After being found not guilty in a high-profile murder trial, Karen Read and her lead defense attorney, Alan Jackson, are teaming up with LBI Entertainment (“Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Hell or High Water”) to develop a scripted project with new insight into her story.
The second murder trial of Read, who was charged in the 2022 death of her Boston police officer boyfriend, ended last week with a jury finding her not guilty of second-degree murder. Read, who was accused of hitting John O’Keefe with her car and leaving the scene, was found guilty of drunken driving. From the outset, the case and Read’s subsequent trials (the first ended in a mistrial), have garnered significant media attention, including the ID-produced docuseries “A Body in the Snow” and a separate three-part documentary from Netflix.
The new scripted project, though, has exclusive access to both Read and Jackson and is said to include “crucial aspects of the story that have remained undisclosed to the public,” as it explores the story behind the prosecution, the defense’s counter-investigation and the cultural investment in the case.
“This isn’t just a legal thriller,” said LBI Production Head Julie Yorn in a statement announcing the deal. “It’s about what happens when a single voice refuses to be silenced. Karen’s case reflects the complicated moment in time in which we live. We will have an opportunity to show layers that have never been brought to light, and we are committed to telling the story with urgency, nuance, and care.”
Plans are simultaneously underway for a book project with involvement from both Read and Jackson. The publishing rights are being repped by top literary agent Luke Janklow of Janklow & Nesbit. CAA is representing the film/television rights.
“I’ve lived in this town with John. I saw what it takes for a small group of powerful people to be ‘above the law,’” Read stated. “I struggled for over three years to overcome this power and corruption, eliciting help from tens of private investigators, multiple attorneys, and eventually – the federal government. It was ultimately a groundswell of local residents and a grassroots campaign that afforded me the resources I needed to fight back.”
Added Jackson: “This case revealed how fragile the pursuit of justice can be. Our hope is that telling this story, in all its complexity, will do what the courtroom couldn’t — show the public what it really takes to confront corruption.”
Alex Kohner of Yorn Levine is handling negotiations on behalf of Read and Jackson. Jared Levine of Yorn Levine represents LBI Productions.
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