The lead Massachusetts State Police investigator in the Karen Read murder trial has been relieved of duty, authorities said Monday, hours after she was released when jurors could not reach a verdict.
Police officer Michael Proctor was relieved after a mistrial in which Read was charged with killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer.
“Upon learning of today's outcome, the Department took immediate action to relieve Trooper Michael Proctor of his duties and formally transfer him out of the State Police Detective Unit of the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office,” read in part a statement from State Police Col. John Mawn on Monday.
KAREN READ TRIAL COULD SINK OTHER HIGH-PROFILE MURDERS, EXPERT WARNS: 'IT'S HARD TO SEE HOW IT WOULD NOT SINK HIM'
Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor testifies during the trial of Karen Read, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts. (Greg Derr/The Patriot Ledger via AP, Pool)
Proctor's last day at the district attorney's office will be July 7, Boston 25 News reported. Fox News Digital has reached out to state police.
Proctor came under fire for a series of text messages he sent about Read that were read aloud in court, in which he admitted on the witness stand that the messages were “unprofessional.”
In the personal messages, he called Read “crazy,” a “girl with no ass” and a “sissy.” He also said he wished she would kill herself and joked about looking up nude images on her phone.
Many legal experts believe Proctor's testimony sank the prosecution's case.
The Massachusetts jury deadlocked for days, unable to reach a unanimous decision on Read's guilt or innocence after nearly 26 hours of deliberations.
EXPERT WARNS THAT STATE POLICE OFFICER'S VULGAR TEXT MESSAGES ABOUT 'BABE' MURDER SUSPECT COULD AFFECT OTHER HIGH-PROFILE CASES
Karen Read smiles as defense attorney David Yannett speaks to reporters outside Norfolk Superior Court, Monday, July 1, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. A judge declared a mistrial Monday after jurors deadlocked in the case of Read, who was accused of killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer, by hitting him with her SUV and leaving him in a snowstorm. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Read, 44, was charged with killing her boyfriend John O'Keefe. After leaving the courtroom, she stood with her attorneys, who said prosecutors had relied on a dedicated investigator.
“We will not stop fighting,” said Read's attorney, Alan Jackson.
“The Commonwealth intends to retry the case,” the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office said within minutes of the outcome.
O'Keefe's body was found in several inches of snow outside the home of Boston Police Officer Brian Albert in January 2022.
Prosecutors alleged Read intentionally crashed into him with his SUV during a fight involving alcohol and left him to die on the front lawn of a Canton, Massachusettshouse during a nor'easter.
Read claimed she had been framed in an elaborate cover-up to protect the Albert family, which has deep ties to law enforcement.
Supporters of Karen Read gather outside the courthouse in Dedham, Massachusetts, Friday, June 28, 2024. Read faces three charges, including the second-degree murder of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, in January 2022. (Photos by Patriot/Backgrid for Fox News Digital)
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He pleaded not guilty to the charges of second degree murderinvoluntary manslaughter of a motor vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of a collision causing injury and death.
Jurors heard from dozens of witnesses and were presented with 700 pieces of evidence during the trial.
Fox News Digital's Chris Eberhart contributed to this report.
