Who Is Michael Proctor? Karen Read Investigator’s Texts Spark Review of Thousands of Criminal Cases

Former Massachusetts State Police Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the Karen Read murder case, is now at the center of a sweeping review that could affect hundreds, if not thousands, of criminal investigations after newly disclosed text messages exposed racist, misogynistic and other offensive remarks.

The review marks the latest fallout from the Karen Read saga, one of Massachusetts’ most closely watched criminal cases.

State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble has said every case involving Proctor should be examined to determine whether bias may have influenced investigations, while prosecutors and defense attorneys are already reassessing convictions and pending prosecutions linked to the former detective.

Who is Michael Proctor?

Proctor spent years as a Massachusetts State Police detective assigned to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office and became the lead investigator into the January 2022 death of Boston police officer John O’Keefe.

His handling of the investigation came under intense scrutiny during Karen Read’s two criminal trials.

Defense attorneys highlighted vulgar text messages Proctor sent about Read, including derogatory comments that raised questions about his impartiality.

The controversy deepened in 2026 when additional text messages were released as part of Read’s civil lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and the Town of Canton.

The newly disclosed messages allegedly included racist, sexist, antisemitic and homophobic language exchanged over several years, significantly expanding concerns beyond the Read investigation.

Read was ultimately acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges after prosecutors failed to convince jurors that she intentionally struck O’Keefe with her SUV.

She has since filed a civil lawsuit alleging, among other claims, negligent hiring, training and supervision by law enforcement agencies.

Why are thousands of criminal cases being reviewed?

The newly revealed messages prompted calls from defense attorneys, public defenders and legal experts to examine whether Proctor’s personal bias affected other criminal investigations.

Speaking on WCVB’s On The Record, Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble said the department is working with district attorneys statewide to review all investigations involving Proctor.

“To me, every single case that Michael Proctor worked on needs to be looked at,” Noble said.

Calling the messages “repulsive and repugnant,” Noble said the department has an obligation to ensure such conduct has no place in modern policing.

“We have to be very proactive with working with the district attorneys, with reviewing our cases. That review continues to this day,” Noble said.

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), Massachusetts’ public defender agency, also urged defense attorneys to scrutinize cases involving Proctor and former Canton Police Sgt. Sean Goode.

Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti said the messages “point to serious bias and misconduct and raise immediate concerns about the fairness of cases in which they were involved.”

What could happen next?

The review does not automatically invalidate cases investigated by Proctor.

Instead, prosecutors are assessing whether his conduct or potential bias may have affected individual investigations, witness credibility or constitutional rights.

Some defense attorneys have already filed motions seeking dismissals or new trials in cases tied to Proctor, arguing the messages undermine confidence in investigations he led.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, have said they are cooperating with defense counsel and reviewing affected cases on an individual basis.

Legal experts expect the review to take months because of the large number of investigations Proctor participated in over his career.