Karen Read Sues for Alleged Misconduct in Investigation of Her Acquittal Case

Karen Read, acquitted last year of killing her police officer boyfriend in Massachusetts, has filed a lawsuit citing misconduct and negligence in the investigation that led to her trial. Speaking on “TODAY” with her attorneys, Read emphasized her ongoing fight for justice. “The acquittal is deserved, but the wrongs remain,” she stated.

Read’s lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and the town of Canton alleges systemic issues within the agencies that investigated John O’Keefe’s death, blaming a culture of bigotry and misogyny. Her attorneys highlighted institutional biases as key factors behind her wrongful prosecution.

Read was acquitted of second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter, and leaving the scene of an accident, with her conviction limited to operating under the influence. Her acquittal followed the jury’s deadlock in a previous trial.

Alan Jackson, Read’s lawyer, explained the lawsuit aims to expose corruption within Massachusetts law enforcement. “Exposure, not monetary compensation, is the goal,” Jackson told Craig Melvin.

Officials in Canton rebuffed the lawsuit’s characterizations of its officers, asserting they addressed issues identified by an audit. The Massachusetts State Police Superintendent condemned derogatory texts disclosed in Read’s lawsuit, stating they failed to meet police standards.

Read alleged her boyfriend, O’Keefe, was also victimized by systemic corruption. O’Keefe, 46, died from head trauma and hypothermia, with charges against Read centered on an alleged intoxicated collision. Prosecutors presented vehicle data and expert testimony to assert their case, yet no eyewitnesses or video evidence supported the allegations.

Read’s lawyers implicated former police sergeant Brian Albert, among others, in a cover-up of O’Keefe’s death, pointing to possible fights that led to the incident. Attorneys representing Albert dismissed the claims and have a pending defamation lawsuit against Read.

Read’s legal team accused Michael Proctor, the initial state trooper on the case, of biased misconduct, presenting text message evidence of unprofessional comments. Proctor, discharged dishonorably, denied claims of investigative partiality.

Since her trials, Read has dedicated efforts to her case, sharing memories of O’Keefe as a gentle and reserved individual. Although eager for closure, she maintains her legal battles as a tribute to O’Keefe.