The second murder trial of Karen Read, a former financial advisor, has reached a pivotal stage as a complete panel of jurors and alternates has been assembled. Jurors and six alternate jurors were selected on Tuesday, paving the way for opening statements in the case involving the death of John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer.
Read, 45, faces serious charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
O’Keefe was 46 when he died on January 29, 2022. He was discovered unresponsive on the front lawn of another officer’s home around 6 a.m., after a night of drinking at the residence of retired Boston Police Department Officer Brian Albert.
Testimony indicates that O’Keefe never entered the house. Read has consistently and forcefully denied any involvement in his death, maintaining he may have suffered fatal injuries elsewhere before being moved to the lawn, possibly due to trauma and exposure to extreme cold.
The previous trial last year resulted in a hung jury, largely due to concerns raised about irregularities within the initial investigation and potential conflicts of interest involving the lead investigator.
- Charges against Karen Read: Second-degree murder, manslaughter, leaving the scene of a deadly accident
- John O’Keefe’s age at time of death: 46
- Location where O’Keefe was found: Front lawn of another officer’s home
Adding to the complexities of the case, former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor, initially involved in the investigation and now fired from the state police due to inappropriate text messages concerning Read, is anticipated to testify again.
“The defense highlighted significant issues with the initial investigative process during the first trial.”
If convicted on the most serious charge, Read could face a potential sentence of life imprisonment. The current trial is projected to last approximately six to eight weeks.
