Karen Read Acquitted Murder Charges Citing Sloppy Police Investigation

Karen Read was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges in the death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, following a trial marked by significant criticism of the investigation. Jurors cited a 'sloppy police investigation' and numerous 'holes' in the prosecution's case, which left them with reasonable doubt about whether a collision involving Read's vehicle actually occurred. One juror noted that O’Keefe’s arm injuries appeared more consistent with a dog bite than a car accident, and expressed concern over inappropriate behavior by the chief investigator during the case. While some jurors were uncertain about potential police corruption, they agreed that the evidence presented was insufficient to convict Read. Despite the acquittal on the most serious charges, Read was found guilty of operating under the influence and sentenced to probation. Jurors expressed confidence that their decision was correct based on the evidence and the perceived investigative lapses.