Karen Read Speaks Out in True Crime Docuseries Amid Murder Case Retrial

CANTON, Mass. — In a gripping true crime docuseries entitled ‘A Body in the Snow,’ Karen Read shares her perspective on her ongoing murder trial, marking the first time she has spoken publicly about the high-profile case. The series, which airs on Investigation Discovery and streams on Max starting March 17, chronicles Read’s trial following the death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe in January 2022.

The allegations against Read, who was reportedly intoxicated, claim she struck O’Keefe with her SUV following a night out before abandoning him in the snow. Prosecutors maintain that she fled after the accident, leaving O’Keefe for dead on the front lawn of her colleague Brian Albert’s home. Read, however, insists she is innocent and contends she is the victim of a conspiracy.

“As scary as a potential conviction is, I will go to jail for something I didn’t do before I plea out. I will never give them that win,” Read stated in a previous interview. Her initial trial concluded in a mistrial in July 2024, with jurors deadlocked and unable to reach a unanimous decision on the charges against her.

The forthcoming retrial is set to commence on April 1, 2025. In the meantime, the docuseries highlights the events surrounding O’Keefe’s death, which occurred under a blanket of 20 inches of snow on the night of January 29, 2022. Read claims she found O’Keefe unconscious in Albert’s yard and attempted to administer aid but was unable to revive him.

After her arrest in February 2022 on charges including manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal accident, the prosecution presented evidence suggesting that Read’s vehicle was involved in the incident, including broken taillight fragments found at the scene containing O’Keefe’s DNA. Conversely, Read’s defense team argues that O’Keefe was already injured and dragged outside, asserting that the injuries he sustained were incompatible with being struck by a vehicle.

Read and O’Keefe had rekindled their relationship in 2020 after years apart, bonding over shared personal challenges. However, their relationship faced strains, including alleged infidelity, which Read cited as a source of tension leading up to the night O’Keefe died.

During the first trial, the prosecution’s narrative portrayed Read as the perpetrator of a reckless act, while her defense asserted that O’Keefe was assaulted inside Albert’s home, and hinted at a potential cover-up involving local law enforcement. Read’s representation alleged witness tampering and called into question the integrity of evidence presented against her.

The docuseries aims to present Read’s side of the story and provide insight into her trial experience, with the hopes of casting doubt on the prosecution’s case. “Doing this film is my testimony,” Read expressed in the series. “I know what happened between John and me.”

As she awaits her retrial, the implications of the charges have taken a significant toll on Read’s life. She has lost employment, health insurance, and financial stability, prompting her to sell her home to support her legal needs. “This is no life. I’m not in prison, but this is no life. I’m stressed every day,” she shared.

The upcoming retrial marks a pivotal moment in Read’s battle for justice. Public interest surrounding her case continues to rise as the docuseries sheds light on the complexities and controversies that have emerged since O’Keefe’s tragic death.