Girlfriend accused of killing Boston police officer boyfriend sees charges upgraded to murder

A Norfolk County Grand Jury today indicted Karen Read, 42, of Mansfield for second-degree murder, Motor Vehicle Manslaughter, and Leaving the Scene of a Collision causing death in the January 29, 2022 death of John O’Keefe, an off-duty Boston Police Officer who was found unresponsive outside a Canton residence, according to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey.

Massachusetts State Police detectives attached to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office arrested Read on February 1, 2022 on a manslaughter warrant issued by the Stoughton District Court. Ms. Read entered a plea of not guilty to that charge at her February 2 arraignment and has been free on $50,000 cash bail set by SDC.

Read was taken into custody at approximately 5 p.m. at her Mansfield residence on an indictment warrant issued by the Norfolk Superior Court.

She is expected to be arraigned in the Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass. Tomorrow (Friday, June 10).

According to previous court proceedings, Read, who is formerly of Taunton and Dighton, and O’Keefe went to two establishments in Canton on Friday night. They were then invited to a party at a home known to them on Fairview Road. Read stated that she dropped off O’Keefe at the home just after midnight and went home due to feeling ill.

After returning home and not being able to reach O’Keefe, Read returned to the scene at approximately 6:00 a.m. with two friends to find him lying face up with his face swollen and blood coming out of his nose and mouth. Read attempted CPR on O’Keefe.

There reportedly is video of the incident from a Ring cam that has yet to be released.

O’Keefe was transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. An autopsy done revealed O’Keefe had six bloody lacerations on his right arm, multiple skull fractures, and a severe head laceration. Both eyes were swollen shut and the clothes he was wearing contained blood and vomit. It was also revealed that hypothermia played a cause in his death, according to the medical examiner.

In court it was stated that Read called one of her friends around 5 a.m. saying “John is dead, I wonder if he is dead. It’s snowing, he got hit by a plow.” A Canton paramedic reportedly told authorities that Read repeatedly stated “I hit him.”

Read’s lawyer attempted to argue for lesser bail due to her ties to the community, her having no record, and Read having several health issues including a brain tumor.