Law&Crime releases new podcast on Karen Read case
July 25, 2024
Legal and true crime network Law&Crime has announced the next installment of its trial-focused podcast slate, Karen, available exclusively on Wondery+. The new series, hosted by Paula Barros of Cold Case Files and The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke, details the tragic and mysterious death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe, while also tackling controversial accusations of widespread corruption that tore a small New England town apart over the course of the ensuing trial of the victim’s girlfriend, Karen Read.
In a case that captivated social media, internet sleuths and bloggers rallied against the defense’s claims that their client had actually been framed by those whose very jobs it was to investigate. While many criticised the defense for overreaching with wild claims of obstructed evidence, Read gained overwhelming support as a potentially framed martyr battling head-to-head against a powerful Massachusetts family with copious connections and plenty of opportunity to cover up their own wrongdoings. Adding to the intrigue, the trial ended in a hung jury on June 29th and Read’s future still hangs in limbo.
Over the course of seven episodes, the series sets out to provide listeners with detailed legal analysis of a complex string of evidence, while also unpacking both sides of the heated community debate into the culpability of public officials. Through key interviews with investigators, attorneys and others close to the case, the series paints a full picture of a town divided, and leaves listeners to decide for themselves whether Read was truly a cold-blooded killer or just an unlucky woman amongst people with something serious to hide.
Karen is the third of five Law&Crime produced podcasts released on Wondery+ in the coming months. Both of the first two – The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke and Sins of the Child – have garnered significant attention, with the former’s coverage of a mom-fluencer child-abuse scandal hitting the #1 spot in true crime on Apple Podcasts.