The Shocking Truth Behind The Karen Read Verdict Slip 2025: Not Guilty Of Murder, Guilty Of OUI

The dramatic, high-profile murder retrial of Karen Read reached its stunning conclusion in June 2025, delivering a verdict that sent shockwaves through the legal world and the public sphere. As of today, December 15, 2025, the dust has settled on one of Massachusetts’ most sensational and heavily debated criminal cases, moving the narrative from speculation about a potential verdict slip to a definitive analysis of the jury’s final decision. The second trial, which began in April 2025 after a 2024 mistrial, ultimately cleared Read of the most severe charges related to the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, but did not grant her a full exoneration. The jury’s nuanced decision—a "not guilty" on homicide counts coupled with a "guilty" on a lesser charge—is a testament to the complex, contradictory evidence presented during the weeks of testimony.

The core of the case revolved around the death of John O'Keefe, who was found unresponsive in a snowbank outside a Canton, Massachusetts, home in January 2022. The prosecution argued that Read, intoxicated and distraught, struck him with her SUV and left him to die. The defense countered with a compelling "cover-up" theory, alleging that O’Keefe was assaulted inside the home by others and that law enforcement and witnesses conspired to frame Read. The final verdict slip, a document meticulously crafted by Judge Beverly Cannone, forced the jury to navigate these conflicting narratives, resulting in a split decision that closes one chapter of the case while leaving others open to public debate.

Key Figures and The Official Charges on the Verdict Slip

The 2025 verdict slip addressed the three primary charges against Karen Read, which had been the focus of the intense retrial. Understanding the individuals involved and the specific legal counts is crucial to grasping the final outcome.

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Karen Read: Biography and Profile

• Full Name: Karen Read
• Age (at time of verdict): 44 (approx.)
• Profession: Former Equity Analyst and Bentley University Professor
• Hometown: Canton, Massachusetts
• Legal Team: Led by Defense Attorney Alan Jackson
• Relationship to Victim: Girlfriend of John O'Keefe
• Initial Arrest: Charged in February 2022

John O'Keefe: Profile

• Full Name: John O'Keefe
• Profession: Boston Police Officer (Veteran)
• Date of Death: January 29, 2022
• Location of Death: Outside the home of fellow Boston Police Officer Brian Albert in Canton, MA
• Children: O'Keefe was raising his niece and nephew after the death of his sister and brother-in-law.

The Three Original Charges on the Verdict Slip

The jury was tasked with considering three major counts. For each, they had to determine if the Commonwealth had proven guilt beyond a reasonable doubt:

1. Second-Degree Murder: The most serious charge, alleging malice aforethought, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
2. Manslaughter While Operating Under the Influence (OUI): A lesser homicide charge, requiring proof of an unintentional killing while operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
3. Leaving the Scene of a Crash Resulting in Injury or Death: A felony charge related to failing to stop and render aid after an accident.

The Jury’s Final Decision: Analyzing the 2025 Verdict

After weeks of testimony and several days of deliberation, the jury in the Norfolk County Superior Court returned a mixed verdict on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. This decision was a complex parsing of the evidence, reflecting the jury’s rejection of the prosecution’s primary theory of homicide but acceptance of a lesser violation.

Not Guilty on Homicide Charges

The most significant outcome of the 2025 retrial was the jury’s finding that Karen Read was Not Guilty of both Second-Degree Murder and the lesser felony of Manslaughter While Operating Under the Influence. This finding was widely interpreted as the jury rejecting the core argument that Read intentionally or recklessly caused O’Keefe’s death with her vehicle. The defense’s intricate presentation of the "cover-up" theory, which included questioning the integrity of the scene and the actions of witnesses inside the Albert residence, appeared to create enough reasonable doubt on the homicide counts.

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The acquittal on the manslaughter charge, in particular, suggests the jury was not convinced that Read’s vehicle was the direct, criminal cause of O’Keefe’s death, despite evidence of her intoxication. This was a major victory for the defense team, led by Alan Jackson, who had steadfastly maintained Read's innocence of murder.

Guilty of OUI: The Lesser Charge Conviction

While acquitted of the most serious charges, Karen Read was found Guilty of the lesser included charge of Operating Under the Influence (OUI). This conviction confirms the jury’s belief that Read was indeed driving a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol on the night of January 29, 2022. This finding was likely supported by the testimony regarding her consumption of alcohol and the subsequent discovery of her damaged SUV. The conviction for OUI, a misdemeanor, completely changes the legal landscape of the case from a murder trial to a drunken driving incident.

The verdict slip’s structure allowed the jury to find a defendant guilty of a lesser, related offense even when the more severe charges were not proven. This outcome is often referred to by legal experts as a "mercy verdict" or a compromise verdict, where the jury seeks to hold the defendant accountable for a proven crime while rejecting the most severe accusations.

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The Evidence That Defined The Retrial

The 2025 retrial was a battle of forensic evidence and conflicting timelines. The verdict slip was the culmination of the jury weighing these critical pieces of testimony.

The Prosecution’s Key Evidence

The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally, focused on the physical evidence and Read’s own actions. Their argument hinged on:

• Vehicle Damage: The cracked taillight and other damage to Read’s Lexus SUV, suggesting a collision with O'Keefe.
• Read’s Statements: Her early morning statements and frantic search for O'Keefe, which prosecutors argued showed a consciousness of guilt.
• Forensic Analysis: Testimony regarding O’Keefe’s injuries being consistent with a motor vehicle strike.

The Defense’s Counter-Narrative

The defense’s strategy was to introduce reasonable doubt by shifting the focus away from Read and toward the occupants of the Canton home. Their key arguments included:

• The "Cover-Up" Theory: The allegation that John O'Keefe was brought inside the home, assaulted, and later placed outside, with police and witnesses engaging in a conspiracy to frame Read.
• The iPhone Search: Testimony regarding a search for "hos long to die in cold" on a witness’s phone, which the defense used to suggest prior knowledge of O'Keefe's condition.
• Lack of Blood/DNA: Questioning the limited amount of O'Keefe’s blood or DNA found on Read’s vehicle, which the defense argued was inconsistent with a fatal strike.

The Final Sentence and Lasting Impact

Following the jury's decision, the court moved quickly to sentencing on the single conviction of OUI. The outcome of the sentencing hearing in the latter half of 2025 provided the final legal resolution to the case.

Sentencing for the OUI Conviction

For the misdemeanor conviction of Operating Under the Influence, Karen Read received a sentence of 1-year probation and was ordered to complete the 24D program, which is an alcohol education and treatment program. This sentence reflects a first-offense OUI penalty in Massachusetts, which typically avoids jail time in favor of supervised probation and mandatory education.

The sentence brought a definitive end to the criminal proceedings against Read, though the public and legal fallout from the sensational retrial continues. The case has raised serious questions about police conduct, prosecutorial transparency, and the role of social media in influencing the perception of justice. The "Not Guilty" verdict on the murder and manslaughter charges, despite the OUI conviction, stands as a powerful example of a jury’s ability to find reasonable doubt in a high-stakes, circumstantial case, making the Karen Read trial a landmark in modern Massachusetts legal history.