The Massachusetts state trooper accused of manipulating proof within the case of Boston officer John O’Keefe’s demise and sending vulgar texts about Karen Learn, O’Keefe’s girlfriend and the prime suspect in his demise, was relieved of responsibility Monday after a decide declared a mistrial within the case.
Colonel John E. Mawn, Jr. mentioned in a press release late Monday that Massachusetts State Police “took speedy motion to alleviate” Trooper Michael Proctor.
State police had opened an inside affairs investigation into Proctor, the lead investigator within the demise of O’Keefe, after Learn’s protection crew alleged at her trial that he didn’t correctly examine the Jan. 29, 2022 demise, manipulated proof and made derogatory feedback about Learn, who was accused of backing her SUV into her police officer boyfriend and leaving him to die exterior.
“Our focus stays on delivering the very best stage of police providers with professionalism and integrity. The Division has relieved Trooper Proctor of responsibility efficient instantly,” Mawn mentioned in a press release, noting that the interior affairs investigation continues.
Proctor may also be transferred out of the detective unit assigned to the Norfolk County District Lawyer’s Workplace efficient Sunday, the colonel mentioned.
Mawn additionally supplied condolences to O’Keefe’s household.
“We can not think about the way in which by which this end result has heightened the O’Keefe household’s immeasurable grief, heartache, and sense of loss,” he mentioned. “John lived a lifetime of honorable service — each to the Metropolis of Boston and the youngsters entrusted to his care after the sudden demise of his sister and brother-in-law. We’ll keep in mind him.”
O’Keefe, 46, was discovered unresponsive exterior the house of one other Boston officer, Brian Albert, who was having a gathering in Canton, a Boston suburb. He was later pronounced lifeless, and a medical expert attributed his demise to blunt drive trauma to the pinnacle and hypothermia.
Prosecutors argued that O’Keefe and Learn, an fairness analyst at Constancy Investments, had a tumultuous relationship that culminated together with her backing her Lexus SUV into him and leaving him for lifeless. She was charged with second-degree homicide, vehicular manslaughter and different crimes.
Learn’s attorneys, nevertheless, mentioned that O’Keefe appeared to have been ambushed, crushed, and bitten by a canine at an afterparty on the house. He was then left exterior, the protection mentioned, alleging that Learn was framed for a homicide she didn’t commit.
Her attorneys additionally mentioned Proctor’s investigation was biased and accused him of failing to pursue different potential suspects and never disclosing his relationships with the Albert household. Proctor’s sister was shut pals with Albert’s sister-in-law, and he labored on a chilly case and was pals with Albert’s brother, Learn’s protection crew mentioned.
Proctor testified that he referred to Learn utilizing derogatory language in textual content messages with different troopers.
In a single message, Proctor used an offensive time period for developmentally disabled individuals whereas describing Learn and instructed different troopers that he hadn’t discovered any nude images of Learn whereas looking her mobile phone. He additionally acknowledged sending a textual content to his sister days after O’Keefe’s demise saying he hoped Learn took her personal life.
Proctor instructed the courtroom that his feedback “dehumanized” Learn and have been unprofessional, however didn’t compromise the integrity of the investigation.
Learn’s attorneys, David Yannetti and Alan Jackson, launched a joint assertion after Proctor was relieved of responsibility, saying “conduct has penalties.”
“DA (Michael) Morrissey backed this misogynist corrupt cop, and a couple of hours after he introduced he’ll pursue a second trial in opposition to an harmless lady Karen Learn, The Massachusetts State Police introduced that Michael Proctor the lead investigator for the Commonwealth has been relieved of responsibility ‘due to severe misconduct that emerged in testimony on the trial,” they mentioned in a press release to NBC Boston. “We look ahead to one other alternative to disclose the reality about this unjust prosecution. Good Luck.”