Karen Read in wrongful death suit points to ‘third parties’ for John O’Keefe’s death

Karen Read is pointing at “third parties” for the death of John O’Keefe, as her lawyers officially responded to the wrongful death civil suit from the O’Keefe family.

Read, who was acquitted earlier this year of the Boston cop’s murder, is being sued for her boyfriend’s death. She was accused of hitting him with her car, and leaving him to die in the snow in Canton back in January of 2022.

But during her two criminal trials, Read’s attorneys argued that other parties in the house were involved in O’Keefe’s death and a coverup that framed her.

Her lawyers are now citing this argument in the wrongful death civil case.

“To the extent that the Plaintiffs have suffered damages, all such damages claimed were caused by the acts and omissions of third parties for whom Ms. Read is not responsible,” her attorneys wrote in response to the civil complaint this week.

“Ms. Read denies that she is liable or responsible to the Plaintiffs, and requests that the Court deny the specific remedy and relief, or any remedy or relief, that the Plaintiffs seek in this action,” her lawyers wrote.

Read’s team in the past has pointed the finger at those who were inside the Canton home on the night of O’Keefe’s death: Brian Albert, Nicole Albert, Matthew McCabe, Jennifer McCabe and Brian Higgins.

Her attorneys have also slammed Massachusetts State Police investigators Lt. Brian Tully, Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik and ex-Trooper Michael Proctor.

Read, 45, was indicted in June 2022 on charges of second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter and leaving the scene of a collision causing the death of O’Keefe.

She was tried twice, first in 2024 that ended in mistrial, and then in a second trial earlier this year when she was acquitted on all the indicted charges, but was convicted of drunken driving.