Hung jury leads to mistrial in Karen Read's high-profile murder trial

A mistrial has been declared in the high-profile trial of a Massachusetts woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend.

Karen Read was charged in the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who was found dead in the snow outside the home of a fellow officer in Jan. 2022. Prosecutors accused Read of hitting O’Keefe with her car while dropping him off at a party at the residence, and leaving him to die. Her attorneys alleged a sloppy investigation and a cover-up .

After five days of deliberations, the judge declared a mistrial after the jury insisted they couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict. A status conference is scheduled for July 22.

Read is charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence, and leaving the scene of a collision causing injury or death. She is facing life in prison if convicted at trial.

The case has captured attention across the globe with allegations of a police cover-up orchestrated by parties with “ significant relationships ,” alleged “ romantic entanglements ” involving Read and O’Keefe, and even a blogger vocal in their defense for Read facing charges . Protesters have also taken center stage in their fight against a “buffer zone,” accusing the prosecution of going on an “unchecked bender. ”