Rotten Mango Podcast Episode Summary
Episode Title: Karen Read’s First Exclusive Interview After MURDER ACQUITTAL – What REALLY Happened At 34 Fairview
Host: Stephanie Soo
Guest: Karen Read
Air Date: January 11, 2026
Episode Overview
In this powerful and emotional exclusive, Stephanie Soo sits down with Karen Read for her first in-depth interview following her acquittal of murder charges in the death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. The wide-ranging conversation traces the emotional aftermath of the trial, Karen’s experience with the legal system, her fight against media portrayals, and her perspective on what truly happened at 34 Fairview. Karen also directly addresses key evidence, the investigation, and ongoing public misconceptions about her case.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Emotional Aftermath of the Acquittal
- Lingering Trauma: Karen describes the psychological transition after her acquittal as surreal, marked more by anxiety and anger than relief:
- “I'm still not quite living in an acquittal world. ...Those feelings just don't disappear when a jury foreman says not guilty. ...But there's this big void in my body and in my mind that I don't quite know how to fill.” (02:21)
- Endurance and Loss: The relentless intensity of the trial left her physically and emotionally depleted, facing the sudden absence of her previous purpose:
- “I don't have a job. I don't have a home anymore. ...I just feel like a fish out of water. It's weird.” (03:23)
- Physical Toll: After years of stress and adrenaline, she feels a loss of energy and drive now that the case is resolved.
- “I feel physically I'm paying for it now. Like I've got to relearn how to get a regimen... I haven’t found that yet.” (05:39)
2. The First Hours of Freedom
- Return to Normalcy is Difficult: Karen recounts the overwhelming first 24 hours after her verdict:
- “I wanted to decompress with my parents. I barely even got to speak to them. ...I just really want to go back to the hotel and lay on my bed. ...It just felt surreal, and I felt sad. Like, where do I go?” (09:12–12:59)
- No Plans for the Future: She had made no plans for what to do if acquitted, fearing it would “jinx” her chances.
3. The Harsh Reality of Public Perception
- Not ‘Cashing In’: Karen addresses rumors of profiting from her ordeal:
- “I have made nothing on the documentary. In fact, I lost trying to fight for a piece of the proceeds from the documentary... This documentary experience has not been fun. It was incredibly invasive, which I knew it would be.” (18:29)
- Future Tell-All: She is working with agents and a producer but asserts any book will be authored with full control, focusing on governmental corruption—not sensationalism.
4. The Investigation and Evidence
- Problems with Official Narrative: Karen explains her strong belief that O’Keefe entered the house and was assaulted there:
- “Based on his injuries, it looks to me like he got into a fight and fell backwards. ...There was not a single pathologist in either trial that didn't say the mortal wound came from falling backwards and hitting his head.” (28:44)
- Disputing ‘Butt Dials’: She calls out the improbability of the claimed accidental calls by witnesses:
- “Even if you're able to inadvertently make a phone call, they're all doing it in the middle of the night, all of them... Somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 butt phone actions.” (31:43)
- Critical Early Suspicion: Karen details how minor inconsistencies in police reports fueled her suspicion:
- “First thing that stood out to me was it said they arrived at my parents house at 4:30pm and left at 5:30pm. ...I knew right away that was wrong.” (36:20)
5. The Role of Law Enforcement
- Second Arrest Trauma: Recounting the humiliating and frightening circumstances of her second arrest:
- “I’m in my pajamas. I don't even have shoes on. I'm being charged with second degree murder now, that’s correct.” (44:28)
- Proctor’s Misconduct: Karen reacts to the lead detective’s derogatory texts about her and the implications for her case:
- “Michael Proctor does not have the ability to embarrass me. ...I cared more about his lies... the actual framing.” (57:43 and 68:08)
6. On Testifying (and Not Testifying) and Trial Experiences
- Legal Strategy: Karen wanted to testify, but defense concerns over prosecutorial tactics and hostile judicial rulings were decisive.
- “There was real risk...that we’re not playing by the same rules... If I can escape this hell, I will be able to get my side out.” (68:29)
- Perceptions of Judicial Bias: She felt the judge was personally hostile, recounting small moments and unfair procedural decisions:
- “I felt that Judge Kanoni did not. I felt that she had a personal animus towards me. Absolutely.” (72:02)
- Surprise at Sentencing: After years fearing heavy punishment, both prosecutor and judge granted her standard DUI probation.
- “That was the most befuddling of the three months of the second trial... I couldn’t believe that this man Brennan... suddenly says just slap her on the wrist.” (79:52)
Notable Quotes
-
On Emotional Void Post-acquittal:
“Those feelings just don’t disappear when a jury foreman says not guilty...But there’s this big void in my body and in my mind that—And physically—and what I was doing every day that I don’t quite know how to fill”
— Karen Read (02:21) -
On Documentary Experience:
“This documentary experience has not been fun. It was incredibly invasive, which I knew it would be...She, the documentarian, I feel, went out of her way to excise us from enjoying not one dime of the proceeds...I will tell my story with more control.”
— Karen Read (18:29) -
On What Happened to John O’Keefe:
“Based on his injuries, it looks to me like he got into a fight and fell backwards. There was not a single pathologist in either trial that didn’t say the mortal wound came from falling backwards and hitting his head.”
— Karen Read (28:44) -
On Proctor’s Abusive Messages:
“He could be a pig and I could still be guilty. ...I cared much more about the lies that enabled him to pull off what he pulled off. And the text messages were just...This man does not have that power over me.”
— Karen Read (68:08) -
On the Contradiction in Sentencing:
“That was the most befuddling of the three months of the second trial...I couldn’t believe that this man Brennan was just arguing for me to spend my life in prison. And then he has a moment with a judge—yeah, just make her go to a DUI class.”
— Karen Read (79:52)
Important Timestamps
- Acquittal and Emotional Fallout: 02:21–05:20
- First 24 Hours after the Acquittal: 08:50–12:59
- Perceptions of Profiting/Book and Documentary Rights: 18:29–22:00
- What Happened to John O’Keefe: 28:44–31:37
- Butt Dials / Contradictions in Witness Testimony: 31:43–35:11
- Karen’s Early Suspicion & Discovery Timeline: 36:20–42:31
- Second Arrest and Law Enforcement Actions: 44:28–56:55
- Proctor’s Derogatory Messages and Handling in Trial: 56:55–68:08
- On Not Testifying and Judicial Bias: 68:29–79:52
Memorable Moments
- Karen’s disbelief and sadness after acquittal— likening the experience to “someone just comes and shakes your snow globe and then leaves.” (14:04)
- Her recounting of the second arrest: “For a split second, I thought Michael Proctor was there to hurt me. I had no idea. Why is he here? Why is he in plain clothes? Why is he at my back door, which is almost in the woods?” (45:57)
- The trial moment when prosecution surprisingly asks only for DUI probation, leaving Karen and her team shocked. (79:52)
Conclusion
This far-reaching and candid conversation offers unprecedented insight into Karen Read’s truth—her lived experience of the investigation, her trials, and the complicated aftermath of a case that gripped the nation. Karen presents herself as both resolute and scarred, determined to eventually reclaim control of her story and shine a light on systemic issues within Massachusetts’ justice and political systems. The episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in true crime, wrongful accusations, and the ways media and institutions shape public perception.