A Massachusetts judge declared a mistrial in the murder trial of Karen Read, a woman accused of drunkenly driving into her police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe, and leaving him to die in January 2022. The case has been marked by allegations of a police cover-up and investigative misconduct.
The mistrial was declared after the jury twice informed the judge on Monday that they could not reach a unanimous verdict, despite days of deliberation. The jury had also indicated on Friday that they were deadlocked.
Karen Read, 45, pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. If convicted, she could face life in prison under Massachusetts law.
Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey announced that the commonwealth intends to retry the case with a new jury. “We thank the O’Keefe family for their commitment and dedication to this long process,” Morrissey said. “They maintained sight of the true core of this case – to find justice for John O’Keefe.”
Read’s attorney, Alan Jackson, criticized the prosecution, stating, “No matter how long it takes, no matter how long they keep trying, we will not stop fighting. This is what it looks like when you bring false charges against an innocent person.”
The trial was overseen by Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone, who gave the jury a “dynamite charge” on Monday morning, urging them to continue deliberations after they indicated for the second time that they could not reach a unanimous verdict. The Tuey-Rodriguez charge instructs jurors to reconsider their positions while considering the opinions of those with whom they disagree.
The jury of six men and six women had been deliberating since June 25, weighing evidence in a case that included accusations of a police cover-up and improper conduct by a lead investigator. The lead investigator, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, admitted on the stand to sending sexist and offensive text messages about Read. Proctor was relieved of duty on Monday after the mistrial was declared.
Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally argued against issuing the Tuey-Rodriguez charge, citing the complexity of the case and the high volume of evidence and witness testimony. Defense attorney David Yannetti, however, urged the judge to issue the charge, stating that the jury had twice indicated they were “hopelessly deadlocked.”
Judge Cannone ultimately sided with the defense, stating that the jury had conducted the requisite “due and thorough deliberation.” She noted, “I’ve never seen a note like this, with reporting to be at an impasse.”
The heart of the trial revolved around the events of January 28, 2022, when Read and O’Keefe went out drinking at two bars with friends. They later drove to the Canton home of one of O’Keefe’s fellow Boston police officers for an after-party. O’Keefe’s body was found the next morning, bruised and battered in the snow outside the home. Prosecutors alleged that Read, after an argument, drunkenly backed into O’Keefe with her vehicle and fled the scene, leaving him to die in the cold.
Prosecutor Lally argued in closing statements that Read drove her vehicle in reverse at 24.2 miles per hour for 62.5 feet, striking O’Keefe and causing catastrophic head injuries, which left him incapacitated and led to his death from exposure.
Read’s defense, however, accused off-duty police officers inside the Canton home of fatally beating O’Keefe, dumping his body on the lawn, and then conspiring to frame Read through fabricated evidence and false testimony. “Ladies and gentlemen, there was a cover-up in this case, plain and simple,” defense attorney Jackson said. “You’ll surely say to yourself, ‘I don’t want to believe it, I don’t want to believe that could happen in our community,’ but sadly over these past eight weeks you’ve seen it right before your eyes.”
The trial has garnered significant local and national interest, with accusations of witness tampering, a federal probe into the investigation, and groups of supporters chanting to “Free Karen Read.”
The prosecution’s case was further hampered by missteps and unusual investigative practices. Trooper Proctor’s admission of sending sexist and offensive texts about Read was sharply criticized, including by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who called the comments “completely unprofessional” and harmful to the integrity of law enforcement.
Following the mistrial, the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office reiterated its intention to retry the case. Read’s next court date is scheduled for about three weeks in Norfolk Superior Court.
Source: CNN, NBC10 Boston
