LexTalk

It’s the kind of case that makes your stomach flip, your brain ache, and your gut twist with uncertainty.

I’ve been tuning in (in between work emails and cat snuggles with Juggy) to the live YouTube stream of the Karen Read retrial. It’s been a true crime rollercoaster—complete with fractured taillights, complicated relationships, and whispers of a cover-up that echo louder with each passing witness.

Let me be real with you: I don’t know if Karen Read is guilty. But after watching this unfold, I can confidently say this—I see reasonable doubt.

 The Case Against Karen

Karen Read is accused of running over her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, in a drunken rage, leaving him to die in the snow outside a fellow officer’s home. The prosecution paints her as angry, jealous, and heavily intoxicated. They’ve brought forward vehicle data, taillight fragments, her blood alcohol level, and even snippets of Karen’s voice saying, “I hit him.”

It’s compelling. It really is.

But then the defense fired back.

 The Defense’s Challenge

The defense presented multiple experts who claim O’Keefe’s injuries don’t match a car strike. Some even suggest animal bites (hello, German Shepherd rumors). Others point to a potential fight inside the house that night, and then there’s the now-notorious investigator whose own texts show deep bias—texts that damage the credibility of the entire investigation.

They’re not just poking holes in the state’s case—they’re suggesting the whole thing might’ve been stitched together… sloppily.

And that’s where I get stuck.

 Gut Check

Could Karen have done this? Yes. But is it proven beyond a reasonable doubt? Not for me.

Maybe she’s guilty. Maybe she knows more than she’s saying. Maybe the cops know more than they’re saying. This case is a labyrinth, and the only thing I know for sure is that it’s not clear enough to convict someone of murder.

If I were on that jury, I’d have to say not guilty—not because I think she’s innocent, but because this story is still unraveling.

And in the justice system, when in doubt… you acquit.

 A Final Thought

Justice means we get it right—not just that we get it done. Whether you think Karen Read is a grieving girlfriend or a calculating killer, we all deserve truth without shadows. And right now, there are too many shadows.