Karen Read Faces Legal Struggles Amid Murder Trial in Massachusetts

Dedham, Massachusetts — Karen Read arrived at the Norfolk Superior Courthouse on Monday for the fourth week of testimony in her murder trial. Read, facing charges for the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe, remains persistent in her fight against what she describes as wrongful prosecution.

Read, 36, is accused of deliberately running O’Keefe over with her vehicle during a drunken argument and leaving him to freeze to death in his front yard on January 29, 2022. She has pleaded not guilty and is facing a potential life sentence if convicted.

The trial comes with significant financial strain. Read’s legal bills have exceeded $5 million, and she has turned to online crowdfunding to help with costs. ‘I feel incredibly violated,’ Read said in a recent Vanity Fair interview. ‘If I can get the entire truth of this case out in the public forum, that, to me, is priceless.’

Since her first trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury, Read’s defense team has expanded, adding attorneys Robert Alessi and Victoria George. In addition to selling her home in Mansfield for over $800,000, she has been living off her retirement savings after losing jobs as a finance professor and equities analyst.

To support her legal expenses, a crowdfunding campaign called ‘Justice for Karen Read’ has raised nearly $1 million. A donor wrote, ‘Keep fighting. I believe in Karen’s innocence and am grateful she has an amazing team defending her.’

Experts caution that while crowdfunding may help cover costs, it could create conflicts of interest for attorneys. Andrew Stoltmann, a criminal defense lawyer, noted, ‘A third-party funding source is both a blessing and a curse.’ He explained that these funds can influence the attorneys who are dependent on them.

In addition to crowdfunding, Read’s supporters are organizing events and selling merchandise to raise more money for her defense. A ticketed dinner earlier this month attracted many, with proceeds directed toward Read’s legal fees.

As Read continues her fight in court, she remains resolute about her innocence. ‘I’m not backing down now,’ she stated in her interview. ‘As scary as a potential conviction is, I will go to jail for something I didn’t do before I plead out.’