Naman Shrestha
With Linda-Lisa Hayter at the helm, Lifetime’s ‘Accused: The Karen Read Story’ is a crime thriller drama movie that centers on a chilling true crime case of Karen Read. The narrative revolves around the sudden death of a Boston Police Officer named John O’Keefe, whose remains are discovered in a snowbank right outside his friend’s residence on a snowy night. As the investigation begins, the detectives heavily suspect the deceased police officer’s girlfriend, Karen Read.
Having a series of circumstantial evidence against her, the authorities arrest Karen in connection with John’s death. The shocking tragedy soon turns into an intense trial that garners national attention. Meanwhile, Karen maintains her innocence and fights to prove the same. The mysterious tale unfolds in a small town in Massachusetts, particularly at Karen’s residence and in the courtroom where the trial to determine Karen’s fate takes place.
Where Was Accused: The Karen Read Story Filmed?
Production on ‘Accused: The Karen Read Story’ supposedly took place in its entirety in British Columbia, specifically in Vancouver. From what we can tell, principal photography for the Lifetime thriller was seemingly conducted in the month of November 2025, over the course of a few weeks. The nation’s westernmost province is known for its diverse and versatile landscapes, making it an ideal filming destination for a wide range of projects. The director, Linda-Lisa Hayter, praised the performances of the cast and the valuable contributions of the crew members. “A line up of top drawer Vancouver actors – I take my hat off to them for bringing what they did every day.
And a crew THAT SMASHED it!” she wrote.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Although the story is set in Massachusetts, ‘Accused: The Karen Read Story’ was seemingly lensed in the city of Vancouver, which is situated in the Lower Mainland region of the province of British Columbia. Various streets and neighborhoods of the city, possibly the downtown area, were transformed aptly to depict areas in Massachusetts. The production team also supposedly took over actual establishments, businesses, and residences to tape key indoor scenes for the movie.
As for the courtroom scenes and a few other interior portions, it is likely that the cast and crew members set up camp at a sound stage in a film studio located in and around Vancouver. Apart from ‘Accused: The Karen Read Story,’ the Hollywood North has doubled as several other US cities in various projects, such as ‘Longlegs,’ ‘The Unforgivable,’ ‘The Pledge,’ ‘Bad Times at the El Royale,’ ‘Dragged Across Concrete,’ ‘High Potential,’ ‘Criminal Minds,’ ‘The Hunting Party,’ and ‘Murdoch Mysteries.’
Accused: The Karen Read Story Cast Details
The impressive performances from Katie Cassidy and Luke Humphrey help bring the narrative of ‘Accused: The Karen Read Story’ to life. Born into a family already connected to the film industry, Katie has served as a director for an episode of ‘Arrow’ and a short film titled ‘America’s Next Best President.’ On the other hand, Luke is known for producing projects like ‘In the Dark,’ ‘Blue Collar Betts,’ ‘Teething,’ and ‘The Manhattan Project.’
Katie Cassidy as Karen Read
Katie Cassidy steps into the role of Karen Read, the suspect in her boyfriend’s murder, in the Lifetime production. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, the talented actor is widely recognized for her portrayals of Kris Fowles in ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street,’ Kelli Presley in ‘Black Christmas,’ and Samantha in ‘Click.’ She also has several TV credits to her name, including ‘Arrow,’ ‘The Flash,’ ‘Gossip Girl,’ ‘Melrose Place,’ ‘Harper’s Island,’ and ‘7th Heaven.’
Luke Humphrey as John O’Keefe
In ‘Accused: The Karen Read Story,’ Luke Humphrey essays the character of John O’Keefe, Karen Read’s partner who is found dead. His face might seem familiar to many of you because he stars in ‘Priscilla’ as Terry West, ‘Yes, Chef! Christmas’ as Logan Forest, and ‘I Was Lorena Bobbitt’ as John Bobbitt. You might also recognize him from a few TV shows, such as ‘Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy,’ ‘Chateau Laurier,’ ‘Tiny Pretty Things,’ ‘See,’ and ‘Frankie Drake Mysteries.’
Besides the lead actors, the crime movie also features other talented actors in supporting roles, including Sebastien Roberts as Alan Jackson, Karen Read’s defense attorney. Kurt Evans and Ryan Robbins also feature in the Lifetime film.
Read More: Mama’s Little Murderer: Filming Locations and Cast Details
