KAREN: THE RETRIAL

LAUNCHING APRIL 28TH – In Season 1 of KAREN, we unpacked the explosive case of Karen Read, accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV. 

After the first trial ended in a hung jury, the high-stakes case of Karen Read returns to court—and the pressure has never been greater. In KAREN: THE RETRIAL, we return to the courtroom—where the stakes are higher, the drama is deeper, and the fight for truth is far from over.

KAREN: THE RETRIAL isn’t just about the verdict—it’s about power, perception, and who gets to write the story. Investigative Reporter Kristin Thorne is embedded at the heart of the action, bringing exclusive interviews, expert analysis, and real-time reporting from inside the courtroom.

With new prosecutors, a relentless defense, and a public obsessed with every twist, we ask: Is Karen Read the victim of a malicious prosecution—or is there finally enough evidence to convict? And in a trial tried as much in the media as in court, how much does the truth even matter? KAREN: THE RETRIAL is your front-row seat to a legal battle where reputations, lives, and the very meaning of justice are on the line.

Listen to KAREN: THE RETRIAL exclusively on Wondery+ and follow the show page to keep up on all the latest developments. You can join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

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When Luigi Mangione was arrested for allegedly shooting UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, it sent shockwaves across the country, but the aftermath was even more unsettling. While mainstream media condemned the act as a brutal murder, a very different narrative was taking shape online—one that questioned the true villains in this story. Was the alleged shooter a violent extremist, or had he become an unwitting symbol of something much larger? 

Hosted by Law&Crime's Jesse Weber, LUIGI is more than just a true crime investigation—it's an exploration of a uniquely American moment. As this case continues to unfold in real-time, this series steps beyond the headline-grabbing "crime of the decade" angle to examine the cultural reckoning it has triggered. At its core, LUIGI captures a shifting America at a tipping point. From the public's growing disillusionment with corporate power to the radicalization of online discourse,—this is a story about what happens when the powerless begin to push back. LUIGI dissects the moral, political, and cultural divide at the heart of this case. Wherever this case goes, Law&Crime will provide you with all angles of the case; from those who have condemned the suspect and the crime, to others celebrating the act as revolutionary. 

With exclusive interviews and in-depth coverage, we challenge you to decide: Is the status quo enough, or is it time for a cultural reckoning?

Listen to Law&Crime and Twist’s LUIGI exclusively on Wondery+ and follow the show page to keep up on all the latest developments. You can join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

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Karen Read’s trial powers through its final days as witnesses from both the prosecution and the defense continue to present conflicting testimony, leaving the jury with their work cut out for them. After lengthy closing arguments, five days of deliberation elapse before the jury returns to the courtroom. What they ultimately arrive at provides little closure, opening up yet another can of worms. Will the case of the Commonwealth versus Karen Read ever end?

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Controversial lead investigator, Trooper Michael Proctor, finally gets his chance to set the record straight. But testimony expected to clear up the alleged mishandling of the case takes a turn when Proctor’s shocking text exchanges become the focus of his two days on the stand.

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Key witnesses take the stand and while each one of their stories contain inconsistencies, they all agree: John O’Keefe never made it through the front door of Nicole and Brian Albert’s home. Jennifer McCabe and Brian Higgins’ digital footprints raise eyebrows and demand answers. And, first responding officer Yuri Bukhenik is confronted with suspicious surveillance footage.

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The trial begins, but not without fanfare. Initial witnesses leave the jury with more questions than answers. For Karen Read’s defense, this is precisely what they hoped for. Will the prosecution be able to revive their case despite the questionable investigation?

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In pre-trial hearings, newly entered evidence comes under scrutiny. Some of the evidence implicates Karen, while other details build a case strong enough to possibly have her case thrown out entirely. And, as the trial date grows closer, so does the number of Karen Read supporters stepping out to make their voices heard.

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Karen Read’s defense attorneys scramble for an alternate theory as to how John O’Keefe could have met his tragic fate. Then, an anonymous tip comes in from a seemingly viable source claiming John was beaten and left for dead in the Alberts’ home on January 29th, 2022. And, Karen’s lawyers aren’t the only people who begin chasing the lead. With the unexpected help of a local blogger, a solid argument gains traction: Karen Read has been framed in an elaborate police cover-up. The theory catches on and has serious consequences.

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On the morning of January 29th, 2022, John O’Keefe was nowhere to be found. He never came home after allegedly attending a house party in Canton.  His girlfriend, Karen Read, enlists two acquaintances to help find her boyfriend. Tragically, O'Keefe turns up dead under a blanket of snow outside the home she claims to have last seen him. When first responders arrive on the scene, Karen’s behavior and damage to her vehicle raises eyebrows. With no other viable leads, Karen becomes the primary suspect.

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An old flame is rekindled between suburban Massachusetts couple Karen Read and police officer John O’Keefe in 2020, but the thrill of renewed love fades -- fast. In the midst of mounting relationship woes, the two join a group of friends for drinks on a particularly stormy winter night in Canton. The evening takes a shocking turn when Karen Read is implicated in the mysterious death of her boyfriend – locally beloved John O’Keefe.

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A stormy evening in January 2022 begins as an innocent night out for drinks with friends for a local couple in Canton, Massachusetts. But by daybreak, Boston police officer John O’Keefe turns up under six feet of snow and his girlfriend, Karen Read, is immediately suspected of striking him with her SUV - leaving him for dead. 

As the investigation into John’s curious death unfurls, rumors of a police cover-up captivate the town of Canton and beyond. Is Karen Read being framed? This question soon begs answers from onlookers far and wide as Karen’s ten week trial is catapulted into the national spotlight.  

Law and Crime presents the most in-depth analysis to date of this sensational case – exploring the divisive theories and more by taking you behind the scenes of both the trial of Karen Read and the investigation into John O'Keefe's mysterious death in KAREN.

Listen to episodes of KAREN exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/karen/

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