Karen Read suit cites disturbing racist and sexist texts from ex-officer duo

Karen Read filed a civil lawsuit against the Massachusetts State Police and Canton Police, alleging a pattern of disturbing, racist and sexist text messages between former Trooper Michael Proctor and ex-Canton Sgt. Sean Goode. Proctor, who led the Read case investigation, was fired in 2025 and Goode resigned amid an internal probe. The messages—obtained during the Myles King murder case and later allowed for Read’s litigation—are cited as evidence of a culture of bias within the departments and of officers who were unfit to investigate crimes. Read seeks damages and a jury trial in the suit.