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As murder defendant Karen Read approaches the midpoint of her second trial, the burden of mounting legal expenses has prompted her to explore unconventional funding options, including online crowdfunding initiatives.
In anticipation of her retrial, which is already shaping up to be costly, Read disclosed to Vanity Fair that she owes over $5 million to her defense team. This amount is expected to increase as she has recently added two attorneys to her legal roster.
In her Vanity Fair interview, Read expressed her feelings of injustice, stating, “Other than feeling wrongfully persecuted and prosecuted, I feel incredibly violated. If I can get the entire truth of this case out in the public forum, that, to me, is priceless.”
Read maintains a not guilty plea as she faces life in prison for the alleged murder of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe. The charges suggest that during a drunken argument, she ran him over with her vehicle and subsequently failed to aid him, leaving him to succumb to the cold in the front yard of a fellow officer’s home in the early hours of January 29, 2022.
The defense has not yet responded to inquiries regarding their strategy. Last year, a mistrial was declared by Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone when the jury failed to reach a consensus, necessitating a second trial that could prove to be financially draining for Read.
Since her initial trial, Read has seen some changes in her defense team. Attorneys Robert Alessi and Victoria George have joined forces with established lawyers Alan Jackson, David Yannetti, and Elizabeth Little.
To offset her legal costs, Read sold her Mansfield home for $810,000 last November and has begun to draw from her 401(k) after losing her previous positions as a finance professor at Bentley University and an equities analyst at Fidelity Investments due to her arrest.
In addition to using her personal savings, numerous crowdfunding efforts have emerged to assist Read in covering her legal fees, a strategy often utilized in high-profile cases where expenses can escalate into the millions.
Criminal defense attorney Andrew Stoltmann remarked on the prevalence of defendants covering their own legal costs, saying, “There are many examples of high-profile defendants paying out-of-pocket for their defense. O.J. Simpson is the classic example. However, it is rare when high-profile, but not wealthy, individuals fully fund their own defense.”
A legal defense fund named Justice for Karen Read, organized by Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, has garnered nearly $1 million in donations as the retrial nears the end of its fourth week, with contributions continuing to flow in.
Supporters have conveyed their encouragement through various means. One anonymous donor expressed, “Keep fighting. I believe in Karen’s innocence and I am grateful she has an amazing team defending her.”
Additionally, the Free Karen Read Movement has initiated a merchandise venture, selling sweatshirts, T-shirts, and other apparel to show support for Read and to raise awareness of her active fight for exoneration.
Earlier this month, supporters organized a ticketed fundraising dinner in a nearby community, pricing seats at $100. This event featured a live DJ, raffle prizes, and a cash bar.
While many are rallying around Read in various efforts to financially support her, experts raise concerns about the implications of turning to public funding sources. According to Stoltmann, this could create ethical dilemmas for attorneys involved in the case.
Stoltmann elaborated, saying, “A third-party funding source is both a blessing and a curse. They provide essential funds to fund an exceptional defense but can also exert significant influence over the attorneys since the bills are being covered by the third party. This poses an ethical challenge for lawyers in these situations.”
Read’s defense team has yet to comment on whether they plan to accept the funds raised through crowdfunding. The high financial demands of legal representation often lead attorneys to take on notable cases at reduced rates in exchange for media attention.
As Stoltmann notes, “Many criminal defense attorneys will take a case pro bono or at a greatly discounted rate if it’s a high-profile case with significant media coverage. This can lead to a surge in clients for them long after the trial concludes, and this may be the scenario unfolding in Karen Read’s case.”
As the trial continues, the fate of Read rests in the jury’s hands, while she grapples with the overwhelming financial strain of her legal battle. Her resolve remains strong, as she told Vanity Fair, “I’m not backing down now. As daunting as the prospect of conviction is, I would rather go to prison for something I did not do than accept a plea deal. I refuse to give them that victory.”
