Two Massachusetts State Police officers with ties to the Karen Read case are under internal investigation

BOSTON – Two Massachusetts State Police officers are facing charges in connection with the Karen Read case are now facing an internal investigation.

Detective Lieutenant Brian Tully and Sergeant Yuri Bukhenik are the subject of an ongoing internal investigation, state police said Tuesday evening. The officers remain on full duty.

State police said the investigation into a third trooper, Lt. John Fanning, has been completed. “The department’s internal investigation determined there is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation that Lieutenant Fanning violated rules and regulations by failing to perform his duties as a supervisory officer,” state police said. “This allegation has been determined to be without merit.”

Details of the investigation into Lieutenant Tully and Sergeant Bukhenik were not disclosed.

Trooper Proctor’s text messages about Read

Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the case, was relieved of duty a few hours after the judge declared a mistrial. Since then, he has been suspended without pay.

During the trial, Proctor admitted on the witness stand that he sent offensive text messages about Read during the investigation. It was revealed that Proctor spoke inappropriately about Read in a group chat with other police officers. Lieutenant Tully is her superior.

Tully And Buchenik Both testified during the trial.

The day after Trooper Proctor’s statement, Canton police said Officer Kevin Albert was placed on paid administrative leave pending an independent investigation.

New hearing date, motions to dismiss

The judge declared a mistrial in the case earlier this month. Read was back in court on Monday, and the Judge sets date for retrial of 27 January 2025.

Read is accused of hitting and killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV in January 2022 and leaving him for dead in a snowstorm in Canton. She is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of a crime without permission.

Since the mistrial, defense attorneys have filed motions to dismiss two charges: murder and hit-and-run.

A juror told WBZ During their deliberations, they unanimously concluded that he was not guilty on both counts.