A former police detective in Massachusetts has been charged with the murder of a woman who revealed she was pregnant with his child just before her death in 2021. Federal prosecutors allege that Matthew Farwell strangled 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore, whom he had groomed and sexually abused since her adolescence while serving as an instructor in the Stoughton Police Explorers Academy.
According to authorities, Farwell, 38, began a sexual relationship with Birchmore when she was just 15, and the U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy described the years of abuse she endured at his hands. After Birchmore disclosed her pregnancy to Farwell in October 2020, prosecutors claim his behavior turned increasingly erratic and dangerous. As her excitement over the pregnancy grew, so too did the fear that she would disclose their long-standing sexual relationship, which reportedly prompted the alleged murder.
Birchmore was found dead in her apartment on February 1, 2021, with authorities initially ruling her death a suicide. However, following an investigation, Farwell has now been charged with one count of killing a witness or victim. He was arrested by the FBI in Revere, Massachusetts, and has been accused of tampering with evidence and lying to investigators regarding their relationship.
Prosecutors detailed that before her death, a friend alerted police about the ongoing sexual relationship between Farwell and Birchmore. This revelation reportedly caused Farwell to become violent, culminating in Birchmore’s alleged murder just hours before the birth of Farwell’s third child.
Previous investigations into the Stoughton Police Department revealed serious misconduct involving Farwell and two other former officers, including his twin brother, who were accused of exploiting their relationships with Birchmore. An internal affairs investigation under Chief Donna McNamara concluded that the behavior of the officers was deeply disturbing and a violation of the department’s core values.
This case has prompted widespread discussion about the exploitation of vulnerable individuals within law enforcement programs. McNamara emphasized the importance of seeking justice for Birchmore, stating that “Sandra Birchmore received no justice during her life,” and highlighted the ongoing efforts to ensure accountability in her death.