Karen Read Files Lawsuit After Acquittal in Boyfriend’s Death

BOSTON, MA — Karen Read, acquitted of charges related to the death of her boyfriend, has filed a lawsuit against members of the Massachusetts State Police and several individuals, claiming they wrongfully targeted her and shielded the real culprits.

Read’s ordeal began after she was accused of striking Boston police officer John O'Keefe with her SUV in 2022 and leaving him to die alone outside a house party in Canton, a suburb about 20 miles south of Boston. O’Keefe was found on the lawn of a fellow officer’s home after a night of drinking.

The lawsuit, filed in Bristol County Superior Court, alleges that Read faced wrongful accusations of homicide, which resulted in two trials and significant public condemnation. The complaint states, ‘For three and a half years, plaintiff Karen Read was wrongly accused of homicide and subjected to suspicion, arrest, two prosecutions and public condemnation all resulting from the gross misconduct of the Massachusetts State Police.’ 

In the second trial earlier this year, a jury found Read not guilty of second-degree murder but convicted her on a lesser charge of drunken driving. The lawsuit brings forth many of the claims previously raised by her defense team during her trials.

Among the defendants in the lawsuit are federal agent Brian Higgins and several attendees of the house party, including Nicole and Brian Albert, as well as Jennifer and Matthew McCabe. The suit accuses these individuals of conspiring to cover up O’Keefe’s death to protect themselves.

The complaint details an alleged conspiracy among close friends who were at the party, claiming that they created a plan to deflect blame onto Read. It also criticizes the state police investigation, alleging it was flawed due to bias and poor practices.

Defense attorneys for the accused deny the allegations, stating that the claims made by Read are ‘entirely false, defamatory, and without merit.’ They emphasize that their clients acted responsibly as witnesses and participated appropriately in the legal process.

The lawsuit specifically calls out the conduct of former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor, who was accused of bias after sharing offensive texts about Read. During the trial, it was argued that Proctor’s actions tainted the investigation.

The Karen Read Civil Team issued a statement describing the lawsuit as a detailed account of ‘malicious prosecution, conspiracy, civil rights violations, and intentional misconduct.’ They expressed confidence in seeking justice through this civil suit.

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts State Police has not yet commented on the lawsuit.

Read’s legal team is demanding a jury trial, seeking damages for the allegations outlined in the complaint.