Murder of John O'Keefe
Canton · Massachusetts · United States · 2022
John O'Keefe, an off-duty Boston police officer, was found unresponsive outside a Canton home in January 2022 and died. Karen Read was indicted for murder; her 2024 trial ended in a mistrial, and in June 2025 a retrial jury acquitted her of the indicted counts, convicting her of lesser-included OUI.
No upcoming court date is currently confirmed.
At a glance
Karen Read — Acquitted, 2025
Criminal case concluded June 18, 2025. Related civil matters reported pending: wrongful death in Plymouth Superior Court; defamation action by Read in Bristol Superior Court.
Mixed criminal disposition: acquitted on three indicted homicide-related counts; convicted of lesser-included OUI with one year probation (June 18, 2025).
Indicted: second-degree murder; motor vehicle manslaughter; leaving the scene causing death. June 18, 2025: acquitted on all three indicted counts; guilty of lesser-included OUI.
Norfolk Superior, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
Norfolk County Superior Court, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
A summary, written from the sourced timeline below — not a citation of its own.
Court listings
Norfolk County Superior Court · Norfolk County, Massachusetts · 2282CR00117
Plymouth Superior Court · Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Timeline· 11 entries
A dated record of reported developments and proceedings.
Entries linked to a court, prosecutor, police, or government source.
2022
Jan 29 2022
Death reported, investigation event
John O'Keefe found unresponsive outside a Canton residence and later pronounced dead
Norfolk County, MassachusettsAgency releaseNorfolk County District AttorneyFeb 1 2022
Arrest, court event
Karen Read arrested on a manslaughter warrant issued by Stoughton District Court
Norfolk County, MassachusettsAgency releaseNorfolk County District AttorneyFeb 2 2022
Hearing, court event
Karen Read arraigned in Stoughton District Court; enters not guilty plea
Norfolk County, MassachusettsAgency releaseNorfolk County District AttorneyJun 9 2022
Charges filed, court event
Grand jury indicts Karen Read for second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a collision causing death
Norfolk County, MassachusettsAgency releaseNorfolk County District AttorneyJun 10 2022
Hearing, court event
Karen Read arraigned in Norfolk County Superior Court on the indictment
Norfolk County, MassachusettsNews reportCBS News
2024
Apr 16 2024
Trial start, court event
First trial jury selection begins in Norfolk County Superior Court
Norfolk County, MassachusettsNews reportCBS NewsJul 3 2024
Verdict, court event
Date estimatedNews reportAP News
2025
Apr 1 2025
Trial start, court event
Retrial jury selection begins in Norfolk County Superior Court
Norfolk County, MassachusettsNews reportCBS NewsApr 22 2025
Trial start, court event
Retrial opening statements / testimony begin in Norfolk County Superior Court
Norfolk County, MassachusettsNews reportCBS NewsJun 1 2025
Jun 18 2025
Sentencing, court event
Karen Read sentenced to one year of probation on the OUI conviction
Norfolk County, MassachusettsNews reportNBC News
Coverage· 3 works · 17 episodes
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