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The Massachusetts State Police have agreed to pay Karen Read $100,000 to settle a lawsuit she filed, alleging misconduct in the investigation of her boyfriend's death. Read was accused of hitting Boston police officer John O'Keefe with her SUV in January 2022 and leaving him to die in the snow. Her first trial in 2024 ended in a mistrial, but she was acquitted by a second jury in 2025.
Read's lawsuit, filed last June, accused the Massachusetts State Police and the town of Canton of conspiracy and negligence in their investigation. The suit highlighted offensive text messages exchanged between former State Police Trooper Michael Proctor and former Canton Police Sgt. Sean Goode, which Read argued showed bias. According to The Washington Post, Proctor was fired in 2025 over alleged misconduct, including sending sexist messages about Read.
The State Police stated that the settlement was reached to "avoid prolonged litigation and the significant costs to taxpayers," as reported by Oxygen. The department emphasized its commitment to strengthening investigative practices and ensuring impartial investigations.
The settlement does not resolve Read's claims against the town of Canton, which are still pending. The case will be featured in a Netflix documentary, "The Trials of Karen Read," debuting on November 23.