Updated: 4:35 p.m. 5/12/25

DEDHAM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Another week of testimony is underway in the Karen Read murder retrial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Mass.

Read is accused of hitting her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe, with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow on Jan. 29, 2022. Read’s defense team has claimed she is innocent and is being framed.

Massachusetts State Police Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik Cross-Examination Continues

Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Sgt. Yuri Bukhenik returned to the stand on Monday for his third day of testimony. Bukhenik was MSP Trooper Michael Proctor’s supervisor, who was once the lead investigator but was later fired by MSP over his handling of the case.

Defense attorney Alan Jackson asked Bukhenik about text messages sent by Proctor in a group chat during his investigation. At one point during a search through Read’s phone data, Proctor said, “No nudes so far.” When asked about his interpretation of the text, Bukhenik said he “didn’t know what he was looking for,” but later acknowledged that he took no remedial action and the text was inappropriate.

In response to a picture of defense attorney David Yannetti in the group chat, Proctor replied that he was “going through his re****** client’s phone,” referring to Read. Bukhenik said he acknowledged the text by “responding with a thumbs up emoji,” later adding that he “never saw the vile term.”

“He might have been voicing his frustrations. I cannot speak for Michael Proctor. It is unprofessional and unfortunate that he said that,” Bukhenik testified.

Jackson also asked Bukhenik about a performance review he conducted on Proctor in October 2022. Bukhenik wrote that Proctor’s handling of Read’s case, and all other cases, was with the “utmost professionalism and competence.” He acknowledged that the performance review was conducted after Proctor sent the text messages.

Further along in cross-examination, Jackson asked Bukhenik about Proctor’s relationship with the Alberts. Brian Albert owned the 34 Fairview Rd. home where O’Keefe’s body was found on the lawn. Bukhenik testified that Proctor said he knew the Albert Family as they were on their way to interview Chris and Julie Albert.

“He stated that he does not hang out with them. They’re not his friends. He just happened to know them through people in town,” Bukhenik testified.

The jury was dismissed as a voir dire hearing took place surrounding MSP’s internal affairs investigation on Proctor. Jackson wanted the jury to hear testimony from Bukhenik on what he learned about the internal affairs investigation, but Judge Beverly Cannone decided against it.

When jurors returned, Jackson showed video of Read's SUV inside the Canton Police Department's sallyport at 5:37 p.m. on Jan. 29, 2022. The video was played during the first trial, where it was determined that the image was mirrored. Proctor was seen standing by the SUV's damaged right taillight, but the video made it seem he was standing by the left taillight. Jackson then played a corrected version and noted that the video was taken before any taillight video was found at the scene. The defense has claimed that someone tampered with the vehicle and the right rear taillight to frame Read. Jackson also noted that the Canton Police Department is only about 1.5 miles from 34 Fairview Rd.

Jackson finished his questioning by showing video from another camera inside the garage. The new video was missing footage from when Read's SUV arrived.

Special prosecutor Hank Brennan began redirect questioning by asking whether Bukhenik inverted the video.

"No, no I did not," Bukhenik said, later adding that the mirrored image was a malfunction that affected other cameras around town. Brennan asked Bukhenik if he saw Proctor hand pieces of taillight to other officers. Bukhenik said no, and also denied removing parts of the taillight from the SUV himself.

Brennan transitioned to Bukhenik's investigation, asking about who he interviewed and what witnesses told him. When asked specifically about a first responder's testimony that she heard Read say "I hit him" at the scene, and whether that shaped his investigation, Bukhenik answered, "It helps attribute to the investigation. Again, all the evidence, all the statements, all the digital, all the circumstantial, all of that information is coupled and then put together, capped off by the defendant's statements herself, to form the case."

Bukhenik also said when he began to suspect O'Keefe had been hit by a car, saying, "After viewing Mr. O'Keefe's injuries, my impression shifted him from possibly being struck with the glass to him being struck with the vehicle."

Cannone reminded jurors that when Bukhenik was re-telling the events that took place, that does not mean they are necessarily true; rather, he was explaining his thinking.

Brennan then had Bukhenik unbox more evidence to the jury, including red and clear taillight pieces found on separate days following O'Keefe's death, as well as a pair of grass-stained jeans O'Keefe was wearing when he was found in the snow.

"Common sense will dictate that when an item is found on the grass, and there is snow covering it, that it would have to have been placed prior to the snow accumulating," Bukhenik said. "If an item is shoved into the snow, it will be exposed as the snow melts prior to reaching the ground level."

Brennan concluded his questioning by bringing up flirty text messages between Read and ATF agent Brian Higgins in the weeks leading up to O'Keefe's death. Brennan asked Bukhenik if he found a motive for Higgins to murder O'Keefe. Bukhenik said no.

Jackson returned and asked Bukhenik if he found a motive for Higgins to confront O'Keefe out of jealousy. Bukhenik admitted there was a possibility for jealousy as a motive for confrontation, but said they did not follow up on that aspect.

Jackson later asked about whether the stains on O'Keefe's could actually be dirt, oil, or grease. He also asked if they could have come from being dragged. Bukhenik said that was not likely.

After Jackson finished his re-cross-examination, Cannone excused Bukhenik and said he did not have to return Tuesday. She also sent the jury home for the day.

Listen LIVE for the latest updates on the Karen Read murder retrial.

Cindy Stumpo is Tough as Nails

Sponsored By