Karen Read Faces Retrial for Alleged Murder of Police Officer Boyfriend

Karen Read's retrial is set to begin on April 1, 2025, after her first trial ended in a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury. Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, in January 2022, with prosecutors alleging she struck him with her vehicle and left him to die in the snow while intoxicated. Read maintains her innocence, claiming she is a victim of a cover-up by law enforcement, who she alleges want to protect their own. The case has garnered significant public attention, with supporters rallying outside the courthouse, and has included controversial elements such as vulgar texts from a now-fired trooper involved in the investigation. The defense argues that O'Keefe was killed in a separate incident and subsequently moved outside, while the prosecution asserts that Read's actions directly led to his death. Jury selection for the retrial may take weeks, reflecting the complex and polarized nature of the case.