In the world of high-profile true crime, few cases captivate the public quite like those involving claims of innocence amid overwhelming evidence—or the opposite: calculated deceptions that unravel families and lives. Legal journalist and Law&Crime Network host Angenette Levy has covered both the Karen Read murder retrial and the Lori Vallow Daybell saga extensively through her podcast Crime Fix and livestream discussions. While the two cases differ in motive and setting—one rooted in a snowy Boston suburb and allegations of police corruption, the other in apocalyptic religious delusions and family annihilations—Levy highlights eerie parallels that reveal how individuals can manipulate narratives to portray themselves as victims while hiding darker truths.
Karen Read, a former financial analyst, was accused of striking and killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV during a blizzard in January 2022, then leaving him to die in the snow. Prosecutors painted her as a jealous, intoxicated partner who argued with O’Keefe before driving off. Yet Read’s defense insisted she was framed in a vast cover-up by law enforcement insiders connected to the party house where O’Keefe was found. Evide
slaughter charges—she was convicted only of operating under the influence—vindicating her claims of being scapegoated.
Lori Vallow Daybell, dubbed the “Doomsday Mom,” presented a far more sinister deception. Influenced by apocalyptic beliefs shared with her husband Chad Daybell, she claimed her children—Tylee Ryan (16) and Joshua “JJ” Vallow (7)—and others were possessed by evil spirits or “zombies.” Prosecutors proved she orchestrated their murders in 2019, along with conspiracies to kill her ex-husband Charles Vallow and attempt on her niece’s ex-husband Brandon Boudreaux. Vallow Daybell’s deceptions included fabricating stories about her children’s whereabouts, collecting life insurance and Social Security benefits, and marrying Chad shortly after his wife Tammy’s suspicious death. Convicted in Idaho and receiving additional life sentences in Arizona trials through 2025, she maintained a facade of spiritual victimhood while eliminating “obstacles” to her desires.
Levy points to several chilling parallels. Both women positioned themselves as innocent victims: Read of a police conspiracy, Vallow Daybell of spiritual persecution. Each case involved elaborate narratives to shift blame—Read’s defense alleged evidence planting and conflicts of interest among investigators; Vallow Daybell’s involved outlandish claims of possession to justify violence. Public fascination grew through social media and supporter rallies; Read’s “Free Karen Read” movement mirrored the cult-like devotion Vallow Daybell once inspired among followers. In both, family and relationships were weaponized—Read’s relationship with O’Keefe turned deadly in the prosecution’s eyes, while Vallow Daybell systematically targeted relatives for financial and ideological gain.
The outcomes underscore the dangers of unchecked deception. Read’s acquittal exposed investigative flaws, sparking debates on law enforcement accountability. Vallow Daybell’s convictions revealed how fringe beliefs can mask calculated evil, leaving a trail of orphaned children and grieving families. Levy’s coverage emphasizes that in high-stakes trials, the line between victim and perpetrator blurs when powerful stories—whether of framing or divine justification—take hold.
These cases remind us that truth often emerges slowly, through relentless scrutiny. As Levy notes in her analyses, both Read and Vallow Daybell used their platforms to shape public perception, but only one walked free. The parallels serve as a cautionary tale: when innocence is claimed amid deception, the real victims are those silenced forever.
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