Karen Read, the woman at the center of a highly publicized trial in Massachusetts, was found not guilty of second-degree murder on June 18, 2025. She was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and sentenced to one year probation.
The acquittal came after a four-day deliberation by the jury, who had several questions for the judge during their deliberations. The verdict was met with surprise and disappointment from some in the community, including the O'Keefe family, who had filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Read.
Read's legal team had argued that she did not intentionally hit John O'Keefe, who died after being struck by her SUV, but rather that the accident was a result of her intoxication. The prosecution argued that Read's actions were reckless and intentional.
In addition to the acquittal on murder charges, Read was also found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol. She had been charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, as well as manslaughter while operating under the influence.
Read's case drew widespread attention due to its unusual circumstances and the high-profile nature of the parties involved. The trial was widely covered by the media, and many people followed the proceedings closely.
Since her acquittal, Read has spoken publicly about the experience and has expressed gratitude for the support of her fans and supporters. She has also been working on a film script and book related to her case.
Several key players from Read's trial have faced consequences as a result of their actions during the investigation and prosecution of the case. Michael Proctor, a former Massachusetts State Police trooper who was involved in the investigation, has dropped his attempt to get his job back with the police department. Another key witness, Jen McCabe, has also faced criticism for her role in the trial.
The O'Keefe family, who had filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Read, have announced that they will continue to pursue legal action against her.
Overall, Karen Read's acquittal on murder charges has been a significant development in her case, and its implications are still being felt. The case has raised questions about the role of intoxication in criminal cases and the treatment of victims' families by law enforcement agencies.
The acquittal came after a four-day deliberation by the jury, who had several questions for the judge during their deliberations. The verdict was met with surprise and disappointment from some in the community, including the O'Keefe family, who had filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Read.
Read's legal team had argued that she did not intentionally hit John O'Keefe, who died after being struck by her SUV, but rather that the accident was a result of her intoxication. The prosecution argued that Read's actions were reckless and intentional.
In addition to the acquittal on murder charges, Read was also found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol. She had been charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, as well as manslaughter while operating under the influence.
Read's case drew widespread attention due to its unusual circumstances and the high-profile nature of the parties involved. The trial was widely covered by the media, and many people followed the proceedings closely.
Since her acquittal, Read has spoken publicly about the experience and has expressed gratitude for the support of her fans and supporters. She has also been working on a film script and book related to her case.
Several key players from Read's trial have faced consequences as a result of their actions during the investigation and prosecution of the case. Michael Proctor, a former Massachusetts State Police trooper who was involved in the investigation, has dropped his attempt to get his job back with the police department. Another key witness, Jen McCabe, has also faced criticism for her role in the trial.
The O'Keefe family, who had filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Read, have announced that they will continue to pursue legal action against her.
Overall, Karen Read's acquittal on murder charges has been a significant development in her case, and its implications are still being felt. The case has raised questions about the role of intoxication in criminal cases and the treatment of victims' families by law enforcement agencies.
, I'm SHOOK 
after reading this update on Karen Read's trial! I mean, who would've thought she'd get off scot-free 
? The O'Keefe family is totally FUMING 
and I can understand why, but at the same time, I feel bad for Karen - it's like, she made a huge mistake, but was she REALLY that reckless? 
! The case has definitely sparked some interesting convo about intoxication and victim families, so let's keep the discussion going 
.
i mean i knew her fans would rally around her but wow, its like she's a total innocent angel 
anywayz, thats what makes her case so wild lol. like, who doesnt love a good under the influence story 
and the drama with michael proctor and jen mccabe is just too much 
cant wait to see what karen does next, maybe a movie or book deal? 
and btw, im team karen all the way 
She says it wasn't intentional, but that's not really the point. The point is she made a reckless decision that killed someone. And now she's walking free with just a slap on the wrist? That don't sit right with me 
.
. Meanwhile, Karen Read is out here living her best life, working on a book and film script 
. The justice system failed Karen Read, but it also helped her get off scot-free. And what about Michael Proctor? He drops his job with the police department for doing his job? That don't seem right either 
. Something just doesn't add up here 
.
. It's not fair that Karen's drunk driving and reckless behavior got her off scot-free while John's life was cut short. The whole thing is still a bit surreal for me...I remember when it first broke out, everyone was talking about it nonstop 
. And now, to see the fallout - Michael Proctor losing his job over it? Jen McCabe getting roasted by fans? It's just crazy 
that the justice system failed the O'Keefe family in such a major way 
. But second-degree murder? That's some crazy stuff 
. And what really gets me is that the prosecution thought they could pin this on her without acknowledging that she was literally too drunk to drive 
.
. The O'Keefe family deserves justice, and I hope they keep fighting for it 
. And as for Karen Read, yeah, she got off easy, but let's be real, she's still a menace on the road 
.
she's getting 1 year probation which is kinda harsh tbh. I mean, I feel for the O'Keefe family and all but her defense team did make a solid case about how she wasn't trying to kill John O'Keefe but just got way too drunk 
. Like, what's up with the O'Keefe family expecting Read to take full responsibility for her actions while driving drunk? It's just not that simple 
. And don't even get me started on the prosecution's tactics - it's all about playing the victim and trying to guilt trip the jury into convicting someone who clearly made a mistake 
. It's like, come on, folks! We're not talking about a perfect person here; we're talking about someone who made a terrible mistake and needs help 
.
. And now she's getting away with something? Not buying it! 
. Read got a raw deal, and I'm still not convinced that justice was served