• Faith: Christian - Catholic
• Career: Public Figure
• Birthday:  February 26, 1980

Karen Read is a former financial analyst from Mansfield, Massachusetts who is standing trial for allegedly hitting and killing her boyfriend, former Boston police officer John O'Keefe, with her SUV during a snowstorm in January 2022.

Karen Read was born in 1980 and raised in Taunton, Massachusetts, and Blacksburg, Virginia. She attended Coyle & Cassidy High School, a private Catholic institution in Taunton. Read pursued higher education at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in finance.

Read embarked on a successful career in finance, working as a financial analyst at Fidelity Investments starting in 2007. She also served as an adjunct professor at Bentley University, teaching finance. However, following her arrest in connection with O'Keefe's death, she was terminated from her teaching position.

In the spring of 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Read reconnected with John O'Keefe, whom she had briefly dated in 2004. Their relationship deepened quickly, with Read becoming involved in the lives of O'Keefe's niece and nephew, whom he was raising after the deaths of their parents. She often stayed at O'Keefe's home, assisting with the children's remote schooling and daily routines. Despite their bond, the couple faced challenges, including disagreements over parenting roles and incidents of jealousy.

On January 29, 2022, John O'Keefe was found unresponsive in the snow outside the Canton, Massachusetts, home of fellow Boston police officer Brian Albert. He was later pronounced dead, with hypothermia and blunt force trauma cited as contributing factors. Authorities alleged that Read had struck O'Keefe with her SUV after a night of drinking and left the scene. She was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of a deadly accident.

Read's trial began in 2024, drawing significant media attention. The prosecution argued that she had intentionally struck O'Keefe with her vehicle. In contrast, the defense contended that O'Keefe had been injured during an altercation inside Albert's home and was then left outside, suggesting a cover-up involving law enforcement officers present at the party. The trial concluded with a hung jury, leading to a mistrial declaration on July 1, 2024.

A retrial is scheduled to commence on April 1, 2025. In preparation, Read's defense team has gained a notable addition: Victoria Brophey George, a juror from the first trial who expressed concerns about the investigation's integrity and has since joined the defense. The defense continues to assert that Read is the victim of a wrongful prosecution and that evidence was mishandled to protect other individuals.

What religion is Karen Read?

While specific details about Karen Read's personal religious beliefs are not extensively documented, her upbringing included attendance at Coyle & Cassidy High School, a private Catholic institution in Taunton, Massachusetts. This suggests that she was exposed to Catholic teachings during her formative years. However, there is limited information available regarding the depth of her personal faith or religious practices in her adult life.