A former Stoughton detective is accused of strangling Sandra Birchmore ,who was pregnant with his child.
A former Stoughton, Massachusetts, police detective has been federally indicted in the murder of Sandra Birchmore, a pregnant teenager. Matthew Farwell, 38, of North Easton, is accused of having a sexual relationship with Birchmore for several years, including before she was 16 years old, and then killing her to prevent her from revealing their relationship and his alleged crimes.
Stoughton police and the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office released statements on the indictment, with Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara calling the allegations “a horrific injustice” and District Attorney Michael Morrissey expressing support for the federal prosecution.
Birchmore, who was three months pregnant, was found dead at her apartment in Canton in 2021. While her death was originally ruled a suicide, a pathologist hired by her family determined it was a homicide. The federal investigation reexamined old evidence and discovered “critical new evidence” that led to the indictment.
According to court documents, Birchmore became pregnant around 2020 and told Farwell he was the father of her child. In January 2021, a friend of Birchmore’s allegedly called the Stoughton Police Department to report that Farwell had been having sex with Birchmore.
Then in February 2021, Farwell strangled Birchmore to death and staged her apartment to make the death look like a suicide. He is accused of killing Birchmore with malice aforethought and the intent to prevent the communication of information relating to his alleged federal offenses.
Prosecutors also allege that before her death, Farwell told Birchmore to delete evidence of their pre-16 sexual relationship. After her death, he researched how to delete data from his own phone.
What to Know :
- Sandra Birchmore was found dead at her apartment in Canton, Massachusetts, in 2021. She was three months pregnant; her death was ruled a suicide.
- Stoughton’s police chief and a spokesman for the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office released statements on the new allegations
- Matthew Farwell, one of three former Stoughton police officers who’ve been accused of having inappropriate sexual relationships with Birchmore, has now been accused in federal court of killing Birchmore and making her death look like a suicide.
- Watch the acting U.S. attorney for Massachusetts discuss the allegations on this page at about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday.
Farwell, a former Stoughton Police officer, met Birchmore while she was a participant in the Stoughton Police Explorers Academy, a vocational program for young people interested in law enforcement. Birchmore joined the program in 2010 at age 12 and was involved until around 2016. According to the indictment, Farwell engaged in sexual activity with Birchmore while she was underage and, on occasion, during his on-duty hours.
A former Stoughton police officer, Who has been arrested and charged with Murder & Sexual relationships in connection with the death of Sandra Birchmore. The case has drawn attention to allegations of abuse within the Boy Scouts’ Explorer program.
Farwell is one of three former Stoughton police officers accused of having inappropriate sexual relationships with Birchmore, though only he is accused of starting when she was underage. The other officers have denied the allegations.
Birchmore’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the police department.
The Marshall Project recently reported on at least 193 other allegations of inappropriate behavior, including grooming and sexual abuse, involving the Explorers program in the last 50 years. The Boy Scouts, which created the program, has stated its commitment to youth safety and accountability.
Access the full federal indictment detailing the charges against Matthew Farwell
For more information, read the complete statement from Norfolk District Attorney’s Office spokesman David Traub :
The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office has been actively involved in the ongoing investigation into the murder of Sandra Birchmore in Stoughton.
While we cannot provide extensive details about active investigations, we can confirm that our office has collaborated closely with local police, the Massachusetts Attorney General, and the FBI. This partnership has leveraged the unique resources and jurisdiction of each agency.
Two State Police officers assigned to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office were present at the command post during the arrest of the suspect in Revere. We remain committed to supporting and assisting federal authorities as they proceed with the prosecution.
Read Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara’s full statement here:
Stoughton Police Chief today issued a statement following the arrest of a former Stoughton police officer in connection with the murder of Sandra Birchmore.
“The day after Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her Canton apartment, I ordered a thorough and aggressive internal affairs investigation,” Chief said. “The Stoughton Police Department has fully cooperated with other agencies, including the FBI, in this investigation.”
The alleged murder of Sandra is a horrific injustice. The charges against the suspect represent a shocking act of professional misconduct and human indecency.
“It has been my life’s work to ensure that justice is served in this case,” Chief continued. “Sandra Birchmore deserves justice, and today’s actions bring us one step closer to achieving that.
