The jury foreman in the retrial of Karen Read, who was initially found not guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Boston Police Department officer John O’Keefe, has called on the FBI to conduct its own investigation into the incident. The call for a federal review came after the jury determined she was guilty of operating a vehicle while under the influence. Read’s defense team has maintained she did not kill O’Keefe, blaming the incident on an altercation with other men at an after-party.
The juror, who asked to remain anonymous, said the FBI should ‘get justice for John O’Keefe,’ emphasizing that local authorities were unable to provide a complete picture of what occurred. The foreman also accused local law enforcement of ‘lazy’ work, suggesting that multiple jurors believe the case has not been fully examined. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan, following the verdict, requested Read be sentenced to one year of probation and enrollment in the 24D outpatient program, which is routine for a first drunken driving offense.
The not guilty verdict on the top charge of second-degree murder came after nearly a month of testimony and four days of jury deliberation. Prosecutors accused Read of killing O’Keefe, her boyfriend, on Jan. 29, 2022, while she was driving her car drunk during a blizzard. O’Keefe’s body was found lying in the snow during the early morning hours of Jan. 29. Kerry Roberts and Jennifer McCabe testified against Read, saying she was panicked when she called them on Jan. 29 to tell them that O’Keefe was missing.
In court, McCabe alleged that Read repeatedly said, ‘I hit him’ on the morning that O’Keefe went missing. Timothy Nuttall, a paramedic, said he overheard Read saying ‘I hit him’ three times. According to witnesses, Read and O’Keefe were out drinking on the night of Jan. 28 with friends, including McCabe. The couple was invited to an after-party at Brian Albert’s house, but they didn’t attend. Read’s defense team maintained during the trial that she never hit O’Keefe, instead blaming his injuries on an altercation with other men at the after-party.
According to witnesses who testified in court, while Read’s car was outside Albert’s house, she and O’Keefe weren’t seen at the after-party. Read told reporters that she saw O’Keefe enter the house prior to her driving away. Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI for comment.