A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend in January 2022. The lawsuit was filed by the family of the victim, late Boston Police officer John O’Keefe, with Paul O’Keefe, the victim's brother, representing the family in Plymouth Superior Court.
The lawsuit also names the two bars where the couple consumed drinks before the tragic incident occurred. O’Keefe's body was found in a snowbank outside a Canton home, and prosecutors alleged that Read purposely backed into him with her SUV during a heated argument while under the influence of alcohol.
Read's trial concluded in July with a hung jury unable to reach a unanimous decision after extensive deliberation. She pleaded not guilty to charges including second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a collision causing injury and death.
An autopsy revealed that O’Keefe died from blunt force trauma and hypothermia. The O’Keefe family's lawsuit alleges that Read's reckless conduct led to John’s death and accuses the bars of negligently serving alcohol to an intoxicated person.
Furthermore, the family accuses Read of intentionally causing severe emotional distress to John’s 14-year-old niece by providing conflicting information about the incident. The lawsuit describes Read's conduct as extreme, outrageous, and intolerable.
Read's defense team has been actively involved in the legal proceedings, with recent arguments made to dismiss certain charges against her. Prosecutors are planning to retry Read in January, despite previous challenges from her defense team regarding double jeopardy.
The defense has maintained that the accusations against Read are part of an elaborate cover-up and frame job orchestrated by the family connected to the property where O'Keefe was found dead. The legal battle continues as both sides present their arguments in court.
