Protesters gather in Florence to support woman accused of murder in Massachusetts

FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — Over a dozen people protested Monday in a grassy median on Highway 327 right at I-95 in Florence.

The group captured much attention as they held signs and chanted, “Free Karen Read.”

Read is accused of hitting her boyfriend with her SUV outside a Massachusetts home in January of 2022, leaving him to die in a snowstorm following a night of drinking, according to media outlets.

Her boyfriend, John O’Keef, was a Boston police officer.

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Read’s defense said O’Keefe was dragged outside after he was beaten up in the basement and bitten by a dog at a fellow Boston police officer’s home.

Read’s first trial ended earlier this summer with a hung jury. She’s expected to retry early next year.

Those demonstrating are from parts of the Pee Dee and Horry County.

A few of them said they lived in Massachusetts, but have no connection to Read.

The group said they’ve followed her case and believe in her innocence.

We’re backing Karen. We also have cards that we are going to hand out. As people ask questions, we want to give them the cards. The information themselves. There’s also a QR code on there if they want to donate to Karen and help her out. They can do that as well. So, free Karen Read,” said Annette Stephenson.

Lauren Wilson and her fiancé traveled from Georgia to Florence to join the protest.

“You can see this is a mess. And she deserves justice. And so does the officer who died,” said Wilson.

The group said they’ll protest again if necessary to show their support for Read.