Forty-six-year-old Boston police officer John O’Keefe was found dead on the lawn of a colleague’s home in January 2022, with blunt force trauma to the head and hypothermia. His then-girlfriend, Karen Read, a former finance professional, was accused of running him over in a drunken fight before fleeing the scene. However, the jury in her case deadlocked after a 26-hour deliberation, and she was not convicted.
Read had become an “unexpected celebrity” of sorts, with crowds defending her innocence and proclaiming her innocence. She claimed to have tried to save O’Keefe’s life and was covered in his blood. Some close friends and acquaintances, including Jon Silveira, believed that Read was innocent and that the blame was pinned on her as part of a massive cover-up.
However, others, including former NYPD inspector Paul Mauro, were not convinced. Mauro believed that Read’s claim of innocence was genuine, but that she was still responsible for O’Keefe’s death. Brendan Kane, a close friend of O’Keefe’s, thought that the act was intentional and that Read was angry and seeing red when she hit O’Keefe.
The case is set to go to retrial, with the district attorney’s office declaring their intention to proceed. Silveira said that Read would continue to receive support, while those in O’Keefe’s corner want another shot at a conviction and closure for his family.
