A former detective in Massachusetts has been charged with the killing of a woman who had recently informed him of her pregnancy. Matthew Farwell is accused of strangling Sandra Birchmore, 23, in her home in Canton on February 1, 2021, and then attempting to stage the scene to look like a suicide. Federal prosecutors allege that the violence occurred after Birchmore revealed her pregnancy, a situation Farwell could no longer control as details of their years-long sexual relationship began to emerge.
Farwell, 38, was an instructor in the Stoughton Police Explorers Academy, a program aimed at sparking young people’s interest in law enforcement. It is claimed that he began grooming Birchmore when she was just 15, subjecting her to sexual abuse and statutory rape for several years. Prosecutors stated that Farwell engaged sexually with Birchmore, even during work hours, and reportedly silenced her permanently when he feared exposure.
Initially, authorities ruled Birchmore’s death a suicide. However, after further investigation, Farwell was arrested by the FBI in Revere, Massachusetts. He faces charges for killing a witness or victim, with allegations that he instructed Birchmore to delete evidence of their relationship and manipulated the crime scene to cover his tracks.
In the months leading up to her death, Birchmore had expressed a desire to become a mother and detailed her pregnancy plans to Farwell, who allegedly reacted negatively to the news. As word of their relationship began to leak, Farwell’s behavior is reported to have become increasingly erratic.
In addition to the murder charge, troubling details about Birchmore’s past with the Stoughton Police Explorers were uncovered during a broader investigation into the conduct of Farwell and two other former officers. Their inappropriate relationships with Birchmore were deemed “deeply disturbing” by Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara, who indicated that this misconduct violated both departmental policies and fundamental human decency.
Following the investigation, it was recommended that the police certifications of Farwell and his associates be permanently revoked, preventing them from serving in law enforcement again. McNamara emphasized her commitment to ensuring justice for Birchmore, declaring that although she received no justice during her lifetime, the current legal proceedings aim to bring that justice posthumously.