Karen Reed Files Lawsuit After Acquittal in Boyfriend’s Death

Karen Reed, who was acquitted in the case surrounding her boyfriend’s death, has initiated a lawsuit claiming that several Massachusetts State Police officers targeted her while shielding the actual perpetrator.

Earlier this year, Reed left the courthouse after enduring more than three years of legal battles and two trials related to the death of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer. O’Keefe was found on a fellow officer’s lawn following an evening of drinking.

The lawsuit states, “For three and a half years, Plaintiff Karen Reed was falsely accused of murder and subjected to charges, arrests, two indictments, and public censure, all as a result of gross misconduct by the Massachusetts State Police.” Reed claims this misconduct was aimed at exonerating the individual truly responsible for O’Keefe’s death.

Reed faced accusations of striking O’Keefe with her SUV outside a house party in 2022 and leaving him to die in the snow in Canton, a suburb roughly 20 miles south of Boston. Initially charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter due to drunk driving and leaving the scene, her first trial ended in a mistrial after the jury could not reach a decision. In the second trial, she was acquitted of the more severe charges but was convicted of a misdemeanor for driving under the influence.

The lawsuit, filed against various state troopers and attendees of the house party, including federal agent Brian Higgins, alleges a broader conspiracy among a close-knit group to conceal the truth. It repeats many of the points made by Reed’s defense during her trials.

The complaint further claims that O’Keefe was killed during an altercation at the party and that police investigators mishandled the case, including fabricating evidence and neglecting to gather critical physical evidence or interviews.

According to the lawsuit, shortly after the incident, those at the party, some of whom had police investigative experience, devised a plan to evade justice and frame Reed. It asserts that State Police investigators allowed the focus to shift away from the actual perpetrators and onto her instead.

The individuals named in the lawsuit have denied the allegations through their attorneys. They described Reed’s claims as “completely false, defamatory, and baseless,” while asserting that their client acted responsibly and cooperated with the legal process.

Additionally, the lawsuit criticizes the investigation led by former Massachusetts State Police Officer Michael Proctor, who was dismissed after sharing sexist messages regarding Reed. During the second trial, Reed’s attorney argued that Proctor’s bias influenced the quality of the investigation and its findings.

In a statement, Reed’s legal team emphasized that she was caught in a wrongful prosecution orchestrated by those involved in the investigation, claiming abuses of power and interference with her rights. They asserted that their indictment uncovers extensive malicious prosecution and civil rights violations against Reed.

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts State Police did not provide any comments regarding the lawsuit, which claims malicious prosecution and conspiracies to violate Reed’s rights under the Fourth Amendment. Her attorney is seeking a jury trial.