Karen Read Asks Judge to Order Return of Lexus and Phones After Acquittal in Officer's Death
Karen Read is asking a judge to order the return of her seized Lexus and phones
Her attorneys say prosecutors ignored earlier requests to give them back
The property was taken during the investigation into John O'Keefe's 2022 deathKaren Read is asking a judge to order prosecutors to return her 2021 Lexus SUV and cell phones, more than a month after she was acquitted of murder in the 2022 death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe.
In a motion filed in Norfolk County Superior Court this week and obtained by PEOPLE, Read's defense team says they contacted Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally in late June to request the return of the seized property. After receiving no response, they are now asking the court to intervene.
"Counsel attempted to negotiate the return of the listed property with ADA Adam Lally in late June, as property is in the possession, custody and control of the Massachusetts State Police and has not heard back," reads the motion.
Read's attorney, Steve Boozang, told Boston 25 News the delay in returning the property is 'bewildering,' noting that her team had hoped to avoid further court action but felt they had no choice.'They returned no bill, meaning there was no evidence whatsoever that Karen Read or Aidan Kearney had committed any crimes,' Boozang told the outlet. 'When I didn't hear back after a month, it was time to... file a motion and let a judge order the items to be returned.'
The Lexus LX 570 — valued at around $60,000 — was taken as part of the investigation after O'Keefe was found unresponsive in a snowbank outside the Canton, Mass., home of a fellow officer in January 2022. Prosecutors had alleged Read backed into O'Keefe with the SUV while intoxicated and left him to die.
In June, a jury acquitted Read of second-degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal crash. She was convicted only of operating under the influence and sentenced to one year of probation.
The high-profile case drew national attention and sparked protests from Read's supporters, who accused law enforcement of framing her and mishandling the investigation.
A hearing on the motion has not yet been scheduled. The Norfolk County District Attorney's office has not publicly responded to the filing.
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