks in Norfolk Superior Court, on their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Pat Greenhouse/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read talks with her legal team at the Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. This is their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Read. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Pat Greenhouse/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read stands as jurors depart the court for the weekend at the trial of Read at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday, June 25. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday, June 25. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial All stand as the jury files out to the courtroom, to start their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Pat Greenhouse/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday, June 25. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read looks toward the jurors, as they are greeted by Judge Beverly J. Cannone at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Monday, July 1, 2024. This is their fifth day of deliberations in the murder trial for Read. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Pat Greenhouse/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read stands as jurors depart the court to continue with deliberations at the trial of Read at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read watches as jurors are seated in court to continue with deliberations at the trial of Read at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, left, arrives with her defense team, including Elizabeth Little at right, at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. A jury is deliberating Read's fate, as her trial is nearing its end. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read watches as jurors are seated in court to continue with deliberations at the trial of Read at Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 28, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool) (Charles Krupa/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read gets a long hug from her dad William before the jury breaks for lunch at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, while walking near defense attorney David Yannetti, right, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, left, stands in a doorway near defense attorney David Yannetti, center, as they depart Norfolk Superior Court, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, Thursday, June 27, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read listens as Judge Beverly J. Cannone greets the jury, at the start of the third day of deliberations in her murder trial, in Norfolk Superior Court on Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Pat Greenhouse/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read speaks with her attorney, Alan Jackson as the jury leaves the courtroom to start their third day of deliberations, in her murder trial, in Norfolk Superior Court on Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Pat Greenhouse/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read speaks with her lawyer as the jury deliberates in her murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read watches as the jury enters the courtroom for the start of the second day of deliberation at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP) (Greg Derr/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read speaks with her lawyer as the jury deliberates in her murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read awaits the juries verdict in her murder case at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 26, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP) (Greg Derr/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Alan Jackson, From left, Liza Little, defendant Karen Read and David Yanetti wait for a question from the jury as the jury deliberates in Read's murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Judge Beverly Cannone looks over the verdict slip the jurors have to fill out when they reach a verdict in Karen Read's murder trail, Wednesday June 26, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. The defense has asked for some modifications. Read is charged with second-degree murder in the January 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, departs Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Closing arguments in Karen Read trial
Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip Defense attorneys in Karen Read murder trial argue with judge over jury verdict slip
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, departs Norfolk Superior, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. Jury deliberations began in the trial Tuesday afternoon. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read arrives at Norfolk Superior Court, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. The jury began deliberations in the trial Tuesday. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, left, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Carol Kelly, of Canton, Mass., below right, waves a pink and white American flag in support of Karen Read while Gail White, of Canton, left, holds a sign, a block from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Lisa Hoffman, of Mansfield, Mass., right, displays a sign in support of Karen Read that features a likeness of a Massachusetts license plate, while seated a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, center left, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Supporters of Karen Read display signs and a banner a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Supporters of Karen Read listen to proceedings from Read's trial from a laptop computer while gathered a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Karen Read murder trial
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Laura McGillis, of Attleboro, Mass., a supporter of Karen Read, waves to passing cars a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Eva Jenkins, of Bourne, Mass., left, a supporter of Karen Read, waves to passing cars as other supporters place a banner, right, a block away from Norfolk Superior Court, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center right, arrives at Norfolk Superior Court with her father William Read, center left, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Karen Read is on trial, accused of killing her boyfriend Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in 2022. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) (Steven Senne/AP)
Norfolk Superior Court Dedham Some witnesses are in the courtroom on Tuesday include Brian Albert, Colin Albert, and Jennifer McCabe.
Karen Read
Officer Killed-Girlfriend Trial Karen Read listens to family members, after the jury is dismissed at the end of the evidence phase of her murder trial at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., Monday, June 24, 2024. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Pat Greenhouse/AP)
Officer Killed-Girlfriend Trial After the defense's last witness, Judge Beverly J. Cannone speaks to the jury during the murder trial for Karen Read at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., Monday, June 24, 2024. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Pat Greenhouse/AP)
Karen Read Karen Read
Officer Killed-Girlfriend Trial Retired forensic pathologist Dr. Frank Sheridan (not shown) is questioned by defense attorney Elizabeth Little during the murder trial for Karen Read at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., Monday, June 24, 2024. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Pat Greenhouse/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, stands amid her lawyers during a break in proceedings during Read's trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) (Josh Reynolds/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, and her defense lawyers Alan Jackson, left, and David Yannetti, right, listen as the prosecution questions their witness Dr. Marie Russell, during Read's trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) (Josh Reynolds/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, listens as the prosecutor questions Dr. Marie Russell, during Read's trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) (Josh Reynolds/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, reacts to testimony from Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner for the state's medical examiner's office during Read's trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) (Josh Reynolds/AP)
Officer-Killed-Girlfriend Karen Read, center, reacts to testimony from Dr. Irini Scordi-Bello, a medical examiner for the state's medical examiner's office during Read's trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) (Josh Reynolds/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, listens to testimony during her murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds, Pool) (Josh Reynolds/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read, center, sits in court with her legal team during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read is accused of backing her SUV into her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, and leaving him to die in a blizzard in Canton, in 2022. (David McGlynn/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (David McGlynn/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Defendant Karen Read listens to her lawyer Alan Jackson question witness Massachusetts State trooper Michael Proctor during her, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John O’Keefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read reacts to he attorney Alan Jackson as he cross examines state trooper Michael Proctor during her trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John O’Keefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Karen Read and attorney David Yannetti listen during her trial, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court in Dedham, Mass. Read is facing charges, including second degree murder, in the 2022 death of her boyfriend Boston Officer John O’Keefe. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger/AP)
Karen Read trial Karen Read, center right, is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Kayla Bartkowski/(Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool))
Karen Read trial Karen Read is seated Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Super Court, in Dedham, Mass., during her trial on charges in connection with the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Kayla Bartkowski/(Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool))
Karen Read trial
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Defendant Karen Read sits at the defense table during her trial, Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool) (David McGlynn/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Defendant Karen Read sits at the defense table during her trial, Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (David McGlynn/New York Post via AP, Pool) (David McGlynn/AP)
On Friday, a jury foreperson told the judge that they hadn’t reached a unanimous verdict despite an “exhaustive review of the evidence.” The judge told jurors to keep trying.
