After 29 days of trial and nearly 26 hours of deliberations, a Boston jury has declared a mistrial in the murder case of Karen Read. Read was accused of killing her boyfriend, John O'Keefe, in a snowstorm in 2022. The jury could not reach a unanimous verdict, leading Judge Beverly Cannone to declare a mistrial.
In a dramatic conclusion to a high-profile murder case, a Massachusetts jury has declared a mistrial in the case of Karen Read. Read was accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, by striking him with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm in January 2022.
Karen Read Murder Case Ends with Mistrial: Jury Deadlocked after Lengthy Deliberations
The jury deliberated for nearly 26 hours over five days before reporting to Judge Beverly Cannone that they were deadlocked. Cannone issued a controversial "dynamite charge" or Allen charge, a last-resort option to force jurors to continue deliberations and try to reach a unanimous verdict. However, despite the charge, the jury remained divided.
In a note to the judge, the jury stated: "Despite our commitment to the duty entrusted in us, we find ourselves deeply divided by fundamental differences in our opinions and state of mind."
Karen Read Murder Case Ends with Mistrial: Jury Deadlocked after Lengthy Deliberations
The trial, which spanned several weeks, featured testimony from 74 witnesses and the presentation of nearly 700 pieces of evidence. Prosecutors argued that Read and O'Keefe had a violent argument that escalated into a deadly confrontation, while Read claimed that the influential family of O'Keefe's friend framed her for his death.
The deadlocked jury reflected the divisions within the quiet Boston suburb of Canton. Jurors reportedly held strong opinions on both sides of the case, making it impossible to reach a consensus.
Karen Read Murder Case Ends with Mistrial: Jury Deadlocked after Lengthy Deliberations
As Read was not found guilty or not guilty, the case remains open for further proceedings. Prosecutors have indicated their intent to retry the case, while Read's lawyer has vowed to continue fighting.
Legal experts believe the prosecution faces several challenges if they decide to retry Read. They may need to present additional evidence to convince a new jury, and they will have to navigate the potential pitfalls of tainted testimony from Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor and ongoing investigations into misconduct within the Canton Police Department.
Karen Read Murder Case Ends with Mistrial: Jury Deadlocked after Lengthy Deliberations
Alternatively, the prosecution could file different charges against Read, which would allow them to avoid some of the issues that plagued the first trial. However, it is unclear what those charges might be.
For now, the case is over. Read is free, and the two sides will regroup before returning to court on July 22 for a conference. The families of both Read and O'Keefe will continue to seek closure as the legal process continues.
Karen Read Murder Case Ends with Mistrial: Jury Deadlocked after Lengthy Deliberations
