Two reporters who have been covering the Karen Read trial since the very beginning hosted a live question and answer session on Tuesday morning to break down the outcome of the case, the verdict, and what happens next.
Here’s a look at the questions submitted by readers and how the team answered them.
*Note: Questions have been condensed and edited for clarity.
That’s a wrap! — 11:15 a.m.
From Jenna Reyes
Thank you all for joining us for a great discussion. We’re so glad we were able to answer your most pressing questions. Apologies if we didn’t get to your submission (we received about 100 questions and only had an hour to tackle them).
Be sure to keep up with our coverage as we continue to follow this case.
Until next time!
Do we know any details of the findings of the federal investigation? — 11:14 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
We know a few things, but most of the Justice Department’s findings remain impounded. It was the federal probe that unearthed the boorish texts that State Police investigator Michael Proctor, who was later fired, sent to friends and coworkers about Read during the early stages of the investigation.
It also discovered a separate text message pointing to a possible rift between ATF agent Brian Higgins, who was at the Fairview Road afterparty and who had exchanged flirtatious texts with Read, and some of the other witnesses.
In March 2024, Read’s lawyers said that the federal data dump revealed that Kevin Albert, a Canton police detective and brother to Brian Albert, who owned the Fairview Road home at the time of O’Keefe’s death, had texted Higgins during the federal probe, “Look, you went off the grid and Brian [Albert] doesn’t understand. You haven’t called him. You haven’t checked in on him since these subpoenas go out. Everyone got a subpoena but you.”
The analysts from the crash reconstruction firm ARCCA told federal investigators that O’Keefe’s injuries weren’t consistent with a vehicle strike, according to records and testimony.
No one has been charged as part of the federal probe, which prosecutor Hank Brennan has said ended.
Will the Alberts, McCabes, and/or Kerry Roberts sue for defamation? They have been harassed, bullied and called murderers. — 11:06 a.m.
Answered by John R. Ellement
Whether to sue for defamation is a decision for those individuals to make. It should be noted that civil lawsuits are expensive and the costs must be paid by the plaintiffs. And if they lose, the plaintiffs could end up with a money judgment against them and have to pay the legal fees incurred by the other party. (BTW, the government only pays legal fees for indigent criminal defendants, not in civil litigation.)
Is this the end of her ordeal? Can she sue the PD or that group for framing her and ruining her career, her life and costing her her home and entire savings? — 11:04 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
Read’s acquittal spells the end of her pending criminal case and eliminates the possibility of her serving prison time. But suing for a malicious prosecution is a different matter entirely. It can be done, but it’s not without risk for the plaintiff, under this scenario Read, who would face questioning under oath from opposing counsel. She also continues to face a wrongful death lawsuit brought by John O’Keefe’s family in Plymouth Superior Court.
Following Read’s exoneration, is an investigation of John O’Keefe’s death ongoing? Could he have been murdered inside the Albert house? Will this investigation be followed through? — 10:59 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
Read was not legally exonerated with her acquittal; a not guilty finding under the law means the jury determined prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that she committed the crimes of second-degree murder, manslaughter while OUI, and leaving the scene of a crash resulting in death. Formal exoneration is a separate, arduous process that requires a clear showing of a malicious prosecution based on the evidence, or lack thereof. It remains unclear whether any law enforcement body continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding John O’Keefe’s death.
I’m appalled at the absurd amount of taxpayer money spent on TWO trials when there was questionable evidence of a collision by Karen Read. And by the second trial, it was known that there were significant problems with the investigation. And she was upcharged, I believe. What can be done to avoid this ever happening again? — 10:55 a.m.
Answered by John R. Ellement
It’s a fairly standard practice for prosecutors across the country, not just in Massachusetts, to charge high in order, perhaps, to pressure defendants into a plea deal. It seems unlikely that will practice will substantially change in spite of the outcome in the Read re-trial. Why did Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey and special prosecutor Hank Brennan push for a second trial? Brennan said he believed before the acquittal and still believes now that Read is responsible for John O’Keefe’s death. Concurrently, prosecutors have a legal and moral obligation to speak on behalf of the deceased, and that’s an obligation many prosecutors are personally determined to meet.
Why didn’t police interview the occupants of the home where the body was found that night? Was the clothing O’Keefe was wearing torn in a manner consistent with the wounds on his arm? Were there injuries consistent with being hit by a car traveling in reverse at the estimated speed of the vehicle based on the data obtained from the car computer? — 10:52 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
The occupants were interviewed by law enforcement, though the defense alleged some of those interviews were conducted improperly by investigators with social ties to the witnesses themselves.
