The trial of Karen Read, a Massachusetts woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe by intentionally driving her SUV into him, is set to begin amidst allegations of a police coverup. Read faces charges including second degree murder in O’Keefe’s death in 2022. The prosecution claims that on the night of the incident, the couple had been to two bars and were headed to a party in Canton. Read, feeling unwell, decided not to attend the party, and as O’Keefe got out of her vehicle, she allegedly struck him with her SUV, then drove away.
After O’Keefe was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead at a hospital, the prosecution alleges that Read became frantic when she couldn’t reach him. She returned to the site of the party with friends where they found O’Keefe covered in snow. An autopsy revealed that O’Keefe died from head trauma and hypothermia. The defense has been asserting a conspiracy involving a police coverup, claiming that the case has been marred by conflicts of interest and presenting false evidence. They alleged that law enforcement officers involved in the investigation failed to disclose their relationship with the party host and that statements from witnesses were inconsistent.
The defense has also raised doubts about Read’s guilt by suggesting alternative theories, such as the possibility that partygoers beat up O’Keefe and placed his body outside. Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey has criticized claims of a coverup, stating that there is no evidence to support the allegations. Despite this, Read has garnered a loyal group of supporters who can often be seen outside the courthouse with signs reading “Free Karen Read.” Among her supporters is a blogger known as “Turtleboy” who has been charged with harassing witnesses in the case. Read’s supporters believe she is innocent and being unjustly accused. However, the family and friends of O’Keefe believe that the focus on Read and conspiracy theories is taking away from the fact that a good man lost his life.
Supporters of Read argue that she did not commit the crime and is a victim of a police coverup, while O’Keefe’s family and friends maintain that she is responsible for his death. The trial has attracted national attention due to the controversial nature of the case and the allegations of a conspiracy within law enforcement. The defense continues to push back against the prosecution’s case, claiming it is based on flimsy speculation and presumption. As the trial unfolds, the community remains divided between those who believe in Read’s innocence and those who seek justice for the loss of Officer O’Keefe.