Testimony during the two-month trial focused on shoddy police work and relationships between the parties. Police acknowledged using red plastic cups to collect blood evidence and a leaf blower to try to clear away snow to reveal evidence. The lead investigator acknowledged making crude statements about Read in texts from his personal cellphone.
Experts disagreed on whether O’Keefe’s injuries were consistent with being hit by Read’s luxury SUV, which had a broken taillight. The defense contended the injuries were caused by an altercation and the Albert family’s aggressive dog.
While the drama played out in a courtroom, dozens of Read’s supporters dressed in pink gathered each day outside, carrying “Free Karen Read” signs and mobbing her when she arrived each day. Motorists honked their horns in support. A smaller group of people who want Read convicted also turned up.
Prosecutors relied on several first responders who testified that Read admitted that she hit O’Keefe — saying “I hit him” — as well as evidence that Read was legally intoxicated or close to it eight hours later, after she returned to the house with friends and they found the body.
Several witnesses testified the couple had a stormy relationship that had begun to sour. Prosecutors presented angry texts between the couple hours before O’Keefe died. They also played voice messages from Read to O’Keefe that were left after she allegedly struck him, including one left minutes afterward saying, “John I (expletive) hate you.”
Defense attorneys sought to poke holes in the police investigation, noting that Albert’s house was never searched for signs of a fight involving O’Keefe and that the crime scene was not secured. They suggested that some evidence -- like pieces of her SUV’s cracked taillight, a broken drinking glass and even a strand of hair -- was planted by police.
A turning point in the trial came when lead investigator, State Trooper Michael Proctor, took the stand. He acknowledged sending offensive texts about Read to friends, family, and fellow troopers during the investigation. He apologized for the language he used but insisted they had no influence on the investigation.
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial A photo of Karen Read's Lexis SUV is shown during her trial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Karen Read SUV video
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial A copy of text messages between trooper Michael Proctor and his sister Courtney Elberg related to a thank you gift appears on a screen during the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass., Wednesday June 12, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Karen Read trial
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Evidence collected on Fairview Road, Canton is presented on day 20 of the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
Officer Killed Girlfriend Trial Evidence collected on Fairview Road, Canton is presented on day 20 of the Karen Read murder trial in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. on Wednesday June 5, 2024. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool) (Greg Derr/AP)
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Karen Read evidence
Karen Read evidence
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Karen Read evidence
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The jury is seeing video from C.F. McCarthy’s. The bar before the Waterfall. Lally is asking to note the glass. You can see Read and O’Keefe in the lower left corner
Partial reconstruction of taillight found at crime scene
ADA Lally begins by displaying pictures of broken taillight pieces on the screen and asking Vallier if she recognizes them.
John O'Keefes t-shirt John O'Keefes t-shirt
John O'Keefe sweatshirt John O'Keefe sweatshirt
John O'Keefe sweatshirt John O'Keefe sweatshirt
Jennifer McCabe searches Jennifer McCabe searches
Karen Read murder trial
Video from John O'Keefe Ring doorbell Video from John O'Keefe Ring doorbell
DNA Evidence (Karen Read Trial) DNA Evidence (Karen Read Trial)
DNA Evidence (Karen Read Trial) DNA Evidence (Karen Read Trial)
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Karen Read murder trial
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Karen Read murder trial
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
Karen Read and Officer O'Keefe
In his texts, he called Read several names, including “whack job.” At one point, he texted his sister that he wished Read would “kill herself,” which he told jurors was a figure of speech. And despite having relationships with several witnesses, he remained on the case.
Two expert witnesses hired by the U.S. Department of Justice during an investigation of police handling of the case testified for the defense, providing a scientific analysis for their conclusion that O’Keefe’s injuries and the physical evidence didn’t sync with the prosecution theory that he was struck and injured by Read’s 7,000-pound (3,175-kilogram) vehicle.
O’Keefe had a significant head injury and other injuries but lacked significant bruising or broken bones typically associated with being hit by a vehicle at the speed indicated by GPS and the SUV’s onboard computer.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.