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Former State Trooper Seeks to Postpone Deposition After Release of Investigators’ Texts

The filing could reshape discovery in the O’Keefe wrongful-death case, prompting new scrutiny of investigators and court scheduling.

Overview

  • Michael Proctor, the fired lead detective on the John O’Keefe probe, asked the court for an emergency delay of a deposition he was due to give in the family's wrongful-death litigation.
  • Plymouth Superior Court Judge Mark Gildea ordered Proctor’s lawyers to provide more detail about the rescheduling request and scheduled a Zoom hearing to consider the motion.
  • The postponement request followed a civil complaint filed by Karen Read that attached thousands of Proctor and former Canton Sgt. Sean Goode messages and audio clips that her lawyers say show bigoted language and investigative bias.
  • The disclosures have driven national media interviews with Read and spurred internal and licensing reviews of investigators, while multiple parallel lawsuits and a defamation suit by civilian witnesses remain active.
  • If the court allows the delay it could change the timing of critical depositions and evidence deadlines, affect witness credibility in the wrongful-death trial, and increase pressure on state police oversight and certification processes.