New Karen Read ABC ‘20/20’ doc gives behind-the-scenes look at defendant picking out clothes, preparing for trial on murder charges
A new documentary on Karen Read promises to show never-before-seen footage from behind the scenes of her explosive trial for allegedly murdering her Boston cop boyfriend.
Previews of the TV special on ABC’s “20/20” — set to be released on Friday — show that a camera crew followed Read as she prepared for the start of her trial in April.
“I’m confident I’m doing everything I can, and that includes looking professional for court,” Read says as she takes cameras through her process.
“I just got this suit from the tailor because the sleeves were too long and it’s a pet peeve of my mother’s to see people with sleeves that are too long,” she adds, showing off the cuffs of a grey suit.
She is also seen wiping tears and doing her make-up as she heads out the door.
The segment will also include interviews with friends and family of Read’s boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who she is accused of running down with her car in January 2022.
“He was lost in this whole circus, and I think none of us want him to be lost. And I think that’s the saddest part of this whole situation,” family member tells the camera through tears.
“I remember pounding on my dresser, literally screaming, ‘Not John,’ over and over,” says another.
The special appears to also include unreleased footage from ABC’s Nightline interview released last summer before her trial unfolded.
Coming in at two-hours, the special airs Friday on ABC at 9 p.m. Eastern Time, and will also stream on Hulu.
ABC’s new special comes about a week after Read’s motion to have her charges thrown out was dismissed by a Massachusetts judge.
Read’s case ended in mistrial in July, but in August her defense claimed numerous jurors had come forward to claim they’d unanimously exonerated her of murder — but that they misunderstood the deliberation procedures.
The judge’s ruling paved the way for a new trial, which is set to begin in January.
Read’s defense argued that she was completely innocent of O’Keefe’s death — but that she was framed by his cop buddies after they killed him during a drunken argument.
