Family of slain Boston police officer sues Karen Read for his murder

A wrongful death civil suit has been filed in a Massachusetts court by the estate and family of deceased Boston police officer John O’Keefe, alleging that his then-girlfriend Karen Read caused his death by driving drunk in an unsafe manner. The suit also names two bars as defendants for negligently selling alcohol to Read before the incident that led to O’Keefe’s death. Read is accused of drunkenly driving into O’Keefe and leaving him to die outside a home in Canton in January 2022. The criminal trial against Read ended in a mistrial, and a second trial is set to begin in January. The suit claims that the relationship between O’Keefe and Read was deteriorating leading up to his death, with Read causing arguments and showing signs of jealousy. The lawsuit alleges that Read was served multiple alcoholic drinks at the bars before the incident occurred. Prosecutors have alleged that Read backed over O’Keefe with a vehicle and fled the scene, leaving him to die in the cold. The estate and O’Keefe’s family are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, as well as negligent infliction of emotional stress. The case has divided the Massachusetts community amid allegations of a cover-up by police and investigative misconduct, with Read’s defense claiming that O’Keefe was beaten by off-duty police officers. A second trial is set to begin in January to determine the outcome of the case.

Source
Photo credit www.cnn.com