Karen Read, who was acquitted of major charges in the death of her boyfriend, has filed a lawsuit accusing members of the Massachusetts State Police and several individuals of targeting her and shielding the true perpetrators.
According to The Associated Press, Read spent over three years in the legal system, facing two trials over the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who was found outside a friend’s home after a night of heavy drinking.
Read was accused of hitting O’Keefe with her SUV in 2022 and leaving him to die in the snow. She faced charges including second-degree murder, manslaughter while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene.
“For three and a half years, plaintiff Karen Read was wrongly accused of homicide and subjected to suspicion, arrest, two prosecutions and public condemnation all resulting from the gross misconduct of the Massachusetts State Police — and those working in tandem with the MSP — to shield from liability the party or parties responsible for the death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe III,” the lawsuit states.
A mistrial in her first trial came after jurors could not reach a consensus. In her second trial, Read was found not guilty of the most serious charges but was convicted of a lesser DUI-related offense.
The new civil lawsuit, filed Tuesday, names multiple state police officers and attendees of the house party, including federal agent Brian Higgins, Nicole and Brian Albert, and Jennifer and Matthew McCabe.
It alleges O’Keefe died during a late-night altercation at the party and claims a “vast conspiracy” among partygoers to cover up the crime. Read’s legal team accuses investigators of shoddy work, manufacturing evidence, and failing to properly collect DNA or blood evidence from the scene.
“The House Defendants responsible for Mr. O’Keefe’s death — some of whom had professional experience with police investigations — concocted a plan immediately after the altercation to avoid culpability and frame Ms. Read,” the lawsuit claims.
Higgins, the McCabes, and the Alberts denied the allegations in a joint statement: “The allegations made by Karen Read are entirely false, defamatory, and without merit… Our clients acted responsibly, fulfilling their civic duty as witnesses, and have participated appropriately in the legal process from the outset.”
The lawsuit also targets former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor, fired after sharing offensive texts about Read. Her defense had argued during the trial that Proctor’s bias tainted the investigation.
Read’s legal team said the complaint details “malicious prosecution, the conspiracy, the civil-rights violations, and the intentional misconduct that these defendants visited upon an innocent woman,” and is seeking a jury trial.
