A federal jury on Tuesday found Matthew Farwell, 40, a former detective with the Stoughton Police Department, guilty of murdering Sandra Birchmore in February 2021. Farwell was convicted of strangling Birchmore and staging her death to appear as a suicide, according to prosecutors. The jury also determined that Farwell killed Birchmore to prevent her from reporting allegations that he had sexually abused her when she was 15 years old.
Birchmore, who was 23 at the time of her death, was found dead in her Canton, Massachusetts, apartment on February 1, 2021. Her death was initially ruled a suicide by Massachusetts State Police, but the FBI reopened the case in 2023 after receiving a tip about an improper relationship between Farwell and Birchmore. The medical examiner later changed the official manner of death to undetermined.
Farwell faced federal charges of killing a witness or victim and causing the death of an unborn child. Prosecutors argued that Birchmore was pregnant with Farwell’s child and that he killed her 12 days after a tipster reported their improper relationship to the Stoughton Police