During the trial, Read’s lawyers accused Proctor of manipulating evidence and conducting a biased investigation. They based the allegation in part on text messages he sent to friends, relatives and supervisors that showed him using offensive and vulgar language to describe Read.

Michael Proctor has been fired by the Massachusetts State Police for his actions in the Karen Read investigation. Proctor faced a state police trial board over allegations of misconduct while working as the lead investigator in the Karen Read case.

The embattled lead investigator in the death of Boston cop John O'Keefe has been fired from Massachusetts State Police after an internal investigation.