(NewsNation) — The lead investigator in Karen Read’s Massachusetts murder trial has been relieved of duty effective immediately, the Massachusetts State Police announced Monday.
MSP said Trooper Michael Proctor was transferred out of the detective unit of the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office 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.
The announcement follows MSP’s previous decision to open an internal affairs investigation after getting information about “serious misconduct” that came out during his testimony in Read’s trial, MSP Col. John Mawn said in a statement.
Mawn said the investigation is ongoing.
While on the stand, Proctor acknowledged sending offensive texts about Read to friends, family and fellow troopers during the investigation. He apologized for the language he used but insisted they had no influence on the investigation.
Sean McDonough, a retired agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration, told NewsNation’s Brian Entin the decision was “long overdue.”
“The state police should have done this action well before this ever came to trial. They knew what was in his personal cellphone,” McDonough said on “Banfield.” “This case should have never come to trial, and they were warned to not bring this case to trial.”
NewsNation digital producer Katie Smith contributed to this report.