Fourth juror aids Karen Read's double jeopardy claim

Why it matters: The growing tally adds to mounting claims that Read could be protected from a retrial on those charges because of double jeopardy.

Catch up quick: At her trial, Read faced charges of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a fatal accident after allegedly hitting her police officer boyfriend, John O'Keefe, with her car in January 2022.

• The June trial ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked.

The latest: Read's attorneys claim four separate jurors have contacted them, alleging the panel unanimously voted "not guilty" on the charges of murder and leaving the scene.

• The fourth juror's account aligns with previous reports about what went on in the jury room behind closed doors, potentially jeopardizing the prosecution's ability to retry Read.
• According to an affidavit filed by Read's team Wednesday, all four jurors indicated the entire jury was only considering guilt on another charge: manslaughter while driving under the influence.
• Their inability to decide that count alone led to the mistrial, per the affidavit.

What's next: Judge Beverly Cannone will weigh Read's request to dismiss the more serious charges July 22.

• If any of the charges stick, the judge could set a date for a new trial.

• Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey has said he will pursue all the charges and retry Read.

Meanwhile, a Canton police officer connected to the Read case has been suspended because of his involvement with Michael Proctor, the State Police detective who investigated Read.

• Detective Kevin Albert, whose brother owned the home where O'Keefe's body was found outside, testified at trial that he got drunk with Proctor while investigating a cold case in 2022.
• Defense lawyers claimed that showed an inappropriate connection between the lead investigator and the family that owned the crime scene.
• Read's team claims O'Keefe was killed at the Canton home of Brian Albert during a party.