Overview of PART 2: Karen Reed’s First Exclusive Interview After MURDER ACQUITTAL — Who Killed John O’Keefe?
Host Stephanie Soo (Rotten Mango) sits down with Karen Reed for Reed’s first formal interview after her June 18, 2025 acquittal on charges she killed her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. This is the second half of a two-part interview. Karen revisits courtroom moments, media coverage, public reaction, trial strategy and logistics, ongoing civil litigation, rumors that circulated online, her personal losses, and plans to tell her side of the story (including a forthcoming YouTube channel).
Background & timeline
- June 10, 2022: Karen Reed charged with murder in the death of her boyfriend, John O’Keefe. Allegation: she ran him over and left him outside another cop’s house.
- Two criminal trials were held over three years.
- June 18, 2025: Reed acquitted of murder.
- Post-acquittal: multiple civil cases pending (state and federal). Reed is actively pursuing defenses and civil claims.
Key topics covered
Demeanor, headlines and public perception
- Reed addresses tabloid headlines (e.g., New York Post) that portrayed her as smirking, rolling her eyes, or “snapping.” She insists:
- She was often stoic by necessity and could not allow herself to cry in court.
- Many photos/headlines were contextually misleading (pauses, facial ticks, or talking to counsel).
- She had previously seen and analyzed the autopsy photos repeatedly, which shaped how she processed them emotionally.
- She describes the impossible public framing: “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” — whether she cried or remained stoic, critics used it against her.
Trial logistics, defense strategy and courtroom fights
- Praises her defense team—Alan Jackson, David (surname not specified), Liza—and law‑student interns dubbed “Crash Gratties” / “Crash Daddies” who were critical to preparing for the intense second trial.
- Criticizes the prosecution’s approach and some courtroom decisions:
- Judge limited defense opening statements about ARCA (federal reconstruction experts), forcing last-minute edits that handicapped the defense narrative.
- She felt some prosecutors (e.g., Hank Brennan) seemed unprepared or extemporaneous in ways that were odd for such a high-profile case.
- Names several experts and witnesses involved (Dr. Russell, ARCA PhDs, Dr. La Posada, Buknik) and notes the complex pretrial battles (Daubert/vior dire hearings) that consumed defense resources.
Ongoing civil litigation and finances
- Reed faces multiple civil suits:
- O'Keefe wrongful death suit (Plymouth County, MA).
- Suit against Canton PD and Massachusetts State Police (Bristol County, MA).
- Federal suit naming Alberts, McCabe, Higgins, Proctor, Tully, Buknik.
- Legal costs are high. She sold her house and has depleted savings; she says she has not profited from films/books and is not receiving money from Lifetime/Hulu productions she learned about secondhand.
- She has a civil legal fund (host mentions leaving link in episode description) and is still financing logistics and travel for legal representation.
Public encounters, social media and rumors
- Reed describes mostly positive local support (restaurants, hotels, neighborhood), but also a few hostile public interactions.
- She discusses social media: uses Reddit/archives to locate trial details but also experiences vicious, demeaning comments and conspiracy theories.
- Addresses rumors directly:
- Denies knowledge of any affair between Brian Albert and Jen McCabe.
- Confirms John O’Keefe once mentioned a rumor about a swinger scene in Canton (as gossip, not specific accusations).
- Rejects sensational claims (e.g., voodoo dolls) as baseless.
Personal life, work and future plans
- Reed taught finance/capital markets at Bentley University and says she misses teaching; she feels her legacy may now be criminal‑justice related.
- She says she will not become a lawyer—finds the legal system “broken” and too draining.
- Personal items she values: rosary beads (prayed the rosary while jailed twice), courtroom sketches, photos of family after the verdict.
- Plans and projects:
- A YouTube series called The Reed Files, planned to launch January 2026 (hosted by Nick Rocko; Alan Jackson and Reed involved).
- She may tell more of her story via a book or other mediums eventually, but currently has no deals and no income from media adaptations.
Notable quotes & soundbites
- “I could not cry. I would not allow myself to cry.” — on maintaining composure in court.
- “You can’t win for losing.” — on public reaction to her courtroom demeanor.
- “I don’t feel safe in Massachusetts.” — on living in-state post-trial and interactions with law enforcement.
- “I haven’t made a dime.” — denies profiting from films, books, or media about her case.
- On lessons for the public: “You need to know your rights. You need to know not ever to speak to law enforcement.”
People and entities mentioned (select)
- John O’Keefe — deceased (Boston police officer).
- Alan Jackson — lead defense attorney (close collaborator).
- Hank Brennan — prosecutor (criticized by Reed).
- Liza, David — members of defense team.
- Marty Weinberg — attorney consultant who advised on appeals/retainers.
- Brian Albert, Jen McCabe, Michael Proctor, Tully, Buknik — persons involved or named in the litigation/witness list.
- ARCA (reconstruction experts), Dr. Russell, Dr. La Posada — expert witnesses.
- Law students/interns — crucial defense support (“Crash Gratties/Daddies”).
- Stephanie Soo — host (Rotten Mango).
Main takeaways
- Reed maintains her innocence, disputes media portrayals of her courtroom demeanor, and emphasizes the emotional and logistical toll of defending multiple trials.
- She argues the legal process was resource‑intensive, adversarial, and sometimes hamstrung the defense (e.g., limitations on mentioning key experts).
- She continues to fight civil litigation, is funding ongoing legal work, and denies profiting from media portrayals about the case.
- Reed intends to continue telling her side (YouTube channel, possible future publications) and plans to pursue civil avenues to finish the public record.
What’s next / how to follow
- Reed says a YouTube project, The Reed Files, is planned for January 2026; host indicated a civil fund link will be in the episode description for those who want to support her civil cases and legal logistics.
- Reed and her team are pursuing civil claims and expect additional evidence and revelations to emerge over time.
If you want the episode’s specific timestamps or direct quotes for reporting, check the episode description (the host included additional resources and a civil fund link).