Who is Karen Read and why are some calling to "free" her?
Karen Read is on trial, charged with killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe. Here's what to know about the trial.
www.cbsnews.comHere’s a quick update based on recent reporting:
- Karen Read was acquitted of the murder charge in her case involving the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, in 2022. She was found guilty only of operating a vehicle while impaired and related traffic charges, with a probation sentence on the DUI-related conviction.[3][6]
- The verdict followed her second trial in Massachusetts; her first trial ended in a hung jury, and the second trial resulted in the DUI conviction but the murder and other serious charges were acquitted.[6][3]
- After the verdict, Read and her supporters publicly celebrated her exoneration on the murder charges, and she subsequently indicated plans to pursue civil action related to the investigation and prosecution, though she also noted personal and professional upheavals in the aftermath.[4][5]
If you’d like, I can pull more specifics from these sources or look for any new developments since June 2025.