Karen Read claims she has never met anyone who believes she killed Boston officer

Karen Read has insisted she has never encountered a single person in real life who believes she was responsible for the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe, despite years of public scrutiny surrounding the high-profile case.

The 46-year-old made the remarks during an appearance on NBC’s Today show on Friday, one day after filing a lawsuit against the law enforcement agencies involved in investigating O’Keefe’s 2022 death.

During the interview, host Craig Melvin questioned Read about the lingering public perception of the case, noting that some people still believe she escaped responsibility despite her acquittal.

Read rejected that notion, saying her experiences since the trial have been overwhelmingly positive.

“I’ve not had any evidence that there’s lots of people who feel that way,” she said.

According to Read, she has largely lived a low-profile life over the past year, but continues to receive support wherever she goes. She claimed strangers frequently offer encouragement, discounts and acts of kindness, extending even to members of her family.

“I have not seen one,” Read said when asked whether she had encountered anyone who believed she killed O’Keefe.

She acknowledged, however, that criticism exists online, admitting she has seen negative comments on social media but does not engage with them directly.

Read also addressed the visible divide among supporters and critics during her court proceedings, where groups wearing pink and blue shirts often gathered outside the courthouse to signal opposing views of the case.

The interview came shortly after Read filed a civil lawsuit alleging misconduct by the agencies that investigated O’Keefe’s death. The complaint accuses investigators of fostering a culture of bias and institutional failures that she believes contributed to her prosecution.

“This was always our plan, that I had to save my own life first,” Read said. “I had to fight for my freedom for years.”

Her attorney, Alan Jackson, said the lawsuit seeks accountability and public exposure of what the legal team alleges were serious investigative failures.

The complaint references communications involving former investigators, including text messages that became central to scrutiny of the case. Former Massachusetts State Police trooper Michael Proctor was dismissed in 2025 after revelations that he sent derogatory messages about Read while leading the investigation.

Read maintained that her legal efforts are not solely about clearing her own name but are connected to what she believes happened to O’Keefe.

“John was the victim of this institutional corruption, and we’re the voice for John,” she said.

The case remains the subject of ongoing legal proceedings. Read is also facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by O’Keefe’s relatives.

Reflecting on O’Keefe during the interview, Read described him as easygoing, humorous and deeply devoted to the niece and nephew he helped raise after the deaths of their parents.

Looking ahead, Read said she hopes to continue speaking publicly about her experience rather than retreating from public life, even as she acknowledged the appeal of leaving it all behind.

“I think it would be a waste for me to just disappear and go live on an island,” she said.