In a developing legal battle, attorneys for Karen Read are seeking to compel the family of her late boyfriend, Boston Police officer John O’Keefe, to delete an email that Read inadvertently sent to them. The email was sent in December 2025 and was intended only for her legal representatives. Read’s legal team maintains that the message constitutes privileged attorney-client communication and requested its deletion shortly after it was sent.
The content of the email has sparked contention, with Read’s lawyers asserting that it aligns with her most recent testimony regarding her claims of a third-party culprit in O’Keefe’s death. Conversely, the O’Keefes’ attorneys argue that the email contains information that contradicts Read’s previous sworn statements about the events surrounding O’Keefe’s death.
During the ongoing wrongful death lawsuit, the O’Keefe family has served Read with official interrogatories, demanding detailed information that supports her assertion that someone else was responsible for O’Keefe’s demise. In prior motions, they sought a more comprehensive response, to which Read’s team argues she has adequately complied.
Attorney Damon Seligson, representing Read, claims that the email incident was an isolated error and should not nullify her attorney-client privilege. Meanwhile, Marc Diller, representing the O’Keefe family, insists that the content of the email cannot be dismissed as easily and serves as evidence that challenges Read’s narrative.
The family has accused Read of running O’Keefe over with her SUV on January 29, 2022, after a night of drinking, and then leaving him outside the home of a fellow officer to succumb to the elements. This was a similar charge to which Read was acquitted in criminal court. In her defense, Read contends that there was a conspiracy involving people inside the home where O’Keefe was found and law enforcement to frame her. Additionally, she has filed a separate lawsuit alleging civil rights violations related to the incident.
In her response to the interrogatories, Read has claimed that the destruction and concealment of evidence have obscured the truth about the circumstances of O’Keefe’s death. She has pointed to previous testimonies and expert analyses from her trials, suggesting that they support her claims.
A status hearing addressing the email issue is set for February 12, indicating that the legal wrangling over this case will likely continue as both sides prepare to present their arguments. This ongoing dispute highlights the complexities often present in wrongful death cases, especially where personal and legal stakes are deeply intertwined.