From CBS News · Matt Schooley · · 4m
Karen Read acquitted of murder, convicted of DUI
After a mistrial and retrial, a Massachusetts woman is cleared of killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer, but found guilty of driving under the influence.
In brief
After a mistrial and retrial, a Massachusetts woman is cleared of killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer, but found guilty of driving under the influence. Karen Read was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe but convicted of driving under the…
Read acquitted of murder charges
Karen Read was found not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe in June twenty twenty-five. She was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.
The night O'Keefe died
On January twenty-ninth, twenty twenty-two, Karen Read and John O'Keefe went to the Waterfall Bar and Grill in Canton.
Strained relationship
Court documents revealed text messages and voicemails between Read and O'Keefe showed a strained relationship. Around one a.m., Read allegedly left O'Keefe a voicemail saying you are a loser, and John, I hate you.
“you are a f, loser, f, - yourself”
Read reports O'Keefe missing
At four twenty-three a.m., O'Keefe's niece called Jennifer McCabe, Brian Albert's sister-in-law.She said Read was distraught because O'Keefe had not come home.Around five a.m.
Read mentions possible collision
At five a.m., Read, McCabe, and another woman went to look for O'Keefe. Read mentioned to the women that she had a crack in her tail light and wondered if she could have hit O'Keefe.
O'Keefe found dead
Around six a.m., Read saw O'Keefe lying in the snow outside Brian Albert's home. While hysterical and inconsolable, Read repeatedly said I hit him. I hit him.
“I hit him. I hit him.”
Disputed Google search
On January twenty-ninth, prosecutors and defense attorneys disagreed about when someone googled how long to die in cold.Prosecutors said the search happened at six twenty-three a.m.and six twenty-four a.m.after O'Keefe's body was found.
Cause of death determined
An autopsy completed on January thirty-first, twenty twenty-two found that John O'Keefe died from blunt impact injuries to the head and hypothermia. The medical examiner found no obvious signs of an altercation or a fight.
Read charged with murder
On June tenth, twenty twenty-two, a Norfolk County grand jury indicted Karen Read on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of personal injury and death.
Defense alleges cover-up
In May twenty twenty-three, Read's defense attorneys alleged that John O'Keefe was involved in a fight inside Brian Albert's home, beaten, and his body was later dumped outside. They focused on wounds to O'Keefe's arms.
Read speaks publicly
On May twenty-fourth, twenty twenty-three, Read spoke to reporters for the first time.She said I tried to save his life.
“I tried to save his life. I tried to save his life at six in the morning, I was covered in his blood.”
First trial ends in mistrial
Karen Read's first trial started in April twenty twenty-four at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham. On July first, twenty twenty-four, a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury that was deeply divided.
Lead investigator relieved of duty
Hours after the mistrial was declared on July first, twenty twenty-four, Massachusetts State Police announced that Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the case, has been relieved of duty.
Proctor fired from state police
On March nineteenth, twenty twenty-five, Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in Read's case, was fired by Massachusetts State Police.
“hopefully she kills herself”
Second trial begins
Jury selection for Karen Read's second trial began on April first, twenty twenty-five. A jury was seated on April fifteenth, twenty twenty-five, with opening statements scheduled to take place a week later.
Supreme Court denies appeal
On April twenty-eighth, twenty twenty-five, the United States Supreme Court announced it will not hear Karen Read's appeal on grounds of double jeopardy, clearing the way for the trial to proceed.
Jury reaches verdict
On June eighteenth, twenty twenty-five, in their fourth day of deliberations, jurors acquitted Read of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
Read sentenced to probation
Judge Beverly Cannone sentenced Karen Read to one year probation following her conviction on the driving under the influence charge. Several key prosecution witnesses called the verdict a devastating miscarriage of justice.
“devastating miscarriage of justice”
The key point
Karen Read was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe but convicted of driving under the influence after a retrial in June twenty twenty-five.
