'He Was Well-Loved': Wake Held For Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe
BRAINTREE (CBS) - Hundreds of people lined up for hours on a frigid Sunday afternoon to attend the wake of Officer John O'Keefe in Braintree. The wake was held at St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Officer O'Keefe was 46 years old and a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department.
On Sunday, many of his fellow officers, along with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, were in attendance for the wake.
"I have never seen so many people, I'm going to start crying, pay their respects," said longtime Braintree resident Grace Walling. "He was well-loved, well-liked, by all."
O'Keefe was found dead on the morning of January 29, just as the blizzard was moving through the area. Investigators said he was laying in the snow in front of a home in Canton.
Court records show O'Keefe had cuts to his arms and head and was bleeding from the mouth and nose.
Days later, police arrested O'Keefe's girlfriend, Karen Read.
Police believe Read dropped O'Keefe off at the Canton home early Saturday morning and left.
Read told police she did not see O'Keefe walk into the home.
Prosecutors said conversations with Read and physical evidence such as a broken taillight on her car, gave them enough evidence to charge her with manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle collision causing death.
Read pleaded not guilty to all charges and later posted her $50,000 bail.
O'Keefe's funeral will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Monday morning; followed by a private burial service.
