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Karen Read will be paid $100,000 by Massachusetts State Police after the agency agreed to settle her lawsuit alleging misconduct in the investigation of her boyfriend John O’Keefe’s death.
Read, 46, who was acquitted of murder in June 2025, sued Massachusetts State Police and the town of Canton that same month, claiming their hiring practices allowed biased officers to investigate O’Keefe’s 2022 death and contributed to her prosecution. The lawsuit accused investigators of negligence and civil conspiracy, claiming they focused on Read as a suspect while ignoring other possible suspects.
The $100,000 payment is the maximum available under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act.
“The Massachusetts State Police have reached an agreement with Karen Read to resolve her lawsuit against the department,” a state police spokesperson told NBC Boston Monday.
“The department determined that this agreement would avoid prolonged litigation and the high costs to taxpayers of continuing the case. The state police will continue to strengthen its investigative practices, enhance comprehensive training for investigators, and ensure that every investigation is thorough, impartial, and guided by the facts,” the statement concluded.
State police said the settlement would save taxpayers the cost of a lengthy legal battle while improving investigative practices and training.
