Mistrial declared in Boston police officer boyfriend's death after Karen Read's jury deadlocks

Trial of Karen Read, accused of killing Boston officer boyfriend, ends in mistrial after jurors deadlock, sparking interest from true crime fans.

In a courtroom in Dedham, Massachusetts, a judge declared a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the case of Karen Read, a woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe. The case, which gained widespread attention from true crime enthusiasts, conspiracy theorists, and Read's supporters in pink shirts, centered around the tragic death of Officer O'Keefe, who was found outside a Canton home in a snowstorm.

Karen Read, a former adjunct professor at Bentley College, faced charges of second-degree murder and other offenses in connection with O'Keefe's death. Prosecutors alleged that Read had been drinking heavily before dropping O'Keefe off at a party at the home of another police officer, Brian Albert, and then hitting him with her SUV before driving away.

The defense team argued that O'Keefe was actually killed inside Albert's home and then dragged outside to make it look like a hit-and-run. They claimed that investigators unfairly targeted Read as a suspect, using her as a scapegoat to avoid implicating other potential suspects, including Albert and other law enforcement officers at the party.

During the two-month trial, testimony focused on the questionable police work and relationships between the parties involved. Witnesses revealed that police used red plastic cups to collect blood evidence and even a leaf blower to clear snow in search of evidence. The lead investigator faced scrutiny for making inappropriate comments about Read in personal texts from his cellphone.

Experts presented conflicting opinions on whether O'Keefe's injuries were consistent with being hit by Read's SUV, which had a broken taillight. The defense argued that the injuries could have been caused by an altercation or even by the aggressive dog belonging to the Albert family.

While the trial unfolded in court, supporters of Karen Read gathered outside each day, dressed in pink and holding signs proclaiming her innocence. Onlookers honked their horns in solidarity, while a smaller group of individuals advocated for Read's conviction.

Prosecutors relied on first responders who testified that Read admitted hitting O'Keefe, as well as evidence suggesting that she was intoxicated when she returned to the scene eight hours later. Witnesses described a tumultuous relationship between Read and O'Keefe, presenting angry texts and voicemails exchanged between the couple.

The defense attempted to cast doubt on the police investigation, highlighting the lack of a search at Albert's house for signs of a struggle involving O'Keefe and suggesting that evidence may have been planted. The trial took a turn when lead investigator Michael Proctor admitted to sending offensive texts about Read but maintained that they did not influence the investigation.

Expert witnesses brought in by the U.S. Department of Justice provided scientific analysis supporting the defense's claim that O'Keefe's injuries did not align with the prosecution's theory of being struck by Read's vehicle. Despite the twists and turns of the trial, the case ultimately ended in a mistrial, leaving the question of Karen Read's involvement in John O'Keefe's death unresolved.

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