State police fired Proctor after he sent lewd texts about Read to his friends – officially faulting him for sharing law enforcement sensitive information with civilians – and for drinking on the job.

His former supervisor, Yuri Bukhenik, was also reassigned in the wake of Read’s second trial out of the homicide unit in Norfolk County and to an administrative post in Boston, according to Boston 25.

Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik, of the Massachusetts State Police, is questioned by defense attorney Alan Jackson during the murder retrial of Karen Read in Norfolk Superior Court, May 12, 2025. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via AP, Pool)

Read’s defense alleged a cover-up by state and local police, alternately insinuating they got lazy in the investigation and failed to do a thorough job or outright framed her.

Hank Brennan, the high-powered defense attorney hired as a special prosecutor to lead Read’s second trial, reportedly raked in more than $550,000 for his work, according to the Boston Herald.

Special prosecutor Hank Brennan walks during a lunch break from the Norfolk County Superior Court, May 20, 2025. (Hans Pennink for Fox News Digital)

That’s a reasonable sum for a private lawyer, said retired Massachusetts judge and Boston College law professor Jack Lu, but also much more than a deputy district attorney on the state payroll would have made: “Probably $130,000 annually.” 

Brennan put in long days and likely worked through weekends, while keeping his private practice open at the same time, he added.

Karen Read signs to supporters as she leaves Norfolk Superior Court, June 17, 2025. (Richard Beetham for Fox News Digital)

And while in a rare public statement he slammed the prevalence of witness intimidation and apologized for not securing a conviction, O’Keefe’s supporters indicated they appreciate his work on the case.

“The jury pool was completely tainted is all I can say,” Roberts told Fox News Digital. “Hank did so much work. He was a genius. He really was. Nobody could’ve gotten it done. Which is wicked sad.”