Karen Read Verdict: Judge Forced To Rule After Jurors Fail To Agree

MASSACHUSETTS — A judge declared a mistrial Monday in the case of Karen Read, the Mansfield woman charged in connection with the 2022 death of her police officer boyfriend John O'Keefe.

For five days, the jury deliberated the two scenarios put forth in court: Did Read, 44, kill O'Keefe by hitting him with her Lexus and then leaving him to die in a snowstorm after a night out drinking; or was Read framed by the fellow police officers with whom O'Keefe fought that night?

"We find ourselves divided by fundamental differences in our opinions," the jurors said in a note to the judge.

The hung jury means that Read is neither convicted nor acquitted, and the Norfolk District Attorney's Office says that the state intends to retry the case.

The case created a carnival atmosphere outside the Dedham courthouse, where a "sidewalk jury" of true crime bloggers and pink-shirted Read supporters have gathered each day since the trial began nearly two months ago.

Read had worked as an equity analyst and was an adjunct lecturer in finance at her alma mater, Bentley University. O'Keefe, 46, was a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department. She often stayed at O'Keefe's house in Canton, where the couple ended up at the home of another Boston officer, Brian Albert, after a night of bar-hopping in January 2022. A federal agent, Brian Higgins, also was among those at the gathering.

An autopsy found O’Keefe died of hypothermia and blunt force trauma, and prosecutors said Read and O’Keefe had been drinking heavily before she dropped him off at a party at Albert's home, hitting him with her SUV before driving away.

Pieces of Read's broken taillight were found at the scene, and a single hair from O'Keefe was found on the rear bumper of Read's SUV. Prosecutors say that Read repeatedly said "I hit him. I hit him. Oh my God, I hit him" to first responders and others. Prosecutors replayed angry voicemails Read left for O'Keefe, painting a picture of a failing relationship. They also questioned her behavior, saying she never cried after O'Keefe's body was found.

Meanwhile, Read's lawyers said she was charged based on lies told by officers who were trying to protect themselves. Her lawyers said the pieces of taillight and the hair were planted hours before the crime scene was secured. They suggested O'Keefe might have been beaten up by Higgins, who had flirted with Read over texts, and that the men panicked before trying to cover up the crime.

In addition, police acknowledged using red plastic cups to collect blood evidence and a leaf blower to try to clear away snow to reveal evidence.

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.

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.

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 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.

Read had been charged with second-degree murder, which in Massachusetts is punishable by life in prison with the possibility of parole. She also faced lesser charges of manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.