Matthew Farwell, a former Massachusetts police detective, has been charged with murdering Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old pregnant woman, in her Canton, Mass., apartment in 2021. Farwell is accused of strangling Birchmore to prevent her from exposing that he had allegedly groomed her as a teenager and then staging her death to appear as a suicide.
Farwell was arrested on Wednesday and appeared in Boston court following an investigation by federal authorities.
An initial autopsy mistakenly classified Birchmore’s death as a suicide, a conclusion Farwell allegedly engineered by using his police expertise to manipulate the crime scene. The error was discovered when federal investigators reopened the case, leading to Farwell’s arrest.
A federal detention hearing for Farwell is scheduled for September 10, and if convicted, he will face a minimum of life in prison.
Accusations on Farwell
Prosecutors alleged that Farwell strangled Birchmore in February 2021 and then staged her death to look like a suicide. According to the prosecutors, Farwell killed Birchmore a month after she informed him of her pregnancy, which would have revealed their illicit relationship that began when she was just 15.The timing of the murder was strategic, as it coincided with an approaching blizzard and Farwell’s wife being on the verge of giving birth.
Farwell and Birchmore relationship
At the time of Birchmore’s death, Farwell was an officer in the Stoughton Police Department, where he had met Birchmore when she joined the Police Explorers program at age 12. Farwell, who was an instructor in the program, began grooming Birchmore, leading to their sexual relationship when she was 15. Farwell maintained a controlling and violent relationship with her, according to prosecutors. Farwell continued to serve as a Stoughton police officer for 14 months after Birchmore’s death until his resignation in April 2022.
Signs of violent struggle revealed in forensic reports
Forensic pathologist William Smock’s re-examination of the evidence revealed signs of blunt force trauma and a violent struggle, contradicting the original suicide ruling.
Official responses
Stephen Kelleher, assistant special agent in charge for the FBI, condemned Farwell’s actions as a “depraved” betrayal of his law enforcement oath, according to The Washington Post.
Stoughton police chief Donna McNamara also condemned the alleged murder as “the single worst act of not just professional misconduct but human indecency” she has witnessed in her career.
Farwell was arrested on Wednesday and appeared in Boston court following an investigation by federal authorities.
An initial autopsy mistakenly classified Birchmore’s death as a suicide, a conclusion Farwell allegedly engineered by using his police expertise to manipulate the crime scene. The error was discovered when federal investigators reopened the case, leading to Farwell’s arrest.
A federal detention hearing for Farwell is scheduled for September 10, and if convicted, he will face a minimum of life in prison.
Accusations on Farwell
Prosecutors alleged that Farwell strangled Birchmore in February 2021 and then staged her death to look like a suicide. According to the prosecutors, Farwell killed Birchmore a month after she informed him of her pregnancy, which would have revealed their illicit relationship that began when she was just 15.The timing of the murder was strategic, as it coincided with an approaching blizzard and Farwell’s wife being on the verge of giving birth.
Farwell and Birchmore relationship
At the time of Birchmore’s death, Farwell was an officer in the Stoughton Police Department, where he had met Birchmore when she joined the Police Explorers program at age 12. Farwell, who was an instructor in the program, began grooming Birchmore, leading to their sexual relationship when she was 15. Farwell maintained a controlling and violent relationship with her, according to prosecutors. Farwell continued to serve as a Stoughton police officer for 14 months after Birchmore’s death until his resignation in April 2022.
Signs of violent struggle revealed in forensic reports
Forensic pathologist William Smock’s re-examination of the evidence revealed signs of blunt force trauma and a violent struggle, contradicting the original suicide ruling.
Official responses
Stephen Kelleher, assistant special agent in charge for the FBI, condemned Farwell’s actions as a “depraved” betrayal of his law enforcement oath, according to The Washington Post.
Stoughton police chief Donna McNamara also condemned the alleged murder as “the single worst act of not just professional misconduct but human indecency” she has witnessed in her career.