Karen Read, accused of killing her police officer boyfriend, now faces a civil lawsuit alongside criminal charges.
At a Glance
- Family of John O’Keefe filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Karen Read and two bars
- Read is accused of hitting O’Keefe with her vehicle and leaving him to die in the snow
- The lawsuit claims bars were negligent in serving Read alcohol despite signs of intoxication
- Read has pleaded not guilty and awaits retrial on charges including second-degree murder
Family Seeks Justice Through Civil Action
The family of John O’Keefe, a Boston police officer, has taken legal action against Karen Read and two local bars in a wrongful death lawsuit. This civil suit runs parallel to the ongoing criminal case against Read, who stands accused of striking O’Keefe with her vehicle and abandoning him in freezing conditions, leading to his death.
Filed in Plymouth Superior Court, Massachusetts, the lawsuit targets Read along with the Waterfall Bar & Grill and C.F. McCarthy’s. The O’Keefe family, represented by Paul O’Keefe, alleges that these establishments negligently served Read alcohol despite clear signs of intoxication, potentially contributing to the tragic events that unfolded.
Details of the Night in Question
According to the lawsuit, Read consumed an alarming amount of alcohol on the night of O’Keefe’s death. It claims she was served seven drinks at the first bar within a 90-minute span before carrying a drink to the second establishment, where she continued to be served. The legal action does not specify O’Keefe’s alcohol consumption that evening, focusing instead on Read’s alleged intoxication.
“The legal team defending Read has labeled her as a ‘convenient outsider’ in this case, suggesting a broader conspiracy.” https://apnews.com/article/karen-read-officer-death-boston-civil-lawsuit-dc3a0a413df318a35903cb235ce4dabe
The lawsuit further alleges that Read and O’Keefe had been arguing, and that she was aware she had struck him with her SUV before returning to his residence. In a disturbing twist, it claims Read woke O’Keefe’s 14-year-old niece hours after the incident, suggesting O’Keefe might have been hit by her or a snow plow.
Criminal Case Continues
Parallel to the civil proceedings, Read faces serious criminal charges, including second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. She has entered a plea of not guilty and awaits a retrial following a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury in her initial criminal trial.
Read’s defense team maintains her innocence, claiming O’Keefe was killed inside a home and that she has been framed. This stance starkly contrasts with the prosecution’s narrative and the allegations put forth in the civil lawsuit.
An autopsy revealed that O’Keefe succumbed to a combination of hypothermia and blunt force trauma, findings that have become central to both the criminal prosecution and the civil case against Read.
Awaiting Responses
As of now, Read’s legal representatives and the bars named in the lawsuit have not responded to requests for comment on the civil action. The case continues to draw significant public attention, highlighting the complex intersection of criminal and civil litigation in high-profile cases.
The outcome of both the criminal retrial and this civil lawsuit will likely have far-reaching implications for all parties involved, as the justice system seeks to unravel the truth behind Officer O’Keefe’s tragic death.
Sources:
1. Karen Read now faces civil suit as well as murder charge in police officer boyfriend’s death
2. Karen Read sued in death of police officer boyfriend
3. Karen Read Now Faces Civil Suit As Well As Murder Charge In Boyfriend’s Death
