John O'Keefe

John O'Keefe
Died	January 29, 2022 Canton, Massachusetts, United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Police officer
Employer	Boston Police Department
Known for	Death and subsequent criminal case involving Karen Read

John O'Keefe was an American police officer who served with the Boston Police Department. He became the subject of national attention following his death on January 29, 2022, when his body was found in a snowbank outside a home on Fairview Road in Canton, Massachusetts. His girlfriend, Karen Read, was subsequently charged with his murder, setting off one of the most closely followed criminal cases in recent Massachusetts history. The case generated intense public debate, divided communities, and raised questions about police conduct, prosecutorial strategy, and the circumstances surrounding O'Keefe's death. Read maintained that she did not kill O'Keefe and alleged that others were responsible for his death and that a cover-up had taken place. The case proceeded through two trials, ultimately resulting in Read's acquittal on charges of murder and manslaughter. O'Keefe's death and the ensuing legal proceedings attracted sustained media coverage regionally and nationally, and as of 2026, civil litigation related to the case continued. O'Keefe was also known as a devoted caretaker of his niece and nephew, whom he had been raising following the death of their parents.

Career

John O'Keefe served as a police officer with the Boston Police Department. Details of his career length, rank, assignments, and departmental service are not extensively documented in available sources. He was identified in court records and news reporting as a Boston police officer at the time of his death in January 2022.

Death

Discovery

On January 29, 2022, John O'Keefe's body was found in a snowbank in the driveway outside a home on Fairview Road in Canton, Massachusetts. The home belonged to a fellow Boston police officer. The circumstances of his death immediately drew scrutiny, as O'Keefe had been at the residence the previous night during a winter storm. His girlfriend, Karen Read, was present in the hours leading up to his death.

According to prosecutors, Read had driven O'Keefe to the Fairview Road home in the early morning hours and struck him with her vehicle, leaving him in the cold. Read and her defense team disputed this account, arguing that O'Keefe had gone inside the home, where he was killed by others, and that his body was subsequently left outside in the snow.

Investigation

The investigation into O'Keefe's death was conducted by law enforcement in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Karen Read was identified as a suspect and was subsequently charged. The case attracted scrutiny from the outset due to the fact that the home where O'Keefe's body was found belonged to a fellow Boston police officer, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest in the investigation. Read's defense team alleged that the investigation had been compromised and that evidence pointed to a cover-up involving law enforcement and other individuals who had been at the home that night.

The defense's theory posited that O'Keefe had been involved in an altercation inside the home and was injured there before being placed outside. The prosecution maintained that Read had struck O'Keefe with her SUV and left him in the snow, where he succumbed to hypothermia and his injuries.

Criminal Case Against Karen Read

Charges

Karen Read was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of a collision causing death. The charges stemmed from the prosecution's theory that Read had hit O'Keefe with her Lexus SUV outside the Fairview Road home during the early morning hours of January 29, 2022, and then left the scene without rendering aid.

First Trial

Read's first trial drew substantial media attention and public interest. The case became a cause célèbre, with supporters of Read rallying publicly under the belief that she had been framed. The trial featured competing narratives: prosecutors argued that Read had killed O'Keefe by striking him with her vehicle, while the defense presented an alternative theory involving others at the Fairview Road home. The first trial ended without a unanimous verdict on all charges, resulting in a mistrial on the murder and manslaughter counts.

Acquittal

Karen Read was ultimately acquitted of the charges of murder and manslaughter in connection with John O'Keefe's death. The acquittal was a significant development in a case that had consumed public attention in Massachusetts and beyond. Following the acquittal, Read pursued civil litigation against individuals she alleged were involved in O'Keefe's death and in what she described as a cover-up.

Civil Litigation

In November 2025, Karen Read filed a civil lawsuit against witnesses from the criminal case whom she alleged had framed her for O'Keefe's murder. According to the Boston Herald, the lawsuit named individuals Read argued were "actually involved" in O'Keefe's death. The suit alleged a police cover-up in the investigation into O'Keefe's death.

Read's lawsuit alleged that those named in the suit had conspired to frame her and that law enforcement had participated in or facilitated the cover-up. Boston 25 News described the filing as an "explosive lawsuit alleging police cover-up in death of John O'Keefe."

Family's Legal Position

O'Keefe's family took a position opposing Read's claims of innocence. In December 2025, the family pressed a judge to demand more evidence from Read to support her assertion that someone else had killed John O'Keefe. According to MassLive, Read claimed someone else killed O'Keefe, while his family argued that she needed to provide more proof to substantiate this claim.

The ongoing legal proceedings between Read and the O'Keefe family illustrated the deep divisions the case had created. Even after the acquittal, fundamental questions about who was responsible for John O'Keefe's death remained in dispute.

Personal Life

John O'Keefe was in a romantic relationship with Karen Read at the time of his death. According to reporting by A&E, court records and legal realities surrounding their relationship told a complicated story. Read did not attend O'Keefe's funeral, a fact that was noted in media coverage and discussed during the legal proceedings.

O'Keefe was known for his role as a caretaker of his niece and nephew, whom he had been raising. This aspect of his personal life was frequently cited in media coverage and by those who knew him, and it featured in public remembrances following his death. Supporters and family members described his commitment to raising the children as a defining characteristic of his life.

Remembrance and Legacy

Vigils and Public Remembrance

On January 29, 2026 — the four-year anniversary of John O'Keefe's death — a vigil was held in Canton, Massachusetts, in his memory. WCVB reported on the event, which brought together family members, friends, and community members to remember O'Keefe. The vigil took place as the legal proceedings stemming from his death continued.

The case surrounding O'Keefe's death had a significant impact on the Canton community and beyond. The competing narratives about what happened to O'Keefe — whether he was killed by Karen Read or by others inside the Fairview Road home — divided public opinion and generated sustained media coverage. The case was covered extensively by regional outlets including the Boston Herald, the Patriot Ledger, Boston 25 News, and WCVB, as well as national outlets such as A&E.

Media Coverage

The death of John O'Keefe and the subsequent prosecution and acquittal of Karen Read became one of the most heavily covered criminal cases in Massachusetts in the 2020s. A&E published a detailed timeline of the case, from O'Keefe's death through Read's acquittal, reflecting the national scope of interest in the proceedings.

The Patriot Ledger published a comprehensive account of key dates in the case, describing it as a "true story" that encompassed the death of a Boston police officer, a complex investigation, and a dramatic courtroom battle. The case raised broader questions about accountability within law enforcement and the integrity of criminal investigations when the victim is a member of the police community.

Ongoing Impact

As of early 2026, the question of who was responsible for John O'Keefe's death remained a matter of active legal dispute. The civil lawsuit filed by Karen Read against witnesses and the O'Keefe family's legal efforts to challenge Read's claims ensured that the case continued to generate public attention. The case also prompted discussions about the criminal justice system, the role of media in high-profile cases, and the challenges of investigating deaths that involve law enforcement personnel.

O'Keefe's family continued to seek accountability for his death, participating in legal proceedings and public events to keep his memory alive. The vigil held on the four-year anniversary of his death in Canton demonstrated the enduring impact of his loss on those who knew him and on the broader community.