Watch: Trooper Michael Proctor cross-examined in Karen Read trial

Livestream via NBC10 Boston.

On the stand Wednesday:

• Det. Lt. Brian Tully, Massachusetts State Police
• Trooper Michael Proctor, Massachusetts State Police (read a recap of Proctor’s testimony)

Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor is back in the hot seat Wednesday after admitting that he called Karen Read a “wack job c**t” and “retarded” and joked about looking for nude photos on her phone. 

Proctor’s crude texts to friends, family, and coworkers went under the microscope in Read’s murder trial Monday as the trooper began his highly anticipated testimony. 

Proctor — who led the investigation into the death of Read’s boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe — acknowledged his words were “unprofessional and regrettable” and said his comment about looking for nude photos of Read was “a distasteful joke.” 

“I don’t have an explanation other than they’re regrettable and it’s something I’m not proud of, the language that I used,” he said of his texts. 

Asked why he used the language he did, Proctor said “the compelling evidence pointing directly at Ms. Read — that she struck Mr. O’Keefe with her vehicle — led me to make those comments.”

Read, 44, is accused of drunkenly and deliberately backing her SUV into O’Keefe while dropping him off at a home in Canton following a night out in January 2022. However, lawyers for the Mansfield woman allege O’Keefe walked into the afterparty at 34 Fairview Road and was beaten, possibly attacked by the family’s dog, and left to die in the snow.

The defense argues Read was framed in a widespread conspiracy among witnesses and law enforcement, and they’ve sought to implicate Proctor in their coverup claims. Beginning his cross-examination Monday, defense attorney Alan Jackson suggested Proctor was quick to make up his mind about Read’s guilt.

“In other words, Trooper Proctor, you don’t get to pick a suspect and then try to find evidence to support your choice, right?” Jackson asked.

“Correct,” Proctor said. 

“But in this case, that’s exactly what you did, isn’t it?” Jackson countered. 

“Absolutely not,” the trooper replied.

Jackson also accused Proctor of objectifying Read instead of objectively investigating her.

“I believe poor jokes and unprofessional language have no bearing on the integrity and the facts and physical evidence of this case,” Proctor maintained.

Abby Patkin

Staff Writer

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.

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