Controversial Murder Trial of Karen Read Accused of Running Over Boyfriend in Canton amidst Cover-up Investigation and Media Hype

Joseph Scott Morgan, who has worked in the field for over 20 years, shares his thoughts on the contentious murder trial of Karen Read. Prosecutors allege that Read killed her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, by running him over with her car during a fight outside their shared residence in Canton, Massachusetts, after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol during a snowy night in January 2022. However, Read has pleaded not guilty to murder and accused others present at the scene of framing her as part of an ongoing federal investigation into a cover-up that occurred within the home. The judge allowed for arguments suggesting someone else may have killed O’Keefe during closing statements but prohibited such claims in opening remarks. Since Read’s arrest, there has been heated rhetoric and conspiracy theories circulating through the townspeople. Most recently, Aidan Kearney aka “Turtleboy,” who was an avid supporter of Read, faced charges for witness intimidation by prosecutors. The judge permitted him to attend the trial despite objections from law enforcement officials that his presence may jeopardize juror impartiality due to media hype and speculation surrounding this case. Last week, 19 members were selected out of a pool of approximately 400 potential candidates after an extensive two-week jury selection process. Suffolk University Law Professor Christopher Dearborn expressed his concerns regarding the difficulty in finding an unbiased juror due to widespread media coverage and online commentary surrounding this trial’s ongoing controversy, particularly on social networking platforms such as “Turtleboy” blogs.