Boston, MA – Former Stoughton police officer, Matthew Farwell, has requested the cancellation of his upcoming detention hearing for the killing of 23-year-old, pregnant Sandra Birchmore. He appeared in court on Wednesday following his arrest in connection with the 2021 death of Birchmore.
Sandra Birchmore, 23, was found dead in her apartment in Canton, a suburb of Boston, around February 1, 2021. At the time, her death was ruled a suicide but an 18-month federal investigation uncovered new evidence that led to the charges against Farwell.
Prosecutors allege that Farwell killed Birchmore to prevent her from disclosing information about his long-standing sexual exploitation of her, which reportedly began when she was just 15 years old.
The revelation that a police officer might be implicated in such a serious crime rocked the Stoughton Police Department and eroded public trust.
The case has revealed a disturbing pattern of alleged grooming, gaslighting and abuse that spans nearly a decade, Farwell’s twin brother and another officer.
Back in 2022, the Norfolk District Attorney’s office released a 60-page report that concluded Birchmore’s death had no evidence of foul play: “State Police detectives and the medical examiner found no evidence of foul play in the death of Ms. Birchmore…The investigation to date has not developed a prosecutable statutory rape case against any individual.”
Birchmore’s death, initially reported as a suicide, came under scrutiny when inconsistencies in the evidence led investigators to take a closer look at the circumstances surrounding her passing.
“While Birchmore’s death was initially ruled a suicide, the federal investigation probed old evidence and revealed critical new evidence leading to the charge against Farwell,” prosecutors said in a news release.
The request to cancel the detention hearing has sparked speculation about Farwell’s legal strategy and the evidence that may be presented against him. Legal experts suggest that such a move could indicate various motivations, from plea negotiations to concerns about the strength of the prosecution’s case.
Allegations against Farwell include:
- Farwell allegedly used his position as an instructor in the Stoughton Police Department’s Explorer’s Program to groom Birchmore, who joined the program at age 12 in 2010.
- The sexual exploitation allegedly began when Birchmore was 15 and continued into her adulthood.
- Prosecutors claim Farwell engaged in sexual acts with Birchmore while on duty as a police officer.
- Birchmore learned she was pregnant in December 2020 and informed Farwell that he was the father.
- According to court documents, Farwell allegedly became violent with Birchmore after learning of the pregnancy.
According to the investigation, Farwell, 38, is accused of strangling Birchmore and then staging the scene to make it appear as though she had committed suicide to silence her from disclosing that he was sexually exploiting her since she was 15-years-old.
After Birchmore found out she was pregnant she hoped that Farwell would be involved with her and the baby’s life. Two weeks before Birchmore was found dead, a friend called the Stoughton PD and reported the sexual relationship between Farwell and Birchmore.
As the case progresses, questions continue to mount about the nature of Farwell’s relationship with Birchmore, the events leading up to her death, and the initial investigation into the incident.
During the internal investigation, it was determined that not only did Farwell have relations with Birchmore but so did his twin brother William Farwell, and another officer, Robert Devine. All three resigned after the results of the investigation were brought to light but the suicide verdict persisted.
Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamarra said in 2022: “Ms. Birchmore was a vulnerable person who had one constant in her life since childhood with an unwavering appreciation of police officers…People with oaths and duties to protect and serve.” McNamarra said. “The admiration led her to form relationships with men who were willing to take advantage of her.”
Community members have expressed outrage and disappointment. “We rely on our police officers to protect us,” said a local resident who wished to remain anonymous. “If these allegations are true, it’s a betrayal of the highest order.”
The district attorney’s office has not yet commented on Farwell’s request to cancel the detention hearing. It remains to be seen how this development will affect the trajectory of the case and the pursuit of justice for Sandra Birchmore.
If convicted, Farwell faces a minimum sentence of life in prison.
