Federal prosecutor who led Karen Read investigation running for Norfolk DA: ‘It’s clear there’s a problem’
A former assistant United States attorney who prosecuted public corruption cases and led the federal investigation into the Karen Read case announced Tuesday that he is running for Norfolk County District Attorney.
Adam Deitch left his job as a federal prosecutor this month to throw his hat in the ring to replace embattled District Attorney Michael Morrissey, who has held the job since he was elected in 2010. Morrissey's office has come under intense scrutiny in recent years because of the prosecution of Read and its failure to bring charges against Matthew Farwell , the former Stoughton Police officer accused of killing Sandra Birchmore .
Farwell was arrested by the FBI and charged with killing Birchmore last year, fueling more questions about Morrissey's office's handling of the case.
In a statement announcing his campaign, Deitch, now a resident of Quincy, said, "Norfolk County deserves someone committed to competence, trust, and professionalism, full stop."
"It's clear there's a problem in Norfolk County. Victims are not getting the justice they deserve, the public has lost faith in the system, and someone has to do something about it. It's because I have that experience — putting a microscope to entrenched institutions — that makes me uniquely qualified for this job, in this moment," he said.
Deitch joins several other candidates looking to replace Morrissey. Djuna Perkins , a former Suffolk County prosecutor, announced her candidacy last year, as did Craig MacLellan , a Cohasset School Committee member who also worked as a Suffolk County prosecutor and Jim Barakat , a public defense lawyer.
It's not clear if Morrissey intends to run again. He has served in elective office since 1976 , when he was elected to the state Legislature. Morrissey has won every race he's run, though he hasn't had an opponent for district attorney since he was first elected in 2010.
Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey provides information at a press conference on Friday, Dec. 29, about three domestic violence-related deaths in Dover.David Cifarelli
Campaign finance filings show he has more than $400,000 on hand and has spent about $22,000 in 2025, including paying for a campaign website. Morrissey has been largely absent from the public eye since the controversy around the Read case exploded in 2023.
In addition to the Read case, Deitch helped prosecute several Massachusetts State Police troopers who accepted bribes in exchange for commercial driver's licenses.
"I've seen firsthand what happens when police and prosecutors take shortcuts, rush to judgment, and then stubbornly won't consider other possibilities — innocent people are wrongfully accused, crimes go unsolved, and bad cops are protected while good officers lose faith," Deitch said. "That's what we need to change in Norfolk County."
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