The Massachusetts State Police have agreed to pay Karen Read $100,000 to settle a civil lawsuit accusing the agency of misconduct during the investigation into the death of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe.
The settlement follows Read’s acquittal in June 2025 after a highly publicised murder trial that attracted widespread attention across the United States.
The 46-year-old had been accused of killing O’Keefe, also 46, in January 2022.
However, she was found not guilty of second-degree murder, although she was convicted of a lesser charge of drunken driving.
The proposed settlement remains subject to approval by a judge.
Read Accused Investigators of Misconduct
Read filed her lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and the town of Canton in Bristol County Superior Court on June 4, alleging negligence and misconduct in the investigation that led to her prosecution.
Her complaint focused heavily on the conduct of former Massachusetts State Police trooper Michael Proctor, who served as the lead investigator in the murder case.
Read alleged that Proctor exchanged dozens of offensive text messages about her, including racist, sexist and antisemitic remarks.
She argued that the messages exposed what she described as an entrenched culture of bigotry, misogyny and institutional failures within the police force.
The lawsuit also named former Canton police Sergeant Sean Goode, who responded to the scene where O’Keefe was found.
According to the allegations, Proctor referred to Read as a “whack job” and expressed hope that she would kill herself.
He also allegedly made antisemitic comments, used a racial slur and referenced Adolf Hitler positively.
Former Lead Investigator Was Fired
Proctor was suspended without pay before the Massachusetts State Police terminated his employment in March 2025.
His termination order stated that he had sent derogatory, defamatory and otherwise inappropriate text messages about Read.
The order also noted that his communications created the impression that he was biased in his dealings with a homicide suspect and brought himself and the Massachusetts State Police into disrepute.
Proctor had maintained that his comments were juvenile and unprofessional but insisted they had no impact on the evidence, facts or integrity of the investigation.
In a November 2 court filing, the Massachusetts State Police condemned the messages quoted in Read’s complaint, describing them as racist, sexist and abhorrent.
The agency maintained that such conduct did not reflect its values and was not tolerated within its ranks.
Settlement Limited to $100,000
The $100,000 payment represents the maximum amount Read could recover under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act, under which her claims were brought.
However, Read did not agree or admit in the legal filings that the alleged misconduct had caused only $100,000 in damages.
The State Police said the agreement would help avoid prolonged litigation and the substantial costs that continuing the case could impose on taxpayers.
Despite the agreement, Read is reportedly continuing to pursue similar claims and related remedies through other legal proceedings.
Her claims against the town of Canton also remain active.
Read’s Acquittal Followed Two Murder Trials
Read’s settlement comes after a lengthy legal battle over O’Keefe’s death.
Prosecutors alleged that Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV after dropping him outside a party at the home of fellow police officer Brian Albert on January 29, 2022.
The couple had reportedly been drinking heavily before arriving at the property.
Prosecutors argued that Read drove away after hitting O’Keefe, leaving him outside to die.
However, her defence team argued that O’Keefe was killed inside the house and subsequently dragged outside.
A jury was unable to reach a verdict during Read’s first trial, which ended in a mistrial on July 1, 2024.
She was eventually acquitted of second-degree murder in June 2025.
She had also faced manslaughter and leaving-the-scene charges.
A conviction for second-degree murder could have resulted in a life sentence.
Medical Examiner Detailed Cause of Death
During the proceedings, Massachusetts medical examiner Dr Irini Scordi-Bello testified that O’Keefe died from blunt impact injuries to the head and hypothermia.
She also testified that she did not have sufficient information to determine whether his injuries were accidental.
The medical findings formed part of the evidence examined during the trials surrounding his death.
Other Legal Battles Remain Ongoing
Although the Massachusetts State Police settlement resolves part of Read’s civil dispute, several other lawsuits connected to O’Keefe’s death remain unresolved.
O’Keefe’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Read.
Read has also filed a separate federal lawsuit against civilian witnesses and investigators, accusing them of working together to frame her.
Meanwhile, four witnesses filed a defamation lawsuit against Read in April. That case is also still pending.
The proposed $100,000 settlement with the Massachusetts State Police therefore represents only one development in the continuing legal disputes arising from O’Keefe’s death.
