Two-Hour Broadcast Features Interview with Lead Investigator Michael Proctor
On Whether He Framed Read: ‘I Laugh Because It’s Such A Ridiculous Accusation’
Click Here to Watch Exchange; Airs Tomorrow, June 19 at 9 p.m. ET
June 18, 2025 – Dateline NBC will air a two-hour special tomorrow night at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT following this afternoon’s verdict in the second murder trial of Karen Read. Read was found not guilty in the 2022 murder of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe.
The broadcast, entitled Center of the Storm, features an extensive interview with lead investigator and former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor. Speaking with correspondent Andrea Canning, he responded to accusations he framed Read: “I laugh because it’s such a ridiculous accusation. There’s not one piece of evidence or fact to support that, because it did not happen. I would never do something like that.” Canning also spoke with Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth.
Click here to watch the exchange. See below for the exchange transcript.
Center of the Storm will unpack the high-stakes trial, including the key testimonies and pivotal moments thatignited international headlines. Dateline has reported on this case since the beginning, previously sitting down with Read.
Michael Proctor speaks to ‘Dateline.’
TRANSCRIPT
ANDREA CANNING: What do you want to say to anyone who believes the narrative, the defense’s narrative, that you are corrupt, that you framed Karen Read?
MICHAEL PROCTOR:I laugh because it’s such a ridiculous accusation. There’s not one piece of evidence or fact to support that, because it did not happen. I would never do something like that.
CANNING: Did you crack the taillight to make it look a certain way?
PROCTOR: Absolutely not.
CANNING: Did you frame Karen Read?
PROCTOR: Absolutely not.
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Dateline NBC is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history and is in its 33rd season. Dateline is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Blayne Alexander, Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy. Dateline also airs across NBC, cable and in broadcast syndication, with hundreds of hours available to stream on the global Dateline 24/7 channel. Dateline 24/7 can be viewed and/or listened to on channels on Peacock, Roku, YouTube, Samsung TV Plus, Tubi, Pluto TV, Local Now, Xfinity, Amazon Fire TV Channels and Prime Video, TuneIn, Xumo, TCLTV+ and SiriusXM. Additionally, the newsmagazine reaches millions through its #1 podcasts and its showcast. Liz Cole is the senior executive producer and Paul Ryan is the executive producer.
For more information contact:
Dominique Donahue
Courtney Clawson
