Who is Karen Read? Massachusetts woman acquitted in cop boyfriend's death now sues police of wrongful prosecution

Key points

• Karen Read is a Massachusetts woman who became a central figure in a widely followed criminal case involving the death of her Boston Police officer boyfriend, John O’Keefe.
• After years of legal proceedings, two trials, and intense public scrutiny, she was acquitted of the most serious charges—and has now returned to court as a plaintiff, filing a lawsuit against law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation.
• The case that put her in the spotlight The case began in January 2022, when John O’Keefe was found dead outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts, during a snowstorm.
• Authorities alleged that Read struck him with her SUV after a night of drinking and left him outside, where he later died.
• Read consistently denied the allegations.