The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a double jeopardy appeal filed by Karen Read, who is currently undergoing her second trial for the alleged murder of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, in 2022. Read had argued that retrying her on two of the charges constituted an unlawful double jeopardy, asserting that jurors in her first trial reached a unanimous but unannounced verdict of acquittal. However, the Supreme Court's decision effectively allows the trial to proceed without addressing the prosecution's stance, indicating the justices did not perceive a significant legal issue at stake.
The case has garnered considerable attention, both in Massachusetts and nationwide. Prosecutors allege that Read intentionally backed her SUV into O’Keefe, 46, after dropping him off at a party hosted by a fellow officer, ultimately leading to his death. Conversely, Read’s legal team claims she is a victim of a conspiracy, intending to present evidence suggesting that someone else is the real perpetrator. Read, 45, faces charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a fatal incident.
The retrial, which commenced on April 22, 2025, has closely mirrored the earlier proceedings. It is taking place in the same courthouse and under the same judge, with a multitude of Read's supporters vocally rallying outside the court. Key components, like the defense attorneys and many of the almost 200 witnesses, have also remained consistent from her initial trial.
During the second week of the trial, digital forensics specialist Ian Whiffin provided testimony regarding cell phone data relevant to O’Keefe’s death. Whiffin, who has transitioned from law enforcement to mobile forensics, discussed a notable internet search conducted by Jennifer McCabe, who was with Read when O’Keefe's deceased body was discovered in the snow. McCabe's search about the time it takes to die in cold conditions has become a focal point, as Read’s attorneys argue it points to her innocence. McCabe, however, has stated that the search was conducted later, at Read's suggestion, after O’Keefe's body was found. Whiffin clarified that the web search did not occur at 2:27 a.m., contrary to the defense's timeline.
Jurors also visited the crime scene on Friday, where O’Keefe was found dead outside Brian Albert's home on January 29, 2022. The prosecutor instructed the jurors to observe various perspectives of the scene, while the defense emphasized the need to consider the distance between the house's windows and doors and Read's parked SUV. The goal was to contextualize the environment in which O’Keefe was discovered.
Furthermore, Dr. Garrey Faller, a former lab director at Good Samaritan Medical Center, testified that Read's blood alcohol content was reported as 0.093% the morning O’Keefe was found. This exceeds the legal limit for driving in Massachusetts, which stands at 0.08%. During cross-examination, Read’s attorneys raised questions regarding the accuracy of the blood tests, suggesting potential issues related to her medical conditions, including anemia and multiple sclerosis.
A friend of O’Keefe, Michael Camerano, testified about the couple's affectionate interactions on the night he died, contradicting claims that their relationship was troubled. He affirmed that O’Keefe never indicated he planned to break up with Read and described their relationship in January 2022 as caring and normal.
The defense maintains that O’Keefe's death resulted from actions by a third party, suggesting a flawed investigation due to biases stemming from the close relationships between law enforcement officers present that night. Former State Trooper Michael Proctor, who led the investigation but was dismissed for sending inappropriate messages about Read, is expected to be a critical witness as the trial unfolds.
