Karen Reed gave an in-depth interview to Vanity Fair. Here are 5 conclusions

Karen Reid woman who dated a Boston police officer John O’Keefe at the time of his death and who was arrested days later on charges of manslaughter, vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal crash in 2022, is at the center of a story that has gained national attention.

The state alleges Reed killed O’Keefe by running over him with a car and leaving him for dead. Reed’s defense team argues that police and other parties conspired to frame Reed for O’Keefe’s murder.

The judge presiding over the case made the wrong decision and set a hearing date for the case. A second trial was scheduled for January 2025.

Now, Reed has given Vanity Fair an exclusive, in-depth interview about her experiences and thoughts on the case. It was published in the magazine two-part article I’m diving into it this week.

Here’s what we learned from the article.

How much does Karen Reid’s defense cost?

Reed spent $1.2 million on the preparation and duration of the nine-week trial, including transportation, food and lodging for attorneys. According to the Vanity Fair article, she also used the money to hire private investigators and experts for the trial.

The article said the $1.2 million came from her savings and legal fund (which had been depleted), as well as hundreds of thousands in donations from her friends and family.

“She now has more than $5 million in pending legal bills and a second trial looming,” the article said.

Reed has since put her home on the market.

Karen Reed’s house: Karen Reed is selling her Mansfield home. That’s how much she’s selling it for

What does Karen Reid think about her relationship with O’Keefe now?

The romance between O’Keefe and Reed can be described as a quick rekindling of their romance when they were in their early 20s. The role of the O’Keefe children in the relationship (Reid acted as the cheerful parent) and the fights at the end has been written about repeatedly.

The relationship lasted two years, but nearly three years have passed since his death, as the Vanity Fair article noted, and Reed has lived with the fallout longer than the relationship. Reed came under scrutiny for not being more emotional during the trial.

“I mourned and cried for John O’Keefe, but it’s not productive now,” she said. Vanity Fair. “I don’t feel the intense sadness I felt when I first lost him.” She understands that people may not understand this. “If this sounds heartless, I’m not going to apologize. We weren’t married. The public is hearing a lot of things for the first time now, but they have to realize that I went through these stages of grief. I got to the point where—John, if you can hear me—I did everything I could. I don’t think your family can be saved. They want to see me imprisoned for the rest of my life, even though while you were alive I never saw evidence that I mistreated you. We dated for two years and since then I have eclipsed those two years. I’m going to the third one and I need to save myself now.

What Karen Reed thinks of John O’Keefe’s family

In the article, Reed said she believed O’Keefe’s family had been fooled into thinking she was a killer and stated that it was easier to fool someone than to convince them they had been fooled. She later refers specifically to Paul O’Keefe, John O’Keefe’s brother, John O’Keefe’s mother, Margaret O’Keefe (who goes by Peg).

“So, Paul and Peg, if you think I killed John, that means you misjudged me for two years and entrusted me with the care of two young family members,” she told Vanity Fair. “Then in the blink of an eye, you think I’m a cold-blooded killer who took your son?”

‘You’re not done yet’: John O’Keefe’s brother speaks out after Karen Reid mistrial

What Karen Reed thinks about the O’Keefe family’s wrongful death lawsuit

In August, the O’Keefe family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Reed and against two bars they allege Reed overserviced in the hours before John O’Keefe’s death, Waterfall and CF McCarthy’s.

The bars denied any wrongdoing, and Reed said she was not unduly harmed.

“They would have done this three years ago if it was John,” Reed told Vanity Fair. “It wasn’t until I walked out of the courthouse a free woman that they seemed to set the wheels in motion to sue me.”

Reed’s legal team is trying to delay the civil suit until the criminal case is completed.

Karen Reed Case: When will the civil suit against Karen Reed go to trial?

How Karen Reed Reacted to Being Called ‘America’s Happiest Murder Accused’

During the trial, the Daily Mail wrote an article entitled “Read”America’s Happiest Murder Accused” next to photos of her smiling on her way to the courthouse.

“If I look happy, has it ever occurred to you that I have a free conscience? Because I didn’t do it? If I’m the luckiest murder defendant in America, then I’m the luckiest murder defendant in America.” – Read told Vanity Fair.

Rin Velasco is a popular reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared in The Patriot Ledger: Karen read the trial: 5 takeaways from the Vanity Fair article