The Karen Read Case: A Summary

Who Is Karen Read?

Karen Read, a 44-year-old financial analyst and adjunct professor in Massachusetts is the defendant in a high-profile murder trial. Ms. Read was accused of striking her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV and leaving him to die in an impending snowstorm in late January 2022. She pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. ABC News reports that on July 1, 2024, Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial when the jury deadlocked after five days of deliberations. The Norfolk District Attorney’s office intends to retry Karen Read, as stated by Boston 25 News.

What Happened to Officer John O’Keefe?

John O’Keefe was a Boston police officer who had been in a romantic relationship with Karen Read. On the night of January 28, 2022, the couple went out to socialize and drink with friends. They went to C.F. McCarthy’s, a bar in downtown Canton, then to the Waterfall Bar and Grill. John and Karen were invited to an afterparty at the residence of police officer Brian Albert on Fairview Road in Canton. Reportedly, Karen drove John to that address in her SUV, dropped him off at approximately 12:45 a.m., and then drove to John’s home, where she was staying.

When John did not return home by early the next morning, and Karen was unable to reach him by phone, she went out with friends to look for him. At approximately 6:00 a.m. on January 29, John O’Keefe’s body was found in a snowbank in front of Brian Albert’s home. Weather conditions were severe, and temperatures were well below freezing. Emergency medical services were called, but John had sustained significant injuries. He was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital at 7:59 a.m. An autopsy was completed on January 31, 2022, as reported by CBS News. Causes of death were determined to be blunt impact injuries to the head and hypothermia.

Why Has the Karen Read Murder Trial Captured the Nation’s Attention?

The Karen Read case has caught the attention of the public because of its complex narrative and the legal, social, and ethical issues it raises. Factors that have drawn public interest include:

• Involvement of a police officer: The victim in this case is Boston police officer John O’Keefe.
• Extensive media coverage: This trial has been covered in detail by several high-profile media outlets.
• Human elements: Relatable human experiences draw the public to the story. Human elements include the tragic death of a respected individual, a relationship gone wrong, alcohol involvement, and emotional depth.
• Circumstantial evidence: The Commonwealth’s case against Karen Read is based mainly on circumstantial evidence, which is more open to interpretation and debate.
• Legal and ethical questions: Reliability of forensic evidence, media influence on legal proceedings, and the presumption of innocence are issues raised in this case.
• Public division: People are apparently divided over Karen Read’s innocence or guilt. This has led to heated discussions among legal experts, in communities, and on social media.

What Role Does Alcohol Play in the Karen Read Case?

Karen Read and John O’Keefe were indisputably barhopping on the night of January 28, 2022. Questions that arose in the trial included how much they drank and what impact alcohol had on the events of that night. In a Court TV broadcast, attorney Brian Simoneau was interviewed as a DUI expert. He was asked if it would be possible to determine John O’Keefe’s level of intoxication at the time of his death. Mr. Simoneau replied:

“Standard protocol in a case like this is they will take blood. I’m sure they took blood as part of the autopsy. . . I know the Medical Examiner is going to testify, and his blood alcohol content will certainly be part of this, but more important is obviously the defendant’s blood alcohol content, Karen Read’s BAC. She is charged with manslaughter by operating under the influence, and blood alcohol content is obviously part of that. The Commonwealth needs to prove that she was under the influence at approximately 12:45 a.m. when she allegedly struck Mr. O’Keefe.”

The crime lab determined that Karen Read’s BAC was between .07 and .08 at 9:08 a.m. and between .13 and .29 at 12:45 a.m. on January 29, 2022. Mr. Simoneau stated:

“What they are saying is that her BAC is based on the blood that was drawn, and that blood was drawn at approximately 9:08 a.m. from the Good Samaritan Hospital. She is alleged to have struck Officer O’Keefe with her vehicle at approximately 12:45 a.m., so the question is, what was her blood alcohol level at 12:45 a.m.? The way the Commonwealth is going to try to prove that is with an expert witness with what is called retrograde extrapolation.”

He defines “retrograde extrapolation” as fancy language for taking her BAC at a known time, which was when the blood was drawn at 9:08 a.m., and then working backward, using what is called the Widmark formula, to determine what her blood level was at the time when Officer O’Keefe was allegedly struck, which was 12:45 a.m. Mr. Simoneau predicted another “battle of the experts” with respect to not only blood retrograde extrapolation but also how the blood was collected.

Do You Need a DUI Attorney?

If you are facing DUI or related charges, contact The Law Office of Brian Simoneau at 508-625-5776. Mr. Simoneau is an experienced DUI defense lawyer who understands the complexities of Massachusetts law. Our primary goal is to obtain the best possible outcomes for our clients.