Trooper Michael Proctor, lead investigator in Karen Read case, suspended without pay

FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts – A Massachusetts state police board has recommended that the disgraced lead investigator in the Karen Read murder case, Trooper Michael Proctor, be suspended without pay while an internal investigation into his “unprofessional” conduct following the death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe continues.

Acting Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn followed the three-member panel’s recommendation following a status of duty hearing in Framingham and made Proctor’s suspension effective immediately.

Mawn relieved Proctor of his duties after Judge Beverly Cannone declared the two-month murder trial void due to a jury deadlock. Proctor was subsequently transferred from the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division. He was administratively assigned to H Troop in the field, but remains ineligible for work.

Proctor had come under fire for a series of derogatory text messages about Read, which he sent to friends, family and superiors and read aloud in court during the trial.

Trial against Karen Read Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor shows the jury a broken taillight during his testimony Monday, June 10, 2024, in Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts, during the trial of Karen Read. Read is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, in 2022. (Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool) (Kayla Bartkowski/(Kayla Bartkowski/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool))

Proctor admitted on the witness stand that the text messages were “unprofessional” and apologized several times. He told the jury that his text messages had no bearing on his investigation into the death of John O’Keefe, Read’s friend, a Boston police officer.

In these texts, Proctor commented on Read’s physical appearance, used vulgar language, indicated that he had decided on Read’s guilt based on the evidence, and said he wished Read would commit suicide.

After completing the internal investigation, the department said it might file charges against Proctor, which would then be decided by a state police court.

Read is accused of killing O’Keefe by hitting him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm in Canton in January 2022.

Prosecutors said Read and O’Keefe had been drinking heavily before she dropped him off at a party at her co-worker Brian Albert’s house. They said she hit him with her SUV before driving away.

The defense attempted to portray Read as the victim, saying O’Keefe was actually killed in Albert’s house and then dragged outside and left to die.

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( According to the defense, the jury agreed to acquit Karen Read of the murder charge )

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates as more information becomes available.

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