Karen Read investigator under fire for inappropriate texts ‘relieved of his duties’ from Mass. State Police

A Massachusetts State Police investigator who came under fire for sending inappropriate texts about Karen Read — including calling her “wack job c–t” — was “relieved of his duties” Monday after a mistrial was declared in the case.

Trooper Michael Proctor was formally transferred out of the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office State Police Detective’s Unit after prosecutors failed to secure a conviction against Read, who was on trial for allegedly running over and killing her Boston police beau John O’Keefe in January 2022.

State police Colonel John Mawn said in a statement the “immediate action” against Proctor comes after the agency already opened an internal affairs probe into him over “serious misconduct” that came out during his testimony in the Read murder trial.

Michael Proctor shows the jury a broken tail light while testifying on June 10, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court, in Dedham, Mass., during the trial for Karen Read. AP

That investigation is ongoing, Mawn said.

Proctor was forced on the stand to read disparaging texts he wrote that called Read, 44, a “wack job c–t” and “retarded.” He also called her a “babe” with “no ass.”

He wrote in another text “Hopefully she kills herself,” according to WBZ News.

While Proctor admitted on the stand the messages were “unprofessional,” he insisted the “juvenile” comments had no impact on the integrity of the homicide investigation.

The detective didn’t express remorse on Monday when a reporter confronted him at his home once a mistrial was declared when the jury could not agree on a verdict.

Karen Reads murder trial ended in a mistrial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham on Monday, July 1, 2024. Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor faces a tough cross-examination by lawyer Alan Jackson on June 12, 2024. Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger / USA TODAY NETWORK

“Get the f–k off my lawn,” he shouted at an NBC 10 reporter who asked him questions from the street.

Read was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. If she was convicted, she could have faced life in prison.

While prosecutors argued she mowed O’Keefe down in a rage and then fled, her defense team claimed she was the victim of a frame job by law enforcement to cover up that slain officer was fatally beaten up by his cop friends.

The district attorney’s office said it plans to bring the case to trial again.