Karen Read, acquitted earlier this year in the high-profile death of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe, has filed a sweeping civil lawsuit claiming serious misconduct by law enforcement officers and key witnesses in her criminal case. The complaint, filed in Bristol County Superior Court, alleges a coordinated effort to frame her, conceal evidence, and manipulate the investigation to deflect blame.
The lawsuit names several Massachusetts State Police officers, including Detective Lt. Brian Tully, Sergeant Yuriy Bukhenik, and former Trooper Michael Proctor, as well as civilian witnesses involved in the original investigation. Read’s attorneys argue that these individuals conspired to misrepresent facts, manipulate timelines, and obstruct justice, ultimately creating a false narrative that led to her prosecution.
At the heart of the case is Read’s claim that O’Keefe did not die in an accident, as initially reported, but during an altercation at the home of certain witnesses following a night of drinking. According to her complaint, witnesses coordinated statements and allegedly withheld critical information, which she says skewed the investigation and resulted in her facing criminal charges for murder and manslaughter.
Read further alleges that state police investigators failed to perform basic forensic procedures, such as properly testing for blood or DNA evidence, and that some officers demonstrated overt bias. Trooper Proctor, who was previously terminated over offensive messages about Read, is highlighted in the lawsuit as an example of institutional prejudice influencing the investigation.
The 46-page complaint asserts violations of civil rights, malicious prosecution, and conspiracy. Read is seeking a jury trial and damages, including legal costs and compensation for emotional, physical, and financial harm endured during the criminal proceedings. Her legal team stresses that she spent more than three years subjected to a flawed and biased criminal process.
This civil action comes amid ongoing legal battles, including a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by O’Keefe’s family. Read’s new suit not only seeks redress for her alleged mistreatment but also aims to hold law enforcement accountable for what she describes as systemic failings.
Defendants named in the lawsuit have strongly denied the allegations, calling them “false, defamatory, and without merit.” The Massachusetts State Police have not issued a public response at this time. Legal experts note that the case could prompt renewed scrutiny of investigative practices, the handling of witness testimony, and the transparency of law enforcement in high-profile cases.
Read’s civil lawsuit underscores the continued tension surrounding the O’Keefe case and reflects broader debates about accountability, procedural fairness, and the potential misuse of authority by investigators. As the case moves through the courts, it may shed new light on both the criminal investigation and the standards expected of law enforcement officers in sensitive, high-profile matters.
The lawsuit positions Karen Read not only as a former defendant seeking personal justice but also as a critic of systemic failures in the investigation that nearly led to her conviction, raising critical questions about how justice is administered in complex, high-profile cases.
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