Federal investigation into O’Keefe’s death is officially over

The federal investigation of Karen Read, and John O’Keefe’s death is officially over.

A federal investigation into the state’s handling of the Read investigation has concluded, said special prosecutor Hank Brennan during a hearing Tuesday that is part of pre-trial motions before Read’s second trial. No federal charges have been filed stemming from the investigation.

Read, a Mansfield woman, is accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, Braintree native O’Keefe, in 2022.

Brennan said prosecutors were notified by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts that the federal investigation into O’Keefe’s death has ended and they could inform the court of such.

“It is closed. It is over,” he said.

Brennan shared that information while arguing that the defense should be sanctioned for misrepresenting the status of the investigation during a February hearing.

Federal authorities have never commented publicly on the investigation and attorneys were not permitted to discuss it during Read’s first trial.

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What happened in Karen Read’s first trial

Prosecutors called more than 65 witnesses in testimony of the first trial that started April 29, 2024. The defense’s list of witnesses was much shorter. Read did not testify in her own defense.

Cannone declared a mistrial in the case in July after jurors returned multiple times stating they could not reach a verdict.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Karen Read federal investigation: ‘It is closed. It is over.’