Karen Read’s murder trial takes a sordid turn as lead investigator reads out bombshell text messages

The murder case against Karen Read took an unexpected turn Monday when the Massachusetts State Trooper leading the investigation into her then-boyfriend’s death was forced to read his text messages disparaging the suspect.

In the messages, Lt. Michael Proctor called Read, 44, a “whack job” and a “cunt” and called her a “babe” without “ass,” while also making light of her “Fall River accent.”

In other messages, he joked about searching her phone for nude photos during the investigation.

Read’s lawyers argue that these texts support their theory that she was framed by police in a vast conspiracy to blame her for the death of her boyfriend John O’Keefe in January 2022.

But Proctor claimed that “these juvenile, unprofessional comments had no impact whatsoever on the facts, evidence and integrity of the investigation.”

O’Keefe, 46, was found unconscious in a snowbank with skull fractures, swollen eyes and hypothermia around 6 a.m. on January 29, 2022, outside a house where she had dropped him off for an after-party around 12:45 p.m.

He was then taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton, where he was pronounced dead several hours later.

Police have since alleged that Read hit O’Keefe, a 16-year-old Boston cop, with her SUV and left him to die after a night of bar hopping and heavy drinking.

The two had gone out to celebrate his niece’s acceptance to private school, and footage from one of the bars, CR McCarthy’s in Boston, showed her embracing O’Keefe – hugging and kissing the man she would meet just hours later. have murdered.

But prosecutors allege Read and O’Keefe’s relationship soured over allegations that he cheated and tensions over the two children in O’Keefe’s care: his orphaned niece and nephew.

They claim the fragments were found near O’Keefe’s body and are evidence that Read drove her SUV after O’Keefe.

Prosecutors have also alleged that witnesses at the scene heard Read scream, “I hit him!” when she and two friends found his body, along with “this is my fault.” I did this.’

However, Read’s defense succeeded in getting police to acknowledge that they never heard her say she had hit O’Keefe.

Defense lawyers have also refuted the idea that there were problems with the relationship, with O’Keefe’s friends at the bar testifying that the couple seemed content that evening.

Instead, they claim O’Keefe was beaten up by people at the party and thrown outside, where he died on the lawn.

They allege that police subsequently failed to properly investigate O’Keefe’s death and singled out Proctor because of his close relationship with a number of law enforcement officers involved in the case, including homeowner Brian Albert.

In one of the text messages read in Norfolk Superior Court, Proctor responded to someone who asked if Albert would face any repercussions by saying, “No, the homeowner is also a Boston cop.”

After Read was charged with O’Keefe’s murder, Proctor’s sister also texted him to inform him that Albert wanted to buy him a gift.

But Proctor testified that neither he nor his wife received gifts from Albert or his wife, a friend of Proctor’s sister.

Other messages show Proctor texting friends that “some serious charges will be filed against the girl,” referring to Read.

He claimed in the messages that Read “confused him” and that “she hit him with her car.” according to the Boston Globe.

“We’re going to lock this crazy job down,” he said in one of the messages.

On the stand, Proctor repeatedly apologized for the text messages, calling it “bad language” that had “no impact” on the investigation.

Meanwhile, the lieutenant is also facing an internal investigation for a “potential violation of department policy.” Inside Edition reports.

It is unclear whether the internal investigation is related to the Karen Read case, but lead attorney Alan Jackson has suggested it may be related to a text message he sent to his family about letting Albert’s wife babysit his young child .

“We all have to let that sink in — there is a level of connection that cannot be overestimated,” said Jackson, who successfully acquitted actor Kevin Spacey of child sex abuse.

“Michael Proctor is so connected to the Alberts that he trusted and was willing to entrust the Alberts as caregivers for his toddler child.”

However, Proctor’s attorney, Michael DiStefano, said he “remains steadfast in the integrity of the work he performed in the investigation into the death of Mr. John O’Keefe.”

Testimony in Read’s trial is expected to resume Wednesday.