DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) 鈥� A jury found Karen Read not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges Wednesday in the 2022 death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, a case that attracted legions of true crime followers who erupted in cheers when word of the acquittal spread outside court.
The same jury found her guilty of a lesser charge of drunken driving. The jury handed down its decision after deliberating for at least 22 hours since June 13.
Cheers from the crowd outside could be heard in the courtroom as the verdict was read. With cheering supporters, Read departed the courthouse with her attorneys and family.
鈥淣o one has fought harder for justice for John O鈥橩eefe than I have," Read said.
The verdict came nearly a year after a separate jury deadlocked over Read鈥檚 involvement in the January 2022 death of John O鈥橩eefe and resulted in a judge .
It鈥檚 a huge victory for Read鈥檚 lawyers, who have long asserted she was framed by police after dropping O鈥橩eefe off at a party at the home of a fellow officer. Prosecutors argued the 45-year-old Read hit O鈥橩eefe, 46, with her SUV before driving away, but the defense maintained O鈥橩eefe was killed inside the home and later dragged outside.
Read faced charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene outside Boston. A second-degree murder conviction would have carried a life sentence.
Read鈥檚 father, Bill Read, told reporters outside the courthouse he felt relief and 鈥渢remendous thanks鈥� to God when the verdict was read.
鈥淲e need to get our life back together, and we will,鈥� he said.
Asked why he thought the second trial鈥檚 outcome was different, he said 鈥渁nother year of information circulating in the public, and people are aware of what鈥檚 happened.鈥�
T.D. Floras of Nashua, New Hampshire, was standing directly next to the barrier facing the court house after the jury鈥檚 verdict was read. She held her chorkie, Lucy, in her arms, and the dog wore a sign around her neck reading 鈥淔ree Karen.鈥� Floras said she is 鈥渂eyond thrilled and excited鈥� about the outcome.
鈥淚 would do that OUI probation for her myself,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long-time coming, so let鈥檚 put this behind her now so she can have some peace in her life.鈥�
Several witnesses in the case said in a statement Wednesday that their 鈥渉earts are with John and the entire O鈥橩eefe family.鈥� The witnesses who signed the statement included Jennifer McCabe, who was with Read and O鈥橩eefe the night of his death, and Brian Albert, who owned the home where the party took place.
鈥淲hile we may have more to say in the future, today we mourn with John鈥檚 family and lament the cruel reality that this prosecution was infected by lies and conspiracy theories spread by Karen Read, her defense team, and some in the media. The result is a devastating miscarriage of justice,鈥� the statement said.
Much like during , attorneys spent months presenting their case, featuring hundreds of pieces of evidence and dozens of witnesses.
Read鈥檚 defense said O鈥橩eefe was beaten, bitten by a dog, then left outside a home in the Boston suburb of Canton in a conspiracy orchestrated by the police that included planting evidence.
Prosecutors have described Read as a scorned lover who chose to leave O鈥橩eefe dying in the snow after striking him with her SUV outside the house party.
It鈥檚 the state鈥檚 second attempt to convict Read. The first Read trial due to a hung jury.
The was led by special prosecutor Hank Brennan, who called fewer witnesses than prosecutor Adam Lally, who ran the first trial against Read.
Describing O鈥橩eefe as a 鈥済ood man鈥� who 鈥渉elped people,鈥� Brennan told jurors during closing arguments that O鈥橩eefe needed help that night and the only person who could provide it was Read. Instead, she drove away in her SUV.
鈥淪he was drunk. She hit him and she left him to die,鈥� he said.
Defense attorney Alan Jackson rejected the idea that there was ever a collision at all. He and the defense called forward expert witnesses who agreed.
鈥淭here is no evidence that John was hit by a car. None. This case should be over right now, done, because there was no collision,鈥� Jackson said during closing arguments.
Michael Casey And Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press
