Karen Reed Found Not Guilty in Boyfriend’s Death

The high-profile trial involving Karen Reed concluded with a jury finding her not guilty of murdering her police officer boyfriend. Instead, the jury determined she was guilty of significantly lesser charges.

Reed, 45, expressed her relief to supporters outside the Norfolk County Superior Court after the jurors deliberated for over 22 hours on this emotionally charged case.

She faced the possibility of a life sentence if convicted of murder but will instead only serve a year of probation due to a drunk driving conviction.

Reed was accused of killing Boston police officer John O’Keefe in 2022. On the fateful night, she dropped him off at a fellow officer’s party.

Prosecutors alleged that she struck O’Keefe with her SUV, leaving him to die in the snow. However, Reed’s defense team argued that O’Keefe had been beaten and that his body was moved to the street after his death.

After the hearing, Reed stated, “No one fought harder for justice for John O’Keefe than I have—more than me and my team!” addressing her supporters.

Another judge previously announced a deadlock in this case, leading to a mistrial before this second trial unfolded. In this round, the new prosecution team opted to reduce the number of witnesses testifying.

The jury ended up finding sufficient evidence to assign Reed guilt concerning drunk driving.

Brian Albert, the homeowner where the party was held, criticized the prosecutors, claiming they spread “lies and conspiracy theories.” He labeled the verdict a “catastrophic miscarriage of justice.”

Reed’s lawyers brought in experts to counter the prosecution’s narrative, asserting that no evidence existed to support the claim that her vehicle collided with O’Keefe. “There is no evidence that John was attacked by a car. No collision occurred, so this case should be dismissed,” attorney Alan Jackson contended.

Supporters of Reed donned pink, her favorite color, as the case attracted national attention, particularly online, where many avidly dissected the details of the allegations.