A mistrial has been declared in Karen Reed’s case after a jury failed to reach a verdict on charges of murdering her Boston police officer boyfriend.
The local district attorney’s office quickly issued a statement saying prosecutors intended to retry the case, where jurors first began in late April.
The prosecutor’s statement simply thanked the family of late police officer John O’Keefe “for their commitment and dedication to this long process.”
“They remain focused on the true heart of this case – justice for John O’Keefe,” the statement read.
On Tuesday, a jury of six men and six women began deliberations on whether to convict Reed, 44, of murdering O’Keefe, 46. But Judge Beverley Canno directed them to continue deliberating.
Canno declared a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a verdict Monday afternoon. According to local news website Masslive.com, Reid’s supporters began celebrating after Canno’s decision, but prosecutors apparently tried to calm the scene by stating almost immediately that they intended to retry the case in front of a different jury.
O’Keefe was found dead on January 29, 2022, outside the home of retired Boston police officer Brian Albert, who had hosted a house party in the Boston suburb of Canton.
O’Keefe suffered multiple head injuries, including a skull fracture and brain bleeding, according to investigators. The 46-year-old also suffered from hypothermia.
Prosecutors argued that Reed killed O’Keefe in an act of domestic violence. Reed is accused of driving under the influence and running down O’Keefe, then fleeing the scene as O’Keefe lay dying.
During closing arguments, prosecutor Adam Lally re-shared witness testimony in which Reed reportedly said she “hit” O’Keefe with her car.
Reed has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including second-degree murder, intoxication manslaughter and leaving the scene of a fatal crash.
Her defense team maintains she was framed by corrupt officials who tried to cover up O’Keefe’s murder.
Defense attorney Alan Jackson claimed O’Keefe was beaten and attacked by dogs in the basement of Albert’s home before being dragged outside.
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Jackson added that a tight circle of Boston officials used fabricated evidence and false testimony to frame Reed.
Defense attorneys also argued that several conflicts of interest biased O’Keefe’s murder investigation.
“Ladies and gentlemen, there was a cover-up in this case, plain and simple,” Jackson told jurors, WCVB reported.
The defense also narrowed the scope of sexist text messages sent by state Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the case.
Proctor called Reed a “terrible job” in several text messages to friends, family and colleagues about the case, the Associated Press reported.
The state trooper also admitted that he joked with other officers about not finding any nude photos of Reed during the investigation, searched her phone and texted his sister that he hoped Reed would “kill himself.”
