Dedham, Massachusetts – A mistrial was declared on Monday after jurors could not reach a unanimous decision in the highly-publicized case of Karen Read. Read was accused of striking her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV, leaving him to die in a snowstorm. Prosecutors expressed their intention to retry the case, while the defense argued that Read had been framed by the police.

During the fifth day of deliberation, the jurors informed Judge Beverly Cannone that they were deadlocked in the case involving the death of John O’Keefe in January 2022. The trial, which lasted two months and included over 600 pieces of evidence and more than 70 witnesses, came to an end at that moment.

Defense attorney Alan Jackson addressed reporters outside the courthouse, claiming that false charges had been brought against an innocent person. Meanwhile, Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey thanked the O’Keefe family for their commitment throughout the lengthy legal process.

Read, a former adjunct professor at Bentley College, faced second-degree murder and other charges in connection with O’Keefe’s death, which was determined to be caused by hypothermia and blunt force trauma. Prosecutors alleged that Read and O’Keefe had been heavily drinking before the incident occurred.

The defense argued that Read was actually a victim in the case, contending that O’Keefe was killed inside a fellow officer’s home and then moved outside. They criticized investigators for focusing on Read as a “convenient outsider” to avoid considering other potential suspects at the party.

State Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the case, admitted to sending offensive texts about Read during the investigation. Despite this revelation, the prosecution continued with the case. Proctor has since been relieved of duty by the Massachusetts State Police pending an internal affairs investigation.

Expert witnesses brought in by the U.S. Department of Justice provided scientific analysis supporting the defense’s argument that O’Keefe’s injuries did not align with the prosecution’s theory that he was struck by Read’s vehicle. Throughout the trial, supporters of Read gathered outside the courthouse, some advocating for her release and others seeking a conviction.

The mistrial outcome was met with mixed reactions from supporters on both sides, with some expressing disappointment and others acknowledging the possibility of a retrial. The prosecution’s case rested on witness testimony, including first responders who claimed Read admitted hitting O’Keefe, as well as evidence of her intoxication hours after the incident.

Overall, the mistrial outcome signifies a temporary conclusion to a complex and controversial case that has stirred emotions and raised questions about the criminal justice system.