Mansfield woman arrested in death of Boston police officer

Massachusetts State Police homicide detectives attached to Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey’s office tonight arrested Karen A. Read, 41, of Mansfield, on a manslaughter warrant in the Saturday death of John O’Keefe, a Boston Police officer who was found unresponsive outside a Canton residence early Saturday morning (January 29, 2022)

“After several days of intensive investigation, detectives from the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office late today obtained an arrest warrant for Ms. Read,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “We expect that she will be arraigned close to 9 a.m. tomorrow (Feb. 2, 2022) in the Stoughton District Court.”

Read, who authorities say drove to the Fairview Road area with O’Keefe, possibly shortly after midnight, is charged with manslaughter, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle collision causing death, and motor vehicle homicide.

O’Keefe, 46, of Canton, was transported to the Good Samaritan Medical Center following his discovery and was pronounced dead several hours later.

Boston 25 has reported that O’Keefe was discovered with a head injury after his death and that Read was O’Keefe’s girlfriend.

Morrissey said that Read was taken to the State Police Blue Hills Barracks for processing this evening.

“Additional narrative information may be put into the record during arraignment tomorrow,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “Tonight our thoughts are very much with those whom John left behind.”