Karen Read Found Not Guilty in Shock Verdict as She Breaks Down in Tears After Being Accused Of Murdering Cop Boyfriend John O'Keefe
Karen Read has been found not guilty of murdering her boyfriend John O'Keefe.
June 18 2025, Published 3:07 p.m. ET
The jury has reached a verdict in Karen Read's retrial for the 2022 murder of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, RadarOnline.com can reveal.
After deliberating for four days, jurors found Read not guilty of second-degree murder, the most serious crime she faced, as well as not guilty of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
Read was found guilty of drunk driving, which was one of the lesser charges she faced.
An Emotional Scene
Read was found not guilty of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.
As the verdict was read aloud in court, Read, who was dressed in a powder blue suit, became emotional and appeared to be crying as she hugged members of her defense team and other supporters in the courtroom.
Outside the Norfolk Superior Courthouse, a crowd of Read supporters, dressed in her favorite color pink, erupted in cheers and applause.
Due to Read being acquitted of her most serious charge, she will not spend any time behind bars.
Because Read is a first-time offender for the drunk driving conviction, Judge Beverly Cannone agreed to the Commonwealth's sentencing recommendation of one year of probation.
Read became emotional as the not guilty verdict was read.
While the jubilant crowd of Read supporters eagerly waited for her to exit the courthouse, they began chanting "Justice for John," "Karen Read is free" and "Morrissey sucks," in reference to Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey, who brought murder charges against Read.
The crowd also appeared to call for Judge Cannone to be removed from the bench.
Supporters went wild when Read finally appeared on the courthouse steps, flashing the sign for "I love you" in American Sign Language to the throng of fans gathered outside.
Read Speaks Out
Read thanked her supporters for their support in her first statement since the not guilty verdict.
In her first statement since the not guilty verdict was announced, Read thanked her legal team and "amazing" supporters while insisting "no one has fought harder for justice" for her late boyfriend more than she and her defense team have.
Read told the crowd: "I could not be standing here without these amazing supporters who have supported me and my team financially and more importantly, emotionally for almost four years.
"No one has fought harder for justice for John O’Keefe than I have. Than I have, and my team."
Read's Father Thanks Supporters
Read supporters dressed in pink erupted in cheers outside the courthouse when the verdict was announced.
After Read addressed supporters, her father Bill Read spoke and praised her strength throughout the eight-week retrial.
Bill said, "I want to acknowledge the strength of our daughter, Karen, the support of the entire Read extended family," before he extended his gratitude for "the greatest team of attorneys."
He continued: "We thank everybody for their support from the heart. We love you all. All of the content providers, you helped spread the word. Thank you so much. God bless you all."
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Read has maintained her innocence since she was initially charged with manslaughter on February 1, 2022. The charge was later upgraded to second-degree murder by a grand jury in June 2022.
Prosecutors claimed Read intentionally hit O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV after a night out drinking and left him to die outside as a snowstorm approached.
The defense team argued Read was the victim of a biased investigation and was being framed by police.
Her first trial began in April 2024 and ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury on July 1 after five days of deliberating.
