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Karen Read case: 2 more Massachusetts State Police troopers under investigation

Flint McColgan, Boston Herald on

Published in News & Features

BOSTON — Two more Massachusetts State Police troopers associated with the Karen Read murder investigation are under internal investigation, with a third’s investigation having concluded with a finding of “not sustained.”

“As of today, the Massachusetts State Police have ongoing internal affairs investigations regarding three subjects: Detective Lieutenant Brian Tully, Sergeant Yuri Bukhenik, and Trooper Michael Proctor,” an agency spokesman told the Herald Wednesday.

Proctor, the “case officer” in the investigation that charged Read, was suspended without pay earlier this month and has been under internal investigation since March. The investigations into Tully and Bukhenik — whose first name is spelled “Yuriy” in other records — are new.

“The Department respectfully declines further comment in fairness to the integrity of the pending investigation outcomes,” the statement continued.

Read, 44, of Mansfield, is accused of striking John O’Keefe, her boyfriend of two years, with her car and leaving him to freeze and die on a Canton, Mass., front lawn on Jan. 29, 2022. She is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence and leaving the scene of personal injury or death.

Following nine weeks of testimony, evidence and arguments, a trial ended in mistrial on July 1. A new trial is scheduled for Jan. 27.

The MSP announced Proctor was relieved of duty within hours of the mistrial.

 

Proctor testified in the trial over two days: June 10 and June 12. During that time, a number of personal text messages he sent were revealed in which he joked about searching for nudes on Read’s phone, called her both a “babe” and a “whack job,” made explicit fun of her gastrointestinal health issues and ultimately said that he hopes she kills herself.

Now two of his supervisory officers in the detective unit stationed at the Norfolk District Attorney’s office, which investigated O’Keefe’s death, are also under internal review, the agency confirmed. Those are Det. Lt. Tully, the head of that office, and Sgt. Bukhenik, who both also testified at trial.

Both Tully and Bukhenik remain on active duty while their investigations are underway, the agency confirmed. In total pay last year, Bukhenik earned $211,083, Proctor earned $146,053 and Tully earned $214,636, state Comptroller records state.

An investigation into a fourth trooper, Lt. John Fanning, the agency said, “determined that there was insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation that he violated the rules and regulations by failing to uphold the responsibilities of a supervisory member.” Comptroller records show he earned $230,956 last year.

“The allegation has been classified as not sustained,” according to an MSP spokesman.

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