A Massachusetts State Police Investigator Relieved of Duties After Mistrial in Karen Read Case
A Massachusetts State Police investigator faced backlash for sending inappropriate texts about Karen Read, including calling her a “wack job c–t.” Following a mistrial in the case, Trooper Michael Proctor was formally transferred out of the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective’s Unit.
State police Colonel John Mawn stated that immediate action was taken against Proctor due to serious misconduct that came to light during his testimony in the Read murder trial. An internal affairs probe is ongoing.
Proctor was forced to read disparaging texts he wrote about Read during the trial, including calling her derogatory names and expressing negative sentiments towards her.
While acknowledging the unprofessional nature of his messages, Proctor claimed they did not affect the integrity of the homicide investigation. Following the mistrial declaration, Proctor showed no remorse when confronted by a reporter at his home.
Read faced charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The district attorney’s office plans to retry the case.
Prosecutors alleged that Read intentionally ran over her Boston police beau, while her defense team claimed she was framed by law enforcement to cover up the true cause of the officer’s death. The case will be brought to trial again in the future.
