Karen Read, accused killer of cop boyfriend, showed no emotion until jury deliberations: documentary

Karen Read, a Massachusetts woman accused of murdering her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, is speaking out in a new Investigation Discovery (ID) docuseries titled A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read. The series offers a behind-the-scenes look at her 2024 trial, where she maintains her innocence with the support of her legal team. Terry Dunn Meurer, the series’ director and co-creator of Unsolved Mysteries, highlights a pivotal moment during filming where Read, while reviewing the events of the night before O’Keefe’s death, shifts her focus from grief to determination, stating, “I’ve got to save myself.” This intensity and focus on her defense were consistent throughout the trial, with emotion surfacing only during jury deliberations. Before her charges, Read had a successful career as a financial analyst and adjunct professor, and her relationship with O’Keefe, whom she had known since her twenties, was initially strong, despite later conflicts over parenting styles and a tense trip to Aruba in December 2021.

The couple’s last night together in January 2022 ended in tragedy. After barhopping with friends, Read dropped O’Keefe off at his friend’s house, Brian Albert, during a snowstorm. The next morning, O’Keefe was found unconscious in Albert’s front yard with severe injuries, including multiple lacerations and skull fractures. Read discovered his body and immediately sought help, but O’Keefe was pronounced dead. Prosecutors accuse Read of intentionally ramming O’Keefe with her SUV and leaving him to die, charges she denies. Her defense argues that O’Keefe was beaten inside Albert’s home and that law enforcement members involved in his death framed her as an outsider. The case is further complicated by a Google search for “how long to die in the cold” and questionable conduct by lead investigator Michael Proctor, who was suspended for making derogatory remarks about Read.

Meurer acknowledges the complexity of the case, noting conflicting accounts and the impact of heavy alcohol consumption on memories. While Read initially claimed she didn’t remember dropping O’Keefe off, she later stated she saw him enter the house. The case has divided the community, with some believing corruption within the police department played a role in framing Read. In July 2024, a mistrial was declared, and a retrial is set for April 2024. Meurer expresses doubt that the full truth will ever be known, emphasizing the human cost of the case, including destroyed friendships and the loss of John O’Keefe, a man remembered as a good cop and father figure to his niece and nephew. The docuseries, premiering on March 17 on ID, aims to explore the twists and turns of the trial, urging viewers not to lose sight of the tragedy behind the headlines.