The perseverance of a complete stranger made it possible for a purple heart and bronze star to be returned to the family of a World War II hero. This saga takes us from a framing shop in an Ashland, Massachusetts, strip mall to a cemetery in Verm…
Massachusetts
Five teenagers arrested after police pursuit in Medford, MA
Five teenagers were arrested after a reported shoplifting incident and police pursuit in Medford, Massachusetts on Thursday.
Medford Police say they responded to a report of shoplifting at DICK’s Sporting Goods located at 3850 Mystic Valley Pa…
Will Trooper Michael Proctor testify in second Karen Read trial, Brian Walshe case?
Within hours of a mistrial being declared in the Karen Read murder trial, Massachusetts State Police announced that Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the case, had been relieved of duty and reassigned from his role as an investigator with the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office.
That’s just the start of a process that is expected to result in a “duty status” hearing to determine his work status during the ongoing internal affairs investigation. His car, gun and gear have been taken away, which is standard practice.
The NBC10 Boston Investigators learned Tuesday that Proctor had been sent to Troop H, but will not be working while he is relieved of duty.
The trooper’s fate with the department will be determined by an internal investigation and the state’s POST Commission, which handles allegations of police misconduct. Sources tell the NBC10 Boston Investigators Proctor is also part of a federal probe looking into the handling of the case.
Security expert Todd McGhee, a former state police trooper, said on Tuesday night’s “Canton Confidential” that if the POST Commission submits Proctor’s name for inclusion on the Brady List, which includes all known issues of police misconduct, it could make any future testimony by him extremely problematic.
“The commonwealth can call him based on his involvement in the first trial, but I think it’s important to understand that the POST Commission is the state agency that will submit police officers who have committed misconduct to the Brady List,” he said. “In this particular case, if Trooper Proctor ends up on the Brady List, essentially any testimony he has in a court of law is useless, to be frank.”
In the past, McGhee said a trooper in a situation similar to Proctor’s would have likely resigned or retired to avoid a worse outcome, but now with the POST Commission there are changes in the guidelines where police officers are licensed. And it would also look bad for state police if Proctor were allowed to step aside quietly.
“The world is watching how this case plays out,” he said. “So I believe there’s going to be very little options available other than what the trial board and the duty status hearing will yield with results.”
McGhee said the punishment could be anywhere from a 30-day suspension all the way up to termination.
The damage done to the Massachusetts State Police as an agency is also considerable, he said.
“We can see where the impact was specifically with the Karen Read trial, but we don’t know about the other trials he’s been a part of in the investigation,” McGhee said. “The other high profile case of course is the Brian Walshe trial. Trials like that we will have to wait to see what the outcome will be. Each and every case has different factors, different evidence. We can only hope there was the utmost of integrity performed with his other investigations, but right now that remains to be seen.”
Salem gym teacher arrested on child enticement charge
A teacher in Salem, Massachusetts, has been arrested on allegations of child exploitation.
Prosecutors say 42-year-old Darren Benedick of Salem was arraigned Wednesday in Newburyport District Court on charges of child enticement and disseminat…
Falmouth police seek missing man last seen in April
Police in Falmouth, Massachusetts, are asking for the public’s help finding a man who has not been seen since late April.
The Falmouth Police Department said in a Facebook post Wednesday that 53-year-old Michael Bolina, also known as Mic…
Bride shares magic of butterfly release at Cape Cod wedding
Years ago, dying of cancer, Amy Rose Perry’s father wrote her letters for the biggest moments that would come in her life, including her wedding.
“I will be with you in your heart as you walk down that aisle,” he wrote.
In a way, he was right.
When she got married last month on Cape Cod, the bride had monarch butterflies released to honor the memory of her late father, Nathaniel Machain. But instead of flying away, they landed on her, her husband and her sister — a moment of magic that’s gone viral, getting more than 2.1 million likes on Instagram and 10,000 comments.
“I was kind of hoping for a sign,” Perry told NBC10 Boston at her apartment in Boston. “I really never expected something that that life-altering and that profound. I’ve never felt his presence more in my life.”
Perry, of Andover, married Ashland native Matt Perry after their love-at-first-sight meeting three years ago.
“Once she got out of the Uber, I pretty much knew,” Matt said. “She had a nice bubbly smile on her face. And, yeah, from there, the rest is history.”
They soon got engaged and started planning their wedding, and releasing the butterflies was an important part of it.
Machain died at age 36, when Amy was just 7 years old. Exactly one year later, a monarch butterfly landed on her, her mother and sister, and ever since. To Amy, it was her father’s spirit, and she knew she wanted to involve butterflies in her life’s biggest moments.
The magical moment at her wedding was captured by her friend — the butterflies even clung to her dress as she walked back down the aisle — and quickly started to be shared.
Amy called the experience of going viral surreal.
“It’s been really, really incredible receiving messages from people who have lost family members and just really connecting over that shared experience has been incredible and healing and therapeutic even. It’s been amazing,” she said.
The day of the wedding shower, Amy read her father’s letter, not knowing the touching moment they would share walking back down the aisle later on their wedding day.
“Amy Rose, of all the cards I have written you, this is obviously the most difficult,” her father said. “I will be with you in your heart as you walk down that aisle. You have an excellent day and just remember we are always in each other’s hearts.”
“I love you with all my heart. Have a wonderful day. Love daddy,” the letter concluded.
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