Karen Read’s Lexus Sells in 24 Hours for Nearly $100K as Legal Battles Around the Case Keep Multiplying

Karen Read’s Lexus SUV didn’t sit on the market long. The black Lexus tied to one of the most controversial criminal cases in Massachusetts in years was listed for nearly $100,000 on Monday and had a buyer by the next day, a sale that says plenty about how unusual this story has become.

A Fast, High-Dollar Sale

The SUV was listed by Autobahn USA Dedham for $99,995 and sold within 24 hours. The dealership confirmed the sale, though the exact purchase price remains unclear. This wasn’t a normal used-luxury-SUV transaction — the vehicle had become one of the most recognizable pieces of evidence in a case that divided public opinion, fueled nonstop media coverage, and triggered years of arguments over police conduct, forensic evidence, and accountability. The Lexus stopped being simple transportation a long time ago and became a symbol in a legal fight that still hasn’t ended.

The Case Behind the Car

Read was driving the SUV the night Boston police officer John O’Keefe died in January 2022. Prosecutors alleged she backed into O’Keefe after a night of drinking and left him outside in the snow near the home of another officer in Canton, building their case around the theory that the SUV struck him, with damage to the vehicle’s taillight becoming one of the biggest flashpoints of the trial. Read consistently denied hitting O’Keefe, and during the proceedings several experts testified that his injuries didn’t line up with the prosecution’s theory. Last June, a jury acquitted Read of all charges connected to O’Keefe’s death, closing one legal battle while opening the door to several others.

From Evidence Lot to Auction Block

After Read’s acquittal, the SUV was returned to her and eventually transferred to JB Auto Care in Weymouth, owned by Bill Brusard. An auction had been planned, with proceeds expected to support Read’s legal defense fund, but before that process played out, Brusard accepted a private offer instead, according to the president of the auction house involved in the bidding. A four-year-old SUV with only 12,000 miles suddenly became a six-figure conversation piece because of the case attached to it.

The Lexus reportedly hadn’t been driven since authorities seized it more than four years earlier. Mechanics at JB Auto Care had to perform extensive repairs before it could be sold, including oil changes, cleanup from a rodent infestation, and repairs to the navigation system after years of sitting unused. The shop also replaced the damaged taillight that became central to the courtroom fight — prosecutors argued the damage occurred when Read allegedly struck O’Keefe, a theory the defense challenged aggressively throughout the trial, making the taillight one of the most debated pieces of physical evidence in the entire case.

A Symbol as Much as a Vehicle

For Read’s supporters, the SUV became proof of what they viewed as a deeply flawed prosecution. For others, it remained tied to the death of a police officer and the unresolved emotions surrounding the case. Read’s attorney, Alan Jackson, leaned into that symbolism after the sale, describing the SUV as representing persistence and a refusal to back down, language that helped turn the Lexus from courtroom evidence into something closer to a cultural artifact tied to the case. High-profile criminal cases have always produced collectibles and controversial memorabilia, but a seized SUV tied to a nationally watched homicide trial commanding nearly six figures shows just how blurred the line has become between true-crime fascination, media spectacle, and car culture. Most used luxury SUVs lose value quickly; this one gained value specifically because of the years it spent locked inside evidence garages and courtroom debates.

The Legal Fight Isn’t Over

Despite her acquittal in the criminal case, Read is still contending with multiple civil lawsuits. O’Keefe’s family has sued her for wrongful death and emotional distress, and witnesses connected to the case have filed defamation claims after Read accused them of involvement in O’Keefe’s death. Read isn’t backing down on that front either — she’s pursuing her own legal action against witnesses and investigators tied to the investigation and reportedly plans further litigation against state authorities. The criminal trial may be over and the Lexus may be gone from the center of the story, but the fight over what happened that night in Canton clearly isn’t finished.

About the Author

Shawn Henry

Administrator

Shawn Henry has spent years writing about cars, and it shows—not in a resume kind of way, but in how he talks about them. He's the type who'll notice the weird trim option nobody remembers and actually know why it mattered. At Backfire News, he covers pretty much the whole spectrum: off-road trucks and trail builds, performance cars, racing, and the collector market. He's comfortable getting into the technical weeds, but he never forgets that most people read about cars because cars are fun, not because they want a spec sheet. His beat runs from classic and collector vehicles to overlanding culture, modified performance builds, new automotive tech, and the industry news that actually affects what ends up in your driveway. Mostly, though, Shawn thinks the best car stories are about people—the builds they pour money into, the road trips, the communities that form around a shared obsession. That's the stuff he likes writing about, and it's what you'll find in his work here.

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