Stoughton, MA — In a significant development in the Sandra Birchmore case, former Stoughton police detective Matthew G. Farwell, 38, has been indicted on a federal charge for the murder of Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old pregnant woman, in February 2021. Matthew Farwell, who first met Birchmore when she was a teenager in a police youth program, is accused of strangling her and staging her death to look like a suicide.
Sandra Birchmore’s body was found in her Canton apartment on February 4, 2021. Her death was initially ruled a suicide by state authorities, but her family and friends questioned the investigation’s findings. The case took a turn in June 2024, when forensic experts, including Dr. Michael Baden, determined that Birchmore’s death was a homicide.
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The indictment alleges that Matthew Farwell killed Birchmore to conceal a sexual relationship that began when she was 15, an act of statutory rape under Massachusetts law. The situation escalated when Birchmore told Farwell she believed he was the father of her unborn child, leading to the alleged murder.
Matthew Farwell, who was arrested without incident, faces a minimum of life in prison if convicted. The Sandra Birchmore case has drawn widespread attention and has prompted scrutiny of the Stoughton Police Department, where Farwell and two other officers are also implicated in a wrongful death lawsuit related to Birchmore’s death.
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Farwell has pleaded not guilty, and a hearing is scheduled for September 10. The Justice Department will decide whether to seek the death penalty. Birchmore’s family views the indictment as an important step toward justice in the Sandra Birchmore case.
Who Was Sandra Birchmore?
Sandra Birchmore was a 23-year-old woman from Stoughton, Massachusetts, whose tragic death in 2021 has become the focus of a complex and deeply troubling legal case. Birchmore’s life was marked by significant challenges, including the loss of her mother, grandmother, and aunt, who were her primary caregivers. Raised without her father, Birchmore found solace and purpose in the Stoughton police youth program known as the Explorers, where she met the man who would later be accused of her murder—Matthew G. Farwell, a former Stoughton police detective.
The Stoughton Police Explorers Program: A Relationship Begins
The Stoughton Police Explorers Program was designed to engage young people in law enforcement activities, providing them mentorship and guidance. It was here, in 2010, that Birchmore, then just 13, met Farwell, who was 12 years her senior. Matthew G. Farwell, a former participant in the program, had become an instructor. Over the next few years, their relationship allegedly became more sinister.
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Allegations of Grooming and Statutory Rape
According to federal prosecutors, Matthew Farwell began sexually exploiting Birchmore as early as April 2013, when she was just 15 years old. The legal age of consent in Massachusetts is 16, making this relationship not only unethical but illegal. Matthew Farwell, who was 27 at the time and engaged to be married, has denied having sex with Birchmore while she was underage, though he admitted to a sexual relationship once she became an adult.
Investigators uncovered a staggering 32,709 text messages exchanged between Matthew G. Farwell and Birchmore from December 2019 until her death in February 2021. These messages paint a picture of a deeply troubled relationship, with Birchmore reportedly presenting Farwell with an ultimatum in October 2020: she would keep their interactions secret in exchange for having unprotected sex with him to conceive a child.
The Tragic Death of Sandra Birchmore: What Happened to Sandra Birchmore?
On February 4, 2021, Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her Canton apartment. Initially ruled a suicide by state authorities, the circumstances surrounding her death have been questioned by her family, friends, and now, federal investigators.
According to the federal indictment, Matthew Farwell is accused of killing Birchmore on or about February 1, 2021. Prosecutors allege that Farwell strangled Birchmore and then staged the scene to make it appear as if she had taken her own life. Her body was found hanging from a doorknob by a gym bag strap, a setup that investigators now believe was part of Matthew G. Farwell’s attempt to cover up the crime.
The Indictment: Murder and Statutory Rape
On August 28, 2024, Farwell was indicted on a federal charge of killing a witness or a victim, a crime that carries the possibility of the death penalty. The indictment accuses Matthew Farwell of murdering Birchmore to prevent law enforcement from discovering that he had potentially violated federal laws, including deprivation of rights, coercion and enticement, and wire fraud.
