A murderous romance or a frame job? Things to know about Boston’s Karen Read murder trial

By HOLLY RAMER
Associated Press

A federal agent has testified that he exchanged flirtatious texts with Karen Read days before authorities said she struck her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV and left him to die in a snowbank. John O’Keefe died on Jan. 29, 2022. Prosecutors say Read dropped him off at a house party, struck him and drove away. Read has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and her defense team argues that she has been framed. O’Keefe’s body was found on the front lawn of another officer, and the defense alleges that state and local law enforcement officials framed Read and allowed the real killer to go free.