As for O’Keefe’s injuries, medical experts for the defense testified that his wounds weren’t consistent with a vehicle strike at 24 m.p.h. as the government alleged. Government experts contradicted that assessment, asserting that O’Keefe’s arm wounds were consistent with the geometry of Read’s shattered taillight.
How unusual is it for the prosecution to come out full guns in opposition to a jury verdict? — 10:50 a.m.
Answered by John R. Ellement
Prosecutors often say they respect the jury’s verdict when there is an acquittal. But it’s not uncommon for prosecutors to follow that up by saying, as did Hank Brennan did, that they continue to believe they have prosecuted the right person.
“After an independent and thorough review of all the evidence, I concluded that the evidence led to one person, and only one person,”Brennan said in a statement after the Read re-trial. “Neither the closed federal investigation nor my independent review led me to identify any other possible suspect or person responsible for the death of John O’Keefe.”
What impact will this verdict have on other major area murder investigations? — 10:48 a.m.
Answered by John R. Ellement
The Globe’s Laura Crimaldi reported that defense lawyers in several murder cases that are heading to trial in Norfolk Superior Court are asking judges for former State Police investigator Michael Proctor’s work and personal cellphones, his work iCloud account, and disciplinary records for him and some State Police colleagues and supervisors he worked with under the auspices of Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey.
A judge has sided with the defense in two pending trials, but the overall impact of the flawed O’Keefe investigation is still developing. The head of the State Police recently said the agency has taken steps to improve its investigative training since the case.
“The events of the last three years have challenged our department to thoroughly review our actions and take concrete steps to deliver advanced investigative training, ensure appropriate oversight, and enhance accountability,” said Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble.
Karen Read’s dad was interviewed Tuesday in front of the Court House. He said that the feds had filed a very lengthy report on the case in 2022. Is that going to be released for the public to read? — 10:42 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
Don’t count on it. Bill Read was referring to a report spanning thousands of pages that federal investigators turned over to both sides in February 2024. Among the highlights was a report from the Philly-based crash reconstruction firm ARRCA, which found John O’Keefe’s injuries weren’t consistent with being hit by Read’s SUV. The defense later retained the ARCCA analysts separately and called them at both trials. But in terms of that initial, thick tome from federal investigators, it likely won’t see the light of day. The feds generally don’t release evidence, such as the report ARCCA worked up for them, in the absence of criminal charges being brought at the Seaport courthouse.
Will the State Police continue the investigation of who killed John O’Keefe? If they find additional evidence that Karen Read was at fault, could they charge her on different charges? — 10:28 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
Read cannot be charged a second time for murder or manslaughter, as she has been acquitted of those counts and has double jeopardy protections under state and federal law. It emerged during proceedings before the second trial that the state also tried to indict Read on separate charges in connection with her correspondence with Aidan Kearney, the blogger known as Turtleboy who has backed her claims of innocence and who has pleaded not guilty to charges of intimidating and harassing witnesses in the case. However, a grand jury declined to indict Read on similar counts, her team said in court.
What’s the status of Karen Read’s legal bills? — 10:25 a.m.
Answered by John R. Ellement
Only Karen Read and her legal team know the precise cost of her defense. She has received $1 million in donations earlier this year and has said she owed $5 million. However, since she was acquitted, there is no ban on her selling her story to Hollywood, to book publishers, or to Netflix if she so chooses.
So if she didn’t hit him, what does the state think happened? Do they feel he stumbled out of the house and fell? — 10:20 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
The state thinks she hit him. The Norfolk District Attorney’s office charged Read and only Read in connection with John O’Keefe’s death, and special prosecutor Hank Brennan said in a recent statement that he “concluded that the evidence led to one person, and only one person,” meaning Read.
Why wasn’t Read incarcerated until she was acquitted? — 10:18 a.m.
Answered by John R. Ellement
Under Massachusetts law, bail is designed to ensure people show up in court. The state’s highest court has ordered judges to set bail at amounts that a defendant can afford. In Karen Read’s case, she was able to post cash bail, the amount of which was steadily reduced over the years it took the case to move through the courts.
Will they investigate Canton PD? — 10:16 a.m.
Answered by John R. Ellement
The town paid a consultant, 5 Stones Intelligence, close to $200,000 to audit the Canton police department. The auditors found that in terms of the John O’Keefe death investigation, officers violated the department’s written evidence guidelines by: not photographing Mr. O’Keefe’s body where it was found; not conducting interviews at the police station; recording witness interviews; and stationing officers at the crime scene for an extended period of time.
All security video taken of Read’s SUV in the Canton police garage should have been turned over to her defense team early in the case, the audit found. Auditors also discovered that Canton officers were using personal cellphones to document crime scenes, and called for the town to issue department-owned cellphones. They also called for crime scene preservation training for the department, among other issues.
