DEDHAM, Mass. - On June 18, 2025, a jury in Dedham, Massachusetts, acquitted Karen Read of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the high-profile case involving the 2022 death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe [1][2][3].

The verdict, delivered after approximately 22 hours of deliberation, found Read not guilty of the most serious charges, including second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a collision resulting in death [2][7]. However, the jury convicted Read on a lesser charge of operating a vehicle under the influence (OUI) [2].

Read, 45, a former adjunct college professor, had been accused of hitting O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV in a drunken state and leaving him to die in the snow outside a late-night house party in Canton, Mass., on January 29, 2022 [1][6]. The case attracted significant attention from true crime enthusiasts across the country [2].

This trial marked the second attempt to resolve the case. In July 2024, Read's first trial was declared a mistrial after the jury remained deadlocked following five days of deliberations [1]. Throughout both trials, Read maintained her innocence, with her defense team arguing that she had been framed by O'Keefe's police colleagues [6][7].

The verdict was met with cheers from Read's supporters gathered outside the courthouse [7]. Inside the courtroom, Read, dressed in a light blue suit, broke down in tears and embraced her lawyer, Alan Jackson, upon hearing the news [6].

For the OUI conviction, Read was sentenced to one year of probation [2][7]. The case, which spanned over three years from the initial incident to the final verdict, has now reached its conclusion, bringing closure to a legal saga that captivated public attention [1][2].

The trial's outcome highlights the complexities of high-profile criminal cases and the challenges in prosecuting charges of this nature. It also underscores the impact of such cases on local communities and the broader public interest in true crime narratives [2][3].