Karen Read is a Massachusetts woman accused of killing her boyfriend, John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer, in January 2022. She faces charges including second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter while under the influence, and leaving the scene of a collision causing death
. Before the legal proceedings, Karen Read had a career in financial services, working as an equity analyst at Fidelity Investments and serving as an adjunct professor at a university in Waltham, Massachusetts. She holds undergraduate and master's degrees in finance
. The case involves allegations that after a night of drinking, Read struck O'Keefe with her SUV outside a private residence and then left the scene. Prosecutors argue the couple had a tumultuous relationship, and Read intentionally hit O'Keefe, who later died from hypothermia and blunt force injuries. Read has pleaded not guilty and maintains her innocence, claiming she is the victim of a cover-up and framing by law enforcement
. Her first trial ended in a hung jury, and her second trial began in April 2025, with ongoing legal proceedings and significant public attention
