Legal Turmoil Unfolds: Mistrial Declared in Karen Read's Case Amid Controversial Developments

July 3, 2024, 10:37 p.m. News

A judge declared a mistrial in the murder trial of Karen Read, a Massachusetts woman accused of fatally striking her police officer boyfriend while driving drunk and leaving him to die in January 2022. The case involved allegations of a significant police cover-up and misconduct during the investigation.

The state trooper who played a key role in the investigation admitted during testimony that he had exchanged offensive and sexist text messages about Read with friends. Following the declaration of mistrial, the Massachusetts State Police announced his suspension from duty on Monday.

The mistrial came after jurors twice informed the judge on Monday that they were deadlocked and unable to reach a verdict after days of deliberation. They had also reported their inability to reach a unanimous decision on Friday.

Read, aged 45, pleaded not guilty to charges including second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death in connection to the 2022 incident involving John O’Keefe, her boyfriend and a Boston police officer.

“We thank the O’Keefe family for their unwavering commitment throughout this lengthy process,” said Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey following the announcement of mistrial. “They remained focused on the true essence of this case – achieving justice for John O’Keefe.”

The prosecution plans to retry the case with a new jury after the mistrial, as per Massachusetts law which could potentially lead to a life sentence for Read if convicted.

Alan Jackson, Read’s attorney, criticized the prosecution, stating they had “failed miserably and will continue to fail,” in remarks captured outside the courthouse by local media.

“No matter how long it takes or how many attempts are made, we will persist in fighting this,” Jackson asserted. “This is what happens when false charges are brought against an innocent person.”

The presiding Massachusetts judge issued a so-called “dynamite charge” to jurors on Monday morning, urging them to resume deliberations after they indicated twice that they were deadlocked. The Tuey-Rodriguez charge instructs jurors to reevaluate their stances while considering the viewpoints of fellow jurors with differing opinions.

Judge Beverly Cannone read the charge around 11 a.m. after jurors submitted a note stating, “Despite our commitment to our responsibility, we find ourselves deeply divided by fundamental differences in our opinions and state of mind.”

On Monday morning, jurors resumed deliberations under the judge’s direction, after previously announcing on Friday that they were unable to reach a unanimous decision. Cannone refrained from issuing the Tuey-Rodriguez charge on Friday, adhering to legal guidelines cautioning against premature issuance.

The jury, composed of six men and six women, deliberated over the case since midday on June 25, assessing evidence that included allegations of a wide-ranging police cover-up and claims of improper conduct, including sexist text messages from a lead investigator.

Throughout Karen Read’s trial for murder, prosecutors accused her of a drunken crash, while the defense alleged a concerted police cover-up.

On both Friday and Monday, Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally opposed the judge’s issuance of the Tuey charge, arguing that the jury had not deliberated sufficiently due to the case’s complexity and the extensive evidence and testimony presented. Conversely, defense attorney David Yannetti advocated for the charge, highlighting the jury’s twice-expressed deadlock.

On Monday, Judge Cannone sided with the defense, affirming that the jury had conducted the necessary thorough deliberation.

“I have not encountered a note like this before, indicating an impasse,” the judge remarked.

If prosecutors opt for a retrial, they may pursue a different strategy, potentially pursuing a lesser charge than second-degree murder if they find their evidence inadequate, or employing different experts or testimony, noted trial attorney Misty Marris.

“This represents an opportunity to identify any errors or gaps in the case,” Marris observed. “It also offers an advantage to the defense, as they now understand, particularly through post-trial discussions with jurors, what factors influenced their decisions.”

Details of the Trial

The trial centered on events that unfolded on a winter evening in Canton, Massachusetts, more than two years ago.

On January 28, 2022, Read and O’Keefe visited two bars with friends. Shortly after midnight, the couple departed for the Canton home of one of O’Keefe’s colleagues from the Boston Police Department for an after-party, according to court records.

By morning, O’Keefe was discovered with severe injuries in the snow outside the residence, authorities stated. Prosecutors alleged that during a heated exchange that evening, Read, under the influence of alcohol, reversed her vehicle into O’Keefe, then fled the scene, leaving him to perish in the frigid temperatures.

“The evidence unequivocally demonstrates that the defendant operated her vehicle in reverse at a speed of 24.2 miles per hour for a distance of 62.5 feet, colliding with Mr. O’Keefe and inflicting catastrophic head trauma, rendering him incapacitated and exposed to lethal cold,” prosecutor Lally asserted in his closing arguments on Tuesday.

In contrast, Read’s defense contended that off-duty police officers inside the Canton residence had fatally assaulted O’Keefe, discarded his body on the lawn, and then collaborated on the creation of fabricated evidence and false testimony to implicate Read.

The conclusion of closing arguments marked the end of a murder trial that had captured significant local and national interest, encompassing allegations of witness intimidation, a federal inquiry into the investigation, and groups of supporters clad in pink advocating for “Free Karen Read.”

Lead Investigator Suspended After Mistrial

The prosecution encountered additional challenges due to a series of missteps and unconventional investigative methods. Particularly noteworthy was the admission by Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor that he had exchanged sexist and offensive text messages concerning Read within a private group chat. Proctor also commented to colleagues that he had discovered “no nudes” while reviewing her phone for evidence, as reported by local station WCVB.

Following the mistrial’s declaration, Proctor was suspended from his position by the state police, according to an online statement Monday evening by State Police Colonel John Mawn.

“This follows our previous decision to initiate an internal investigation following revelations of serious misconduct during trial testimony. The investigation remains ongoing,” Mawn’s statement read.

Proctor apologized for the unprofessional nature of his comments while testifying. Nevertheless, the explicit content of the text messages elicited widespread condemnation, including from Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.

“The messages are completely inappropriate,” Governor Healey remarked to WCVB. “They undermine the dignity and credibility of the efforts of law enforcement professionals across the state. As a former attorney general and current governor, I am deeply troubled by this behavior.”