“Karen Faces High-Stakes Murder Retrial in Norfolk Superior Court”
Accompanied by her legal team, Karen appeared in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts on February 25. Following a lengthy and highly publicized trial last year, Karen faced charges of murder in connection to the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. The trial ended in a hung jury, amidst allegations of police misconduct and a conspiracy among law enforcement officers to frame Karen for the crime.
As jury selection commences for the retrial, additional charges of second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter under the influence, and leaving the scene of a fatal collision will be addressed. The retrial is scheduled to take place outside of Boston.
The case revolves around the mysterious death of Officer O’Keefe, who was discovered unresponsive outside the home of retired Boston police sergeant Brian Albert in snowy conditions. The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head and hypothermia. Karen, an equity analyst and O’Keefe’s girlfriend at the time, was arrested shortly after the incident.
During the initial trial in 2024, the prosecution alleged that Karen intentionally struck O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV outside Albert’s residence after a night of heavy drinking. Despite a lack of eyewitnesses or video evidence of the event, the prosecution presented data from Karen’s vehicle suggesting she was involved in the incident. O’Keefe’s DNA was found on the damaged taillight of the SUV, along with remnants of a drink he was seen with earlier.
Karen maintained her innocence, with her defense team suggesting that individuals at the party, including a law enforcement agent who had exchanged flirtatious messages with Karen, were responsible for O’Keefe’s death and had framed her. Allegations were also made against the lead investigator, Trooper Michael Proctor, accusing him of evidence tampering and bias in the investigation.
As the retrial unfolds, the involved parties await further developments in this complex and high-profile case.
During the trial, Proctor, a Massachusetts State Trooper, admitted to sharing case details with his sister, who was friends with Albert’s sister-in-law. He claimed to have only discussed “newsworthy stuff” and acknowledged that his language concerning the victim, Read, was unprofessional and dehumanizing. However, he maintained that his actions did not compromise the integrity of the investigation into O’Keefe’s death. Despite a lengthy trial and jury deliberations, a mistrial was declared due to a hung jury.
Following the mistrial, the State Police placed Proctor on unpaid leave for alleged serious misconduct, leading to his termination after a trial board deemed that he violated agency rules by sending derogatory texts about Read and sharing sensitive information with non-law enforcement individuals. The board also found that Proctor drank on duty and drove his cruiser.
In response, Proctor’s family defended him, insisting that the text messages did not prove corruption or incompetence, and emphasized his humanity. Meanwhile, Read’s legal team attempted to dismiss the case, citing governmental misconduct and double jeopardy concerns, which were refuted by prosecutors and the court.
As preparations for a second trial began, Hank Brennan was appointed as special counsel to the prosecution, with defense counsel Victoria George joining the team. The uncertain role of Proctor, who appeared on witness lists for both sides, added a new challenge to the proceedings. Additionally, three of Read’s attorneys were listed as potential witnesses to authenticate her public statements. The upcoming trial promised new dynamics and uncertainties given the termination of Proctor and the evolving legal strategies on both sides.
