Who are Karen Read's parents? Late Boston cop's girlfriend accused of manslaughter but family says she's innocent
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: The parents of a woman facing charges in connection with the death of a Boston police officer claimed they were confident about their daughter's innocence as her legal battle unfolds.
Karen Read, the girlfriend of the deceased Boston cop John O’Keefe, has been accused of fatally backing over her boyfriend in Canton, Massachusetts, and leaving him behind in a January 2022 blizzard.
The charges against her include second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a collision linked to O’Keefe's demise.
The case has garnered national attention due to allegations of a cover-up. A Facebook page titled "Justice For John O’Keefe & Karen Read (Mass corruption)" has garnered over 18 thousand followers.
Within the context of Massachusetts law, second-degree murder pertains to intentionally causing another person's death without premeditation.
William Read, Karen Read's father, expressed their determination to address the issues, firmly believing in their daughter's ultimate exoneration. He affirmed, "My daughter will be free. That’s what I believe."
'I remember backing up and hitting something'
According to William Read, Karen Read recounted that she thought she had struck an object while she was at Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, where O’Keefe was pronounced dead.
He dismissed any notion that she believed she had struck O’Keefe, clarifying, "She felt she struck something. She said: 'Dad, I think I struck something.' I said, ‘What do you mean?’ This was in the hospital, she says, ‘I remember backing up and hitting something, but I can’t say what it was,’ and at this point, she’s frantic."
Karen Read's parents provided insights into her relationship with O’Keefe, detailing that they became serious in 2019, just before the onset of the Covid pandemic.
The couple's joyful moments were captured through multiple pictures taken during family events and vacations.
Surveillance footage on the tragic night also showed Read and O’Keefe laughing and embracing at CF McCarthy’s, a restaurant and bar in Canton.
However, according to police, Karen Read allegedly backed over O’Keefe and left him to perish in a snowstorm less than three hours after the recorded bar video.
Police records suggested that at 12.45 am, the time they believed O’Keefe was struck, Read's estimated blood alcohol level ranged from .13% to .29%.
The police investigation indicated that Read backed over O’Keefe after dropping him off at 34 Fairview Road, the site of a party. The home was owned by another Boston police officer named Brian Albert at the time.
Extensive injuries detailed in O’Keefe's medical records
Amidst the ongoing trial, William Read offered his perspective, suggesting that O’Keefe may have been lured to the gathering and confronted in the basement, resulting in an altercation.
He theorized, "I think John O’Keefe entered that house, was sucker punched, a fight ensued, and he was overwhelmed."
William Read further proposed that O’Keefe was then transported from the house's basement to the side of the road, where he was found unresponsive in a snowstorm.
Medical records from the hospital outlined the extensive injuries sustained by O’Keefe, including severe facial injuries, skull fractures, and multiple lacerations. Read's defense team argued that the police failed to sufficiently investigate the party attendees as possible suspects.
The Norfolk County DA's office contended that multiple individuals inside and outside the home testified that O’Keefe never entered the premises, with GPS data from O’Keefe’s phone corroborating those statements.
Were there dog bites on John O’Keefe's arm?
The Read family believes that only a select number of adults were aware of the alleged attack and that the majority of those who were inside the Albert home were kept in the dark, including teenagers celebrating a birthday.
The case also involved disputed evidence related to Karen Read's vehicle, including damage to her taillight.
Surveillance footage revealed her backing out of O’Keefe’s garage and appearing to approach O’Keefe’s parked vehicle in his driveway.
While the prosecution claimed that no damage or fragments from Karen Read's taillight were found at the scene, the Reads argued that these items were discovered later, after her vehicle was in police custody.
The defense raised concerns about the injuries seen in the autopsy photos, suggesting dog bites on O’Keefe's arm. The medical examiner disagreed, stating that the markings were scratches caused by a blunt object, not animal bites.
Despite the challenges, the Read family has committed substantial resources to Karen Read's defense, asserting their belief in her eventual acquittal.
William Read anticipated that the case's growing exposure would lead to changes and increased transparency in the legal process.