HBO Max has delivered one of the most intense and polarizing true-crime series of the year with A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read, a six-part documentary that premiered in late 2025 and quickly became a cultural flashpoint. The series chronicles the high-profile murder case against Karen Read, a 44-year-old Massachusetts woman accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, by intentionally striking him with her SUV and leaving him to die in a snowstorm on January 29, 2022. What began as a tragic winter death has spiraled into a legal and public spectacle filled with conflicting evidence, dueling narratives, and a deeply divided online audience.
The series is built around exhaustive courtroom footage, police bodycam videos, expert testimony, and exclusive interviews with key figures — including Read herself, her defense attorneys, prosecutors, witnesses, and members of the “Free Karen Read” movement that emerged online. Directed by a team led by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Marc Smerling (The Jinx), the documentary avoids taking sides, instead presenting the raw, often contradictory facts and letting viewers draw their own conclusions. The result is a tense, methodical examination of a case that has become a Rorschach test for true-crime watchers: Was Read a scorned lover who snapped, or is she the victim of a police cover-up protecting one of their own?
The prosecution’s case centers on physical evidence: O’Keefe’s body found outside a home in Canton, Massachusetts, after a night of drinking with Read and others. Prosecutors alleged Read struck O’Keefe with her Lexus SUV in a drunken rage after an argument, then fled the scene. Key evidence included taillight fragments found at the scene, a broken taillight on Read’s vehicle, and hair consistent with O’Keefe’s found on her bumper. Read’s blood alcohol level was reportedly above the legal limit hours after the incident.
The defense countered with a radically different narrative: O’Keefe was beaten inside the home during an afterparty, possibly attacked by other officers present, and then dumped outside in the snow. They pointed to inconsistencies in the investigation — a delayed search of the property, evidence collection issues, and alleged conflicts of interest involving investigators with ties to the homeowner. The defense also highlighted Read’s frantic 911 calls and her immediate cooperation with police.
The trial itself became a national obsession. Supporters wore pink “Free Karen Read” shirts outside the courthouse, while others rallied behind law enforcement. The series captures the raw emotion: Read’s tearful testimony, the prosecution’s relentless cross-examination, and the courtroom’s tense atmosphere. One of the most watched moments is the defense’s cross-examination of lead investigator Michael Proctor, whose text messages mocking Read were revealed during the trial, raising serious questions about bias.
Viewers have been riveted. Social media exploded with #KarenRead and #JusticeForJohn, with millions debating every detail. “This series is addictive — every episode flips what you thought you knew,” one fan posted. Others praised its restraint: “No sensational music, no over-the-top narration — just the facts and the pain.”
The case ended in a mistrial in July 2024 after a hung jury. A retrial is scheduled for 2026. A Body in the Snow doesn’t declare guilt or innocence — it simply lays bare the evidence, the emotion, and the human cost on all sides.
For true-crime fans, it’s essential viewing: a masterclass in complexity, bias, and the search for truth in a fractured system. Stream it on HBO Max now — but be prepared: this one lingers long after the screen goes dark.
