Lecture Notes: Trooper Michael Proctor's Testimony
Introduction
Speaker: Trooper Michael Proctor
Position: Assigned to Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office, Homicide Unit, Massachusetts State Police
Experience: Over 10 years as a trooper, with 5 years in the Homicide Unit
Specialized Training: Homicide schools, certified in Cellebrite software programming, also worked in the Narcotics Unit
On-Call System
Trooper Proctor explained the on-call system:
On-call rotation set by a sergeant
On-call from 7 a.m. to 7 a.m.
Responsibility includes unattended deaths, homicides, suicides, overdoses
January 29, 2022 Incident
Initial Call: Received at 6:48 a.m. about a male party discovered in the snow, originally considered a medical situation
Action Taken: Contacted Detective Lank from Canton Police Department
Male party transported to Good Samaritan Hospital with injuries
Contacted paramedic at the hospital
Investigation Details
Primary Scene: Homeowner discovered in the snow at Canton
Injuries Observed: Abrasions on right arm, injuries to eyes, cut on nose, potential vehicle strike
Subsequent Decisions: Used personal vehicles due to blizzard conditions; met at Canton PD
Key Interviews: Conducted interviews at McCabe household with Jennifer McCabe, Matthew McCabe, Brian Albert
Evidence Collection
Hospital Observations: Clothes of the victim secured, observed injuries
Vehicle Damage: One sneaker found at the scene, matching another found at the hospital
Search Warrant Execution: Processed the defendant's vehicle on February 1st
Continual Evidence Gathering: Multiple visits to 34 Fairview Road for evidence collection
Challenges and Issues
Documentation: Witness statements, especially regarding arrival and observations at the scene
Video Footage Gaps: Missing Ring video footage from key timeframes
Text Messages and Bias: Personal text messages displayed unprofessional remarks about the defendant
Relationships: Alleged conflicts of interest due to personal connections with families involved in the case
Examination and Cross-Examination Highlights
Defense Allegations: Suggested bias and conflict of interest in Trooper’s handling of the investigation
Proctor’s Stand: Maintained that all actions were evidence-based, not influenced by personal relationships or biases
Conclusion
Trooper Proctor was asked about feelings towards defense attorney and admitted personal dislike due to past interactions
Maintained that investigation integrity was upheld despite personal remarks and connections
Note:
The testimony involved detailed descriptions of evidence collection processes, and personal connections were heavily scrutinized during cross-examination. The importance of professionalism and unbiased investigation was a key focus.