Defense in Karen Read Trial Suggests Cop Boyfriend Was Killed by Dog, Not SUV | June 7, 2025

The high-profile trial of Karen Read took a dramatic turn this week as the defense introduced a shocking new theory: that Boston police officer John O’Keefe was not run over by Read’s SUV, but instead killed by a dog after being beaten inside a house.

Read is accused of murdering her boyfriend by striking him with her vehicle in January 2022. Prosecutors argue the injuries O’Keefe sustained are consistent with being hit and dragged by a car. However, in a bold move, the defense brought forensic pathologist Dr. Marie Russell to the stand, who testified that the wounds “were inflicted as the result of a dog attack.”

“The patterns and multiple groupings on the body were, in my opinion, caused by the teeth and claws of a dog,” Dr. Russell told the court.

According to the defense, O’Keefe was assaulted during a party inside the home where he was last seen and later attacked by the homeowners’ dog after being dragged outside. The theory directly challenges the prosecution’s central claim that Read struck O’Keefe with her SUV after an argument.

Cross-examination was tense, with prosecutors questioning Dr. Russell’s credibility, even asking if she had any memory issues. Meanwhile, former police officer Kelly Dever, another witness for the defense, claimed she was forced to testify and initially told investigators she saw officers tampering with Read’s SUV. On the stand, however, she recanted. “I did not see anything,” she said.

The defense accused local law enforcement of hiding the truth, suggesting a broader conspiracy. Although Read’s attorneys requested a mistrial based on the latest developments, the judge denied the motion, and the trial continues.