Defense claims authorities attempted to frame Read
Lead investigator Trooper Michael Proctor used derogatory language about defendant Karen Read in text messages
Proctor hoped Read would take her own life after Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe's death
In a shocking turn of events, the Karen Read murder trial has taken an unexpected twist as lead investigator Trooper Michael Proctor's derogatory comments about the defendant come to light. Proctor, who led the investigation into the death of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, admitted to using slurs and vulgar language to describe Read in text messages sent to friends, relatives, and supervisors. In one particularly troubling message, Proctor hoped Read would take her own life after O'Keefe's death. While Proctor maintains that these comments did not compromise the integrity of the investigation, they have raised questions about the impartiality of the case. The defense has already accused authorities of attempting to frame Read, and this new evidence may only further fuel their claims. As the trial continues, it remains to be seen how this revelation will impact the outcome of Karen Read's case.
Michael Proctor, lead State Police investigator in the Karen Read trial, testified that he sent crude and dehumanizing text messages about Read after becoming emotional.
Proctor referred to Read as a ‘whack job’, a ‘nutbag’, and a ‘retard’ in his texts.
Read is accused of backing her SUV into her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, and leaving him for dead in a blizzard in front of a friend’s home in Canton.
Proctor had been ‘close acquaintances’ over the course of about a decade with Julie and Chris Albert and their son through his sister. O’Keefe died in front of the home of Chris Albert’s brother, Brian Albert.
Another Albert brother, Kevin, is a Canton police detective. Read’s lawyers have zeroed in on Proctor’s ties with the Alberts to further their claims of an alleged conspiracy.
Proctor and Kevin Albert had a drunken night on assignment on Cape Cod that resulted in Kevin leaving his badge in Proctor’s police cruiser and wondering if he had also left his firearm there.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(90%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of inflammatory rhetoric. The author does not make any formal logical fallacy statements. The lead State Police investigator, Michael Proctor, is portrayed as having strong emotions which may have influenced his actions in the case. In one instance, he sent crude and dehumanizing text messages about Karen Read that were regrettable and unprofessional. Proctor's defense lawyer shames him for calling Read a vulgar term and reducing her to a punchline when he made fun of her medical condition of Crohn's disease. Proctor admits to having strong emotions in the case, but denies treating Read differently from other witnesses. The article also includes inflammatory rhetoric with phrases such as 'absolutely not' when discussing whether Read was treated differently and 'cut and dry in your mind' when asking if the case was clear-cut.
Under withering cross examination on Wednesday, Michael Proctor...testified that “emotions got the best of me” when he sent crude and dehumanizing text messages about Read, including one that said he hoped she would kill herself.
Read’s defense lawyer, Alan Jackson...shamed Proctor for calling Read a vulgar term and for reducing her “to a punch line” when he made fun of her medical condition of Crohn’s disease.
Proctor: “Yes,” Jackson asked. “Based on the evidence my office recovered that day,” Proctor said. “Was it cut and dry in your mind?” Jackson asked. “Yes,” Proctor said.
Lieutenant Tully testified about collecting evidence in the case, including pieces of Karen Reed’s broken tail light from her SUV and multiple videos of her SUV driving by during the snowstorm on January 29, 2022.
The jury was shown cellphone tower data to corroborate the timeline in the case.
House at 34 Fairview was not searched because there was no nexus to the crime scene.
Accuracy
The trial of Karen Read resumed on Thursday.
John O’Keefe, Karen Read’s boyfriend, was found dead in a snowstorm.
Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor believed Karen Read was the person who killed John O’Keefe based on motive, means, and physical evidence discovered during initial investigation (article fact)
Prosecutors allege that Karen Read intentionally backed her SUV into John O’Keefe at a house party on Jan. 29, 2022 (article fact)
Defense argues that John O’Keefe entered the home and was beaten to death, with Karen Read later framed in a conspiracy (article fact)
Proctor had already formed belief in Karen Read’s guilt hours into investigation (article fact)
Accuracy
Prosecutors allege that Karen Read intentionally backed her SUV into John O’Keefe at a house party on Jan. 29, 2022
Defense argues that John O’Keefe entered the home and was beaten to death, with Karen Read later framed in a conspiracy
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
One informal fallacy was found in the article. The author uses an appeal to authority when they mention that Proctor is a lead investigator on the case and his beliefs about who killed John O'Keefe.
Crime Karen Read was the only person who had motive to kill John O’Keefe, Proctor testified Wednesday.
Proctor used derogatory comments and vulgar language about Karen Read in text messages to friends, relatives, and supervisors
Proctor wrote a text hoping Read took her own life after O’Keefe’s death
Defense alleges Proctor failed to pursue other potential suspects, including ATF agent Brian Higgins
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(95%)
The author uses the term 'dehumanized' to describe the effect of the investigator's derogatory comments about Karen Read. This language implies that the investigator did not view Read as a human being deserving of respect or dignity, which could potentially influence how he conducted his investigation and reported on it.
Proctor also acknowledged he wrote a text to his sister, sent days after O’Keefe died, saying he hoped Read took her own life.
]The Massachusetts State Police trooper who led the investigation into the death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe acknowledged Wednesday that derogatory comments he made about O’Keefe’s girlfriend, Karen Read, had ‘dehumanized’ her.[