Prosecutors have also charged Farwell with statutory rape, citing evidence that he initiated sexual contact with Birchmore when she was just 15 and participating in the Explorers program.
The Cover-Up: Matthew Farwell’s Alleged Actions
The case against Matthew Farwell is bolstered by allegations that he used his knowledge and experience as a law enforcement officer to cover his tracks. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy described Farwell’s actions as a “gross betrayal of his sworn oath and the public’s trust.” FBI agents arrested Farwell without incident, and he has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Sandra Birchmore’s Family and Friends: A Long Fight for Justice
The arrest of Matthew Farwell has brought a measure of relief to Birchmore’s family and friends, who have long suspected foul play. Birchmore’s cousin, Angelique Pirozzi, expressed gratitude for the progress toward justice but lamented the difficulty in reaching this point. Similarly, Julia Perlin, a childhood friend of Birchmore’s, stated that they are fighting to ensure Sandra’s death is not in vain.
Sandra Birchmore Autopsy Report
Birchmore’s family sought the expertise of former New York City medical examiner Dr. Michael Baden to review the autopsy findings from the state medical examiner’s office. In a letter dated June 18 to the family’s attorney, Baden stated, “Ms. Birchmore did not die of suicidal hanging … The cause of Ms. Birchmore’s death is ‘Strangulation,’ and the manner of death is ‘Homicide,’” as reported by The Boston Globe.
Sandra Birchmore’s body was discovered hanging in her home, and the state autopsy initially determined her death to be a suicide. However, Dr. Baden’s independent review contradicted these findings, concluding that she had been strangled and that her death was a homicide.
Investigations and Legal Actions: Who Investigated Sandra Birchmore Case?
The initial investigation into Birchmore’s death was conducted by the Norfolk District Attorney’s office, which concluded that she had died by suicide. This conclusion was based on Birchmore’s mental health history, personal notes, and autopsy findings. However, new evidence has emerged, challenging the initial findings and leading to the federal indictment of Farwell.
Forensic experts, including Dr. Michael Baden, hired by Birchmore’s estate, and a specialist commissioned by the FBI, have concluded that Birchmore’s death was a homicide. These findings have cast a shadow over the initial investigation and raised serious questions about the thoroughness and impartiality of the local authorities.
In addition to the criminal charges, Birchmore’s estate has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Farwell, his twin brother William, and their mentor Robert C. Devine, a former Stoughton deputy police chief. The lawsuit alleges that these men groomed Birchmore over nearly a decade, taking advantage of her emotional vulnerabilities and reverence for law enforcement.
Conclusion: Seeking Justice for Sandra Birchmore
The case of Sandra Birchmore is a stark reminder of how systems designed to protect and guide the vulnerable can be corrupted when those in power abuse their authority. What began as a mentorship in the Stoughton Police Explorers Program devolved into a decade-long manipulation that ultimately led to Birchmore’s tragic death. The initial ruling of her death as a suicide only added to the injustice, obscuring the truth and delaying the pursuit of accountability.
The recent indictment of Matthew G. Farwell on federal charges, including the murder of Birchmore, marks a significant turn in the quest for justice. The charges paint a chilling picture of a calculated and premeditated crime, one allegedly committed to cover up years of exploitation and statutory rape. The evidence suggests that Farwell used his knowledge of law enforcement to stage Birchmore’s death as a suicide, an act that nearly succeeded in escaping scrutiny.
For years, Birchmore’s family and friends have fought to have her story heard and her death properly investigated. Their persistence, combined with the efforts of federal authorities, has now brought the truth closer to the surface. The indictment represents not just a step toward justice for Birchmore, but also a critical examination of the systems that failed to protect her. As the case moves forward, it serves as a powerful reminder that justice delayed is not always justice denied and that the truth, though it may be buried, can eventually be unearthed.