Netflix announces new documentary about explosive Boston ‘cop killer’ case as date for retrial is set

Netflix has announced a new three-part documentary series about the trial of a Massachusetts woman accused of killing her police officer boyfriend. The two-month trial ended in a mistrial and Karen Read faces another trial next January.

The extremely high-profile case captured the attention of people across the nation. Former Boston Police officer John O’Keefe was found unresponsive in the snow outside of a home in Canton Massachusetts on January 29, 2022 and was later pronounced dead. His girlfriend, Karen Read, was charged with second degree murder as investigators determined that she had hit him with her car while under the influence, and fled the scene.

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As details of the case began to unfold in the courtroom, the trial of Karen Read became one of the most highly televised cases in the history of Massachusetts. After two months of mindblowing evidence that contradicted the case against Read, the jury announced that they were unable to come to a unanimous decision, resulting in a mistrial. Read’s lawyers have maintained her innocence and claim that she is being framed by law enforcement in an elaborate cover up.

Netflix announced earlier this week that a three-part documentary series is currently in the works. The title of the series has not yet been released but Netflix said that it will “explore what happened in the days leading up to O’Keefe’s death.”

“The team feels immensely privileged to be bringing this important series to a Netflix global audience,” co-directors Danielle Johnson and Rob Miller told Netflix. “It is a case that has garnered a huge amount of public attention and has far-reaching implications. We are also mindful that this is a hugely sensitive case and we are determined to treat all those involved with the respect and consideration they deserve.”

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A release date for the series has also not been released, but a date has been set for Read’s retrial. The new trial is scheduled to start on January 27, 2025 if the case continues to move forward. The former jurors will return to court on August 9 for a motion to dismiss hearing, which comes after news that the jurors are experiencing threats and feeling unsafe.

True crime docuseries have been wildly popular on Netflix in the past, like Making a Murderer and American Murder: The Family Next Door.

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