Karen Read, acquitted of murder and other charges in the death of her former boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, says there have been positive responses since the jury’s decision. Appearing on the ‘Today’ show, Read responded to Craig Melvin’s question about public perception by noting the support she has received.
‘You have to know that when you walk down the street, there are lots of people who look at Karen Read and think, ‘Oh, there’s that woman who got away with killing her ex-boyfriend who’s a cop,”’ Melvin said.
Read stated that she has not encountered many detractors and often receives support and discounts from people she meets.
Read emphasized the strong backing she experienced during her trial, particularly in Massachusetts. She said this support extends beyond the state whenever she travels.
Despite the acquittal, Read revealed that her professional license remains suspended, and she is not working. She is focusing on the legal case and has employed civil lawyers to assist.
Prosecutors tried Read twice for O’Keefe’s January 2022 death. They accused her of hitting him with her SUV and fleeing the scene during a blizzard. However, her defense argued that the investigation was flawed, highlighting issues such as inappropriate messages from a lead detective, Michael Proctor, who lost his job.
For her first trial, the jury was deadlocked. In the second trial, she was found not guilty of all homicide-related charges. She was only convicted of drunken driving.
Read is now pursuing a lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and the Canton Police Department. Her lawyers claim there was bias and corruption in the investigation, and they aim to reveal ‘institutional corruption’ in the law enforcement system.
In addition, Read faces a wrongful death lawsuit from O’Keefe’s family. When questioned about any message for the family, Read declined to comment. She reflected on her past interactions with them, suggesting they knew her character well from her years with O’Keefe.