Karen Read has filed a civil lawsuit alleging she was framed for the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, a case that thrust her into national headlines and culminated in a high-profile acquittal on the most serious charges earlier this year. Filed Monday, November 17, the complaint claims investigators conspired to pin O’Keefe’s death on Read to prevent scrutiny of what she alleges really happened, according to NBC News.
Read, 45, was first charged after prosecutors said she struck O’Keefe with her SUV in January 2022 and left him outside in the snow. After a July 2024 trial ended in a mistrial, the case was retried in 2025. In June, a jury found Read not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter. She was, however, convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence.
What Karen Read’s Lawsuit Alleges
The new filing contends that O’Keefe did not die from a vehicular strike, pointing to an autopsy that found “no signs of a vehicular strike,” and instead claims he suffered injuries inside a Canton, Massachusetts home during a night of heavy drinking. Read asserts the altercation involved several people: Nicole and Brian Albert, Jennifer and Matthew McCabe, and Brian Higgins, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The complaint further alleges that the Alberts’ German Shepherd “attacked him and Mr. O’Keefe sustained multiple dog bites and scratches on his right arm,” and that O’Keefe suffered an “incapacitating … wound on the back of his head.” According to the suit, those injuries align with a scenario that contradicts the state’s original theory that O’Keefe was hit by a car outside.
During her criminal trial, Read maintained she never hit O’Keefe with her vehicle and last saw him as he walked toward the Alberts’ home. The lawsuit now formalizes that defense, arguing investigators ignored or suppressed evidence that could have corroborated her account.
Investigators’ Conduct Under Scrutiny
Central to the suit is former Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, who helped lead the investigation. Read’s filing accuses Proctor of undisclosed ties to the Albert family and claims he compromised the integrity of the case. Proctor previously testified that he shared some case details with his sister, who is close with Brian Albert’s sister-in-law, but denied any wrongdoing or that his actions tainted the investigation.
The complaint alleges Proctor “intentionally sidestep[ped] investigatory protocol,” and quotes him as saying authorities wouldn’t get “s**t for this” because Brian Albert was a police officer. It also claims he indicated he would make the case “clear cut” by bringing charges against Read.
“True to his promise, Proctor and his colleagues did not search the House for blood evidence resulting from the gash to the back of Mr. O’Keefe’s head, or for fingerprints, or for DNA evidence,” the lawsuit states, alleging a failure to undertake standard evidence-gathering at key locations connected to the night in question.
Both the Alberts and the McCabes have consistently denied involvement in O’Keefe’s death. Following Read’s acquittal on the most serious counts, they told ABC News’ Nightline that O’Keefe never entered the home that night and rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing.
Timeline And Current Status
O’Keefe’s death on a snowy January night in 2022 set off an investigation that quickly turned toward Read, who was then charged with murder and related offenses. Her first trial, in summer 2024, ended in a mistrial, setting the stage for a 2025 retrial. In June, jurors found her not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter; she was found guilty of operating under the influence.
Five months later, Read filed the civil suit seeking a jury trial on claims including malicious prosecution, supervisor liability, conspiracy to deprive her of constitutional rights, violations of the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy, per NBC News. The lawsuit also alleges that certain individuals used their relationships within law enforcement to avoid scrutiny and shield themselves from investigation.
In court, Read’s defense repeatedly emphasized alternative causes of O’Keefe’s injuries, citing the autopsy’s lack of vehicular strike indicators. The new filing revisits that argument and adds specific allegations about dog bite wounds and a head injury purportedly suffered inside the house — details the complaint argues were downplayed or ignored by investigators.
Denials, Disputes, And What Comes Next
Proctor and others involved in the investigation have denied misconduct. During the criminal proceedings, Proctor flatly rejected the claim that he manipulated the case or allowed personal connections to influence investigative decisions. The Alberts and McCabes have likewise disputed the narrative presented by Read, maintaining that O’Keefe did not enter the home and that no altercation occurred there.
Read’s complaint underscores the high-stakes nature of the case and the intense public scrutiny it has received. While the criminal case resolved most of the charges in Read’s favor, the civil lawsuit reopens key debates about the handling of evidence, potential conflicts of interest, and the conclusions investigators reached in the days and weeks after O’Keefe’s death.
As the civil action moves forward, the court will determine whether Read can substantiate her allegations against investigators and others named in the suit. For now, the filing cements her long-standing defense — that she did not strike O’Keefe with her vehicle and that the truth of what happened that night was obscured — into a formal bid for accountability and damages.
Representatives for those named in the lawsuit had not publicly responded to the new claims at the time of filing. Any forthcoming responses and court rulings will likely center on the contested investigative steps, the medical findings cited in the autopsy, and whether alleged conflicts of interest undermined the original probe.