The audit did not discover any evidence of corruption, tampering, or conspiracy in the investigation.
When will the civil suit resume? It was on pause while this trial finished. — 10:15 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
The family of John O’Keefe has a wrongful death lawsuit pending in Plymouth Superior Court against Karen Read and the two bars she and O’Keefe visited on the night he died. Judge William M. White in October delayed any civil deposition of Read “pending the retrial” in her criminal case. White in April said the plaintiffs couldn’t depose Read’s parents and another witness for “a period of 90 days, or upon the conclusion of the criminal re-trial in Commonwealth v Read, whichever occurs first.” A trial date for the lawsuit hasn’t been scheduled, records show.
I do not understand how she can be found guilty of OUI. She did not cause an accident. She was not stopped by police while operating a car. Are videos of her driving enough to convict on that? — 10:14 a.m.
Answered by John R. Ellement
Despite the high-profile nature of her trial, Read’s conviction on operating under the influence was routine, legally speaking. If police were investigating her solely for drunk driving, the videos of her drinking alcohol at bars, the witnesses who saw Read and O’Keefe leave in her SUV together with Read at the wheel, and the fact that her blood alcohol level at the hospital exceeded the legal limit of .08, all supported a guilty verdict. The investigatory steps taken for the OUI conviction of Read are standard in drunk driving cases statewide.
Will this verdict have any implications on the civil suit or play any role? — 10:12 a.m.
Answered by John R. Ellement
Yes. If there is a trial, the jury could be told Read was acquitted in a criminal case, which could influence a jury’s thinking.
When will Governor Healey ask for an investigation/audit of the Norfolk DA’s office? — 10:11 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
Governor Maura Healey, a Democrat and former state attorney general, has given no indication that she will call for any such review.
Can a judge overrule the jury’s verdict? — 10:09 a.m.
Answered by John R. Ellement
Yes, but only if there is a guilty verdict. A not guilty verdict cannot be challenged by the prosecution. Under a state law on the books since at least 1964, judges have the authority to reduce a jury verdict. For example, if a jury convicts a person of first-degree murder, a judge can, at the defense’s request, rule that the evidence supports only a manslaughter verdict.The difference to the defendant? First-degree murder carries a sentence of life without parole, while a manslaughter sentence can range from only probation to a maximum of 20 years behind bars.
Some readers may recall the case of British nanny Louise Woodward, who was convicted of second-degree murder, which the trial judge later reduced to manslaughter. Instead of spending at least 15 years in a Massachusetts prison, Woodward was credited with 279 days she spent awaiting trial and was allowed to return to England.
Why wasn’t the Commonwealth allowed to suggest that Colin Albert was involved? — 10:08 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
While Karen Read’s defense team suggested at the first trial that Colin Albert, whose uncle owned the Fairview Road home where John O’Keefe’s body was found, was potentially involved in his death, the Commonwealth had no interest in suggesting that he was connected. Prosecutors alleged that Read was solely responsible for killing her boyfriend by backing into him with her SUV and leaving him to die.
Judge Beverly J. Cannone ruled before the second trial that the defense couldn’t allege that Colin Albert was a potential culprit, finding that Read’s lawyers hadn’t established an evidentiary foundation for that assertion. Colin Albert testified at the first trial that he left the Fairview residence about 20 minutes before Read and O’Keefe pulled up outside the house.
Will the police officers involved also receive OUIs? — 10:05 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
Theoretically, the Norfolk District Attorney’s office could attempt to charge other people who drove from the Canton bar to the Fairview Road afterparty with operating under the influence, as the statute of limitations for the misdemeanor offense is six years in Massachusetts. However, no other drivers that night underwent testing for blood alcohol content, nor were they given field sobriety tests. In addition, there has been no eyewitness testimony suggesting the other drivers were impaired behind the wheel. Under those circumstances, an OUI prosecution several years after the fact would appear to be untenable.
Will they investigate other suspects? — 10:00 a.m.
Answered by Travis Andersen
That’s unclear. The Justice Department had convened a federal grand jury to investigate state law enforcement’ shandling of John O’Keefe’s death, but no one has been charged with any federal crimes in connection with the matter. Hank Brennan, the special prosecutor on the Read case, has said repeatedly that the federal probe is closed, something the US Attorney’s office has not confirmed on the record. Federal prosecutors generally don’t confirm or deny investigations, regardless of how prominent the case is.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. John R. Ellement can be reached at john.ellement@globe.com. Follow him @JREbosglobe. Jenna Reyes can be reached at jenna.reyes@globe.com. Follow her @jennaelaney and Instagram @jennaelaney.