Karen Read, the defendant in the retrial for the alleged murder of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, is facing significant financial strain as she seeks to fund her defense against the possibility of life imprisonment. Read reportedly sold her Mansfield home for $810,000 and is drawing from her 401(k) retirement fund after being dismissed from her jobs as a finance professor and equities analyst. The legal costs have surged to over $5 million, prompting her defense team to turn to crowdfunding and a legal defense fund that has raised close to $1 million. While Read’s team has introduced new attorneys to bolster their case, the financial burden continues to mount, raising questions about the influence of outside funding on legal representation. Despite the costs, Read remains resolute in her claim of innocence, with supporters rallying behind her through fundraising efforts and advocacy campaigns.
Read is accused of ramming O’Keefe with her vehicle during a drunken argument before leaving him to freeze to death in the front yard of a fellow police officer’s home in the early morning hours of January 29, 2022. The case has faced legal hurdles, including a mistrial declared by Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone last year after the jury could not reach a verdict. Read’s defense team has added two new attorneys, Robert Alessi and Victoria George, to their existing legal representation, making the legal battle even more complex and expensive. The use of crowdfunding to cover legal fees has become a common tactic in high-profile cases, but it also raises ethical concerns about the influence of third-party funding on attorneys and their decision-making in the courtroom.
Supporters of Read have organized various fundraising initiatives, including a ticketed dinner party with DJ performances, raffles, and a cash bar, which raised additional funds for her defense. The Free Karen Read Movement has also launched a fundraising campaign and sold merchandise such as sweatshirts and T-shirts to generate support. While these efforts have helped alleviate some of the financial burden, critics argue that reliance on public donations might complicate the legal strategy, as the attorneys may face pressure to prioritize the interests of the funding sources over the defendant’s case. Meanwhile, Read’s determination to fight for her innocence remains evident, with her statement to Vanity Fair emphasizing that she would rather face jail time for a crime she did not commit than plead out. As the retrial continues, the financial and legal challenges she faces highlight the broader implications of high-profile criminal cases and the role of public support in funding legal defense.