OUT AT THEM AFTER SHE CONFRONTED HIM FOR SPEEDING. NEW AT SIX. NOW WE ARE HEARING MORE OF THAT. ABC NEWS EXCLUSIVE. IT’S ONE ON ONE AND IT’S AN INTERVIEW WITH KAREN REID. AND IN IT, THE MANSFIELD WOMAN WHO IS ACCUSED OF KILLING HER BOYFRIEND, BOSTON POLICE OFFICER JOHN O’KEEFE, DESCRIBES THE MOMENTS SHE FOUND HIS BODY IN THE SNOW. MY EYES ARE PEELED AND I SAID, HE’S RIGHT THERE. I JUMPED OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AND I FELL INTO THE STREET. HIS EYES WERE SHUT AND HE HAD SPOTS OF BLOOD IN DIFFERENT AREAS ON HIS FACE, AND HE WAS STILL NOT STIFF, BUT BUT STILL IT WAS COLD. I FELT COLD, BUT I DIDN’T FEEL DANGEROUSLY COLD, AND IT WAS JUST AN ODD FEELING TO KNOW THAT I’M OKAY. I’M NOT DYING. BUT HE’S HERE WITH ME AND HE’S DYING AND I CAN’T WARM HIM UP. YOU COME DOWN. FAIRVIEW. REID’S FIRST TRIAL ENDED IN A MISTRIAL. THIS SUMMER. YOU CAN WATCH THE ALL NEW 2020 INTERVIEW
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Karen Read describes finding O'Keefe's body in ABC 20/20 interview
Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman who did not testify at her first murder trial, gave ABC's 20/20 an exclusive interview in which she described finding her boyfriend dead in a blizzard and doubled down on her allegations of a cover-up. Read, 44, of Mansfield, is accused of hitting her boyfriend, John O'Keefe, with her SUV outside a Canton home on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him to die in a snowstorm following a night of drinking at two bars. Her first trial on three charges began in April and ended in a mistrial on July 1.In the wake of that high-profile mistrial, a new episode of ABC's 20/20 promises insights into her defense while a second trial looms. The two-hour special, which features an interview with Read, can be seen Friday at 9 p.m. on WCVB Channel 5.The exclusive interview was recorded before her first trial but never before fully published. Read spoke with 20/20's Matt Gutman about discovering O'Keefe's body in a snowbank outside 34 Fairview Rd. the next morning. Other witnesses testified about the moment during the trial, but in this interview, Read describes the moment in her own words."As you come down Fairview, there's, there's a bit of a decline in it, and it curves to the left, and my eyes are peeled, and I said, 'He's right (expletive) there,'" Read told 20/20.She continued, "I jumped out the passenger side, and I fell into the street. His eyes were shut, and he had spots of blood in different areas on his face, and he was still — not stiff, but still."Testimony in the first trial revealed that O'Keefe was on the ground with two black eyes and several other injuries. He was also dressed in a long-sleeve T-shirt, not clothing that would be appropriate for blizzard conditions. "It was cold. I felt cold, but I didn't feel dangerously cold and it was just an odd feeling to know that I'm OK. I'm not dying, but he's here with me, and he's dying, and I can't warm him up," Read said. The prosecution alleges that Read backed into O'Keefe with her SUV, damaging the vehicle and that the couple was fighting. Large portions of the first trial were devoted to witnesses and evidence about the rocky state of the relationship between Read and O'Keefe, something 20/20 asked her about."Would you say that you were angry with John that night?" Gutman asked."Yes," Read answered.The defense, however, contends O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, was dragged outside after he was beaten up in the basem*nt and bitten by a dog at fellow Boston Officer Brian Albert’s home in Canton."You're alleging that they're covering it up. Why would they want to be involved in this conspiracy?" 20/20's Matt Gutman asked."Because he's dead," Read replied.The prosecution plans to retry the case next year. Recently, Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone rejected Read's request to dismiss two charges, including second-degree murder, in the case.Prosecutors suffered several notable setbacks during their presentation of the case, including surveillance video from a police garage that appeared to be inverted and embarrassing revelations about the "very regrettable" messages sent by a Massachusetts State Police trooper assigned to the case. That trooper was later suspended, and others have faced internal affairs investigations.The O'Keefe family recently sued Read and the two Canton bars where prosecutors said the couple was drinking on that night. They allege Read's defense "outrageously created a false narrative" about the case. The family is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.If the case stays on schedule, a second trial is planned to begin on Jan. 27. The civil lawsuit is not likely to play out before that trial.
DEDHAM, Mass. —
Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman who did not testify at her first murder trial, gave ABC's 20/20 an exclusive interview in which she described finding her boyfriend dead in a blizzard and doubled down on her allegations of a cover-up.
Read, 44, of Mansfield, is accused of hitting her boyfriend, John O'Keefe, with her SUV outside a Canton home on Jan. 29, 2022, and leaving him to die in a snowstorm following a night of drinking at two bars. Her first trial on three charges began in April and ended in a mistrial on July 1.
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In the wake of that high-profile mistrial, a new episode of ABC's 20/20 promises insights into her defense while a second trial looms. The two-hour special, which features an interview with Read, can be seen Friday at 9 p.m. on WCVB Channel 5.
The exclusive interview was recorded before her first trial but never before fully published.
Read spoke with 20/20's Matt Gutman about discovering O'Keefe's body in a snowbank outside 34 Fairview Rd. the next morning. Other witnesses testified about the moment during the trial, but in this interview, Read describes the moment in her own words.
"As you come down Fairview, there's, there's a bit of a decline in it, and it curves to the left, and my eyes are peeled, and I said, 'He's right (expletive) there,'" Read told 20/20.
She continued, "I jumped out the passenger side, and I fell into the street. His eyes were shut, and he had spots of blood in different areas on his face, and he was still — not stiff, but still."
Testimony in the first trial revealed that O'Keefe was on the ground with two black eyes and several other injuries. He was also dressed in a long-sleeve T-shirt, not clothing that would be appropriate for blizzard conditions.
"It was cold. I felt cold, but I didn't feel dangerously cold and it was just an odd feeling to know that I'm OK. I'm not dying, but he's here with me, and he's dying, and I can't warm him up," Read said.
Karen Read trial: Key updates, evidence from every day of testimony
The prosecution alleges that Read backed into O'Keefe with her SUV, damaging the vehicle and that the couple was fighting. Large portions of the first trial were devoted to witnesses and evidence about the rocky state of the relationship between Read and O'Keefe, something 20/20 asked her about.
"Would you say that you were angry with John that night?" Gutman asked.
"Yes," Read answered.
The defense, however, contends O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, was dragged outside after he was beaten up in the basem*nt and bitten by a dog at fellow Boston Officer Brian Albert’s home in Canton.
"You're alleging that they're covering it up. Why would they want to be involved in this conspiracy?" 20/20's Matt Gutman asked.
"Because he's dead," Read replied.
Karen Read discusses her relationship with John O'Keefe, defense, courtroom attire with ABC's 20/20
The prosecution plans to retry the case next year. Recently, Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone rejected Read's request to dismiss two charges, including second-degree murder, in the case.
O'Keefe's family sues Karen Read, 2 bars where couple drank prior to officer's death
Prosecutors suffered several notable setbacks during their presentation of the case, including surveillance video from a police garage that appeared to be inverted and embarrassing revelations about the "very regrettable" messages sent by a Massachusetts State Police trooper assigned to the case. That trooper was later suspended, and others have faced internal affairs investigations.
The O'Keefe family recently sued Read and the two Canton bars where prosecutors said the couple was drinking on that night. They allege Read's defense "outrageously created a false narrative" about the case. The family is seeking compensatory and punitive damages.
If the case stays on schedule, a second trial is planned to begin on Jan. 27. The civil lawsuit is not likely to play out before that trial.
Brother of John O'Keefe speaks out about Karen Read mistrial
