Karen Reed Files Lawsuit Against Police Departments
Karen Reed, the Boston woman previously acquitted of murder related to her police officer boyfriend’s death, has returned to court with a new lawsuit. This suit targets both the city of Canton and the Massachusetts State Police, claiming they mishandled the investigations.
The lawsuit, spanning 87 pages, was filed on Thursday in Bristol Superior Court. It alleges a pervasive culture of bias and misogyny, as well as systemic failures and corruption within both organizations.
Included in the court documents are explicit texts exchanged between the main investigator, retired Officer Michael Proctor, and another former officer, Sean Goode. Goode accuses them of significant misconduct and negligence regarding the investigation into John O’Keefe’s death in 2022.
One of the texts reportedly included Proctor describing Reed derogatorily, calling her “retarded” and questioning her abilities. He also made disparaging comments about Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, using offensive language.
The filing argues that individuals like Proctor and Goode exemplify a troubling failure within the Massachusetts State Police and Canton Police Department, particularly in the context of a murder investigation.
Attorneys for Reed—Alan Jackson, Damon Seligson, and Aaron Rosenberg—claim that both law enforcement agencies have created a long-standing culture of bias and corruption hidden from the public.
Despite the serious allegations, Proctor’s comments have sparked condemnation. Massachusetts State Police Colonel Jeffrey Noble expressed outrage at the remarks, asserting that they do not represent the values of the organization and affirming Proctor’s dismissal.
Reed was acquitted of both murder and manslaughter charges last year after a mistrial, during which her defense argued that she was not responsible for O’Keefe’s death. Prosecutors had previously contended that she was intoxicated when she allegedly hit him with his SUV and left him in a friend’s snowy yard, where he later died from exposure.
Just recently, Goode resigned from the Canton Police Department amidst an investigation into potential misconduct, although it remains unclear whether this relates to Reed’s case.
Reed continues to face a wrongful death lawsuit from O’Keefe’s family, who have also filed a federal civil rights suit against witnesses who testified against her.
In their statement, Reed’s attorneys vow that these government agencies will be held accountable for allowing such bigotry to persist, asserting that “the truth is coming, and with it comes an unflinching reckoning.”
Fox News Digital has sought comments from both the Canton police and Reed’s legal team.
