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Juror No. 1 in the murder trial of Karen Read has come forward to discuss the jury’s decision to acquit her of the hit-and-run death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe.
During an interview with NBC’s TODAY, the juror, who wished to remain anonymous, asserted, “Karen Read is innocent, and she didn’t commit this crime,” as reported by NBC News. This statement mirrors the Wednesday, June 18, 2025, verdict in which Read, 45, was acquitted of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident but convicted of driving under the influence.
The decision came nearly one year after a hung jury caused a mistrial, a cause célèbre that divided the public and those involved in the 2022 case.
Why did the jury acquit Read on the more serious charges?
The jury foreman shared with TODAY that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate Read used her Lexus to fatally collide with O’Keefe on the snowy night of January 29, 2022. That evening, the couple had been drinking with friends; after visiting several bars, Read reportedly dropped O’Keefe off to continue the night at the Canton residence of Brian Albert, a former Boston police sergeant.
Hours later, O’Keefe was found clinging to life on Albert’s lawn, later succumbing to hypothermia and the blunt force trauma prosecutors alleged came from being struck by Read’s vehicle.
In both trials, the defense claimed law enforcement officials attending the party brutally beat O’Keefe and left him in the cold to die. A bungled investigation and a lead investigator’s suspension from the State Police only helped support those in Read’s camp.
Party guests claimed the victim never made it inside the home.
“I looked at her from day one as an innocent woman that needed to be proven guilty, and I don’t think any of that was shown in this process,” the juror told TODAY. “Everyone felt good about the decision that we all collectively came together with.”
He claimed the jury found no “solid evidence” to prove O’Keefe was hit by a car at all.
Others continue to doubt Read’s innocence
Meanwhile, special prosecutor Hank Brennan said he was “disappointed” by the verdict, according to his statement to Boston NBC affiliate WBTS-CD. Brennan offered his “heartfelt condolences” to the many who loved O’Keefe, as part of a lengthy release.
“After an independent and thorough review of all the evidence, I concluded that the evidence led to one person and only one person,” the statement read, in part. “The campaign of intimidation and abuse that has been waged, funded, and promoted in public and on social media is the antithesis of justice.
“If this type of conduct becomes commonplace, it will threaten the integrity of our judicial system, affecting both victims and [the] criminally accused. We cannot condone witness abuse causing participants to worry for their own safety or that of their families.”
Brennan’s hope to see “witnesses and their families left alone” has been upended by some of the radical support from loyals who’d loudly petitioned over Read’s innocence. Sources reported to TMZ that those on Team Karen continue to harass O’Keefe’s family home, which consists of the victim’s parents and the young niece and nephew John O’Keefe raised as his own up until his death.
One security video showed a woman dancing in what has been perceived as a celebration over the verdict just outside the O’Keefe home.
A “Justice for John” sign remained posted on the mailbox.
“The harassment of the innocent victims and family members is deplorable and should never happen again in a case in this Commonwealth,” Brennan continued in his statement.
For the drunk-driving charge, Read was sentenced to one year of probation.
