Mon Mar 31 18:20:00 UTC 2025: **Fired Trooper’s Texts to Feature Prominently in Karen Read’s Retrial**
DEDHAM, MA – The retrial of Karen Read, accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, begins Tuesday, with the fallout from a fired state trooper’s controversial text messages poised to play a central role.
Former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor, fired last month for his conduct during the investigation, will testify. His text messages, revealed during the first trial (which ended in a hung jury), called Read derogatory names, expressed a desire for her to die, and joked about searching her phone for nude photos. Jurors in the first trial visibly reacted negatively to this testimony. While Proctor’s wife and sister maintain the texts didn’t compromise the investigation, the prosecution intends to use them to bolster their case. Experts suggest the fallout from these texts significantly contributed to the mistrial.
The witness list also includes Aidan Kearney, a local news blogger charged with witness intimidation during the first trial; Brian Higgins, an ATF agent present at a party near where O’Keefe’s body was found; the homeowner, Brian Albert, and several family members; and accident reconstruction expert Dr. Daniel Wolfe. The prosecution successfully blocked testimony from retired FBI agent Michael Easter, who was prepared to critique the original investigation’s methods.
Read, who maintains her innocence, is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and leaving the scene of a deadly accident. The prosecution alleges she struck O’Keefe with her vehicle and left him to die in a snowstorm. The defense contends Read is being framed as part of a cover-up. The autopsy revealed blunt force trauma and hypothermia as the cause of death, though the manner of death was left undetermined. A juror from the first trial has even joined Read’s defense team for the retrial. The case, covered extensively by Judge Jeanine’s show on Fox News, is expected to attract significant attention.
First Piper 