The Lexus SUV driven by Karen Read on the night her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, died in 2022 is scheduled to be auctioned later this month in Massachusetts. The sale is set for January 30 and will take place in person, with no online or remote bidding options available.
The vehicle, a 2021 Lexus LX 570, is described in the auction listing as being in great condition and showing approximately 12,000 miles. JJManning Auctioneers will conduct the sale at a location that has not yet been publicly disclosed. The SUV will be sold to the highest bidder.
Read’s legal case drew national attention after O’Keefe was found dead in the snow outside a home on Fairview Road in Canton following a night of heavy drinking. Prosecutors accused Read of striking O’Keefe with the SUV and leaving the scene. Read denied responsibility and claimed she was being framed, alleging misconduct by others, including law enforcement.
Her first trial ended in a mistrial in 2024 after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. A retrial concluded last year, resulting in Read being acquitted of all charges related to O’Keefe’s death. She was convicted only of operating under the influence of liquor and received a sentence of one year of probation.
Following O’Keefe’s death, the Lexus was towed to the Canton Police Department garage and later transferred to the custody of the Massachusetts State Police. In July, Read successfully petitioned for the vehicle’s return. After regaining possession, the SUV was detailed and repaired by JB Auto Care.
During the trials, jurors were shown the vehicle at the Canton property where prosecutors alleged the fatal incident occurred. Read’s defense team maintained that O’Keefe died during a confrontation inside the home and that his body was later placed on the lawn.
The auction is scheduled to take place one day after the fourth anniversary of O’Keefe’s death. Read remains involved in a separate civil lawsuit filed by O’Keefe’s family. Proceeds from the auction of the Lexus are expected to be directed toward Read’s defense fund.
