Karen Read Faces Charges, Lawsuit Following Death of Police Officer Boyfriend

Karen Read, accused of murdering her police officer boyfriend, now contends with both a murder charge and a civil lawsuit brought by his family.

At a Glance

The family of Officer John O’Keefe has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Karen Read and two bars.
Read is accused of hitting O’Keefe with her vehicle and leaving him in the snow.
The lawsuit claims the bars negligently served Read alcohol despite her signs of intoxication.
The initial trial ended in a mistrial, and Read now awaits a retrial.

Murder Charges and Civil Lawsuit

Karen Read faces significant legal hurdles, including both murder charges and a civil lawsuit, following the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. O’Keefe’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Read and two bars they claim contributed to her impaired state on the night of his death. The lawsuit, filed in Plymouth Superior Court, asserts that the establishments negligently served Read alcohol despite clear signs of intoxication.

Read has pleaded not guilty to the charges and strongly denies any culpability in O’Keefe’s death. According to her defense, O’Keefe, found dead outside a Canton, Massachusetts home in January 2022, was allegedly murdered indoors and she was framed. Her initial trial ended in a mistrial owing to a deadlocked jury, but the allegations have only intensified.

Karen Read now faces civil suit as well as murder charge in police officer boyfriend's death https://t.co/d0kVJEXFNm

— ABC7 News (WZVN-TV) (@ABC7SWFL) August 28, 2024

Sequence of Events

The legal proceedings detail a turbulent and tragic night. It is alleged that Read and O’Keefe were at a bar where she was served seven drinks within approximately 90 minutes. She then reportedly took her last drink to a second bar where she was served more alcohol. The lawsuit alleges their relationship was deteriorating, marked by jealousy and unfaithfulness. The night concluded with Read allegedly hitting O’Keefe with her SUV and leaving him to suffer in the bitterness of the snow.

The civil lawsuit also implicates the two bars for contributing to the tragedy. C.F. McCarthy’s and the Waterfall Bar & Grill are accused of negligence for serving Read despite her noticeable intoxication, and the claim specifies her consumption of multiple alcoholic beverages leading up to the eventful night.

Legal Responses and Battle Ahead

Read’s defense maintains a hard stance on her innocence. Her attorneys allege that a fellow police officer is involved in O’Keefe’s death and that Read is being used as a “convenient outsider.” Despite a mistrial in the first case, Read’s legal battle is far from over. She faces charges including second-degree murder and manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence, with her retrial scheduled to start on January 27, 2025.

Judge Beverly Cannone recently denied a motion to dismiss two of Read’s charges, ensuring the upcoming trial could address claims without raising concerns of double jeopardy. Meanwhile, the wrongful death lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for John O’Keefe’s family, alleging severe emotional distress and pushing for formal accountability. The legal depiction of O’Keefe’s death, marked by his suffering in the cold, strengthens the family’s pursuit of justice even more.