A lawsuit filed by Karen Read has brought to light a series of disturbing text messages exchanged between former Massachusetts State Police investigator Michael Proctor and former Canton officer Brian Goode. These revelations come alongside the arrest of Plymouth Officer Samantha Pelrine in a separate sexual assault investigation, highlighting significant concerns regarding police oversight.

The "Let them die" messages from Michael Proctor and Brian Goode

Former State Police investigator Michael Proctor allegedly sent messages expresing a desire for 46-year-old Karen Read to end her own life. As the lawsuit alleges, Proctor’s communications with former Canton officer Brian Goode were filled with vitriol, including a comment regarding a car crash in Canton where Proctor reportedly wrote, "Let them die."

The text exchanges also reportedly included disparaging remarks about a Boston Police Department employee and hateful political statements, including a comment suggesting that "Hitler was really on to something." Furthermore, the lawsuit claims that Brian Goode used racial slurs against Black and Asian individuals, while both men allegedly engaged in vulgar discussions regarding sexual acts performed on sleeping women.

A decade of unchecked bias within the State Police and Canton Police

The misconduct involving Proctor and Goode appears to be a long-standing issue rather than an isolated incident, with communications dating as far back as 2013. This timeline suggests that the culture of bias within these departments may have persisted for over a decade before Proctor was terminated in March 2025 and Goode resigned on June 2, 2025.

This pattern of behavior reflects a broader struggle with institutional accountability in Massachusetts law enforcement.. While the Massachusetts State Police Colonel stated that these "abhorrent comments" do not reflect the department's values, the fact that such messages were exchanged over many years raises questions about the effectiveness of internal monitoring and the ability of departments to identify unfit officers before they lead high-profile investigations.

The March 2026 certification suspension of Samantha Pelrine

In a separate but equally troubling development, the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission suspended the law enforcement certification of Plymouth Officer Samantha Pelrine on March 30, 2026. This administrative action followed her arrest on March 17, alongside her husband, Daniel Forand.

According to the report, Pelrine and Forand face charges related to the sexual assault of a minor who was residing in their home. The case has drawn intense scrutiny, particularly as the legal proceedings involve allegations of repeated sexual assault against a teenager .

The question of whether Canton Police knew about Goode's 2013 messages

Significant questions remain regarding the level of awareness held by the Canton Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police concerning the conduct of Proctor and Goode.. It is currently unclear if departmental leadership had any prior knowledge of the racist or sexist communications that were eventually uncovered during the Read litigation . Additionally, it remains unverified whether the personal conduct of Samantha Pelrine was ever flagged by Plymouth authorities prior to her criminal arrest.