Everything you need to know about ‘The Trials of Karen Read’
A year after Netflix announced an in-depth three-part documentary on the controversial death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe, The Trials of Karen Read is finally coming to Netflix this November.
On January 29th, 2022, O’Keefe was found unconscious and unresponsive, snowed under outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts. He was later declared dead at the hospital. O’Keefe’s then-girlfriend, Karen Read, was accused with charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and fleeing the scene of an accident resulting in death.
Directed by Danielle Johnson Cutts, the true-crime documentary recounts the high-profile case in nooks and crannies, starting with the initial investigation and moving to the extensive online polarisation and courtroom battles that followed.
As for the rest of the details, here’s a comprehensive guide to everything known so far about Netflix’s The Trials of Karen Read.
What is it about?
The Trials of Karen Read chronicles the 2022 true crime that shocked the nation when Boston police officer John O’Keefe was discovered unresponsive in a snowstorm outside a house in Canton, Massachusetts. His then-girlfriend, Karen Read, was the first to arrive at the scene, and suspicion subsequently followed. But as the investigation reveals more about the night, so do other theories of what may have really happened, ultimately fracturing a small town beyond measure.
The Netflix documentary features firsthand interviews with those inside the house, O’Keefe’s family and friends, and trial jurors.
What happened to Karen Read?
Prosecutors in Karen Read’s trial asserted that she was intoxicated and enraged with John O’Keefe, so she hit him with her SUV, while her defence argued that she was being framed. In July 2024, the presiding judge declared a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Norfolk County prosecutors announced Read’s retrial for O’Keefe’s murder, but in June 2025, she was cleared of a second-degree murder charge.
The Norfolk County jury acquitted her of two other charges: motor vehicle manslaughter while driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. However, she was convicted of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
Is there a trailer?
Netflix recently dropped the official trailer for its newest true-crime documentary, The Trials of Karen Read. You can check it out below!
When does The Trials of Karen Read release on Netflix?
The Trials of Karen Read is scheduled to hit Netflix shelves on November 23rd. Save the date and mark your calendars!