The lead investigator within the Karen Learn case Michael Proctor will face an inside listening to figuring out his future with the State Police on Monday after the excessive profile trial revealed proof of the trooper’s misconduct.
Learn, 44, of Mansfield, was tried for second-degree homicide, manslaughter and different costs associated to the demise of her boyfriend Boston cop John O’Keefe on Jan. 29, 2022. Following weeks of trial and deliberations, the jury failed to succeed in a verdict, and a mistrial was declared on July 1.
On the identical day, Proctor, who was a key witness within the trial, was relieved of responsibility and transferred out Norfolk County DA’s Workplace State Police Detective’s Unit. An inside affairs investigation into the trooper’s misconduct stays ongoing.
Like several State Police self-discipline course of, his responsibility standing listening to Monday will decide whether or not the investigator will likely be retained on full responsibility, positioned on restricted responsibility, suspended with pay or suspended with out pay, the Massachusetts State Police stated in a press release Sunday.
Proctor was the topic of heated criticism after he testified over the course of two days, June 10 and June 12, on the trial. Throughout the testimony, attorneys revealed a variety of private textual content messages from Proctor joking about trying to find nudes on Learn’s cellphone, referring to the defendant as a “babe” and a “whack job (expletive),” making specific enjoyable of her gastrointestinal well being points, and stating he hoped she kills herself.
Following the State Police’s announcement final week, Proctor remained paid and employed by the division however was relieved of his work duties.
State Comptroller information present Proctor earned $184,397 within the final yr.
Proctor was first positioned beneath inside overview lengthy earlier than the trial in March, after federal officers opened a probe into the investigation of the O’Keefe murder.
The listening to Monday will likely be carried out nearly and Proctor won’t be in-person at Common Headquarters in Framingham, the State Police stated. The division acknowledged the listening to won’t be open to the general public or media.
