Acquitted: Karen Learn Found Not Guilty in Boston Cop Case

Karen Learn — the Massachusetts woman charged with the murder of her Boston police officer boyfriend John O’Keefe in 2022 — has recently been acquitted of all homicide charges.

During the trial, Learn faced serious accusations including second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in injury or death. The jury ultimately found her guilty of a single count related to OUI (Operating Under the Influence) on Wednesday.

As a result of the OUI conviction, Learn will serve a probationary period of one year.

The retrial for Learn commenced in April, with final arguments concluding on Friday. The jury began its deliberations on Friday afternoon, and the first full day of their discussions took place on Monday, leading to a verdict being reached by Wednesday.

Prosecutors contended that in January 2022, Learn engaged in a tumultuous argument with O’Keefe while under the influence of alcohol. They alleged that she then reversed her SUV, striking him and fatally injuring him, before fleeing the scene and abandoning him in a friend’s snow-covered yard in Canton, Massachusetts.

Learn, now aged 45, has consistently asserted her innocence. Her defense team argues that she was framed, claiming that O’Keefe was involved in a violent altercation with other police officers that fateful night, suggesting they shifted blame onto Learn for his tragic death.

The jury that deliberated on this case included seven women and five men, reflecting a diverse panel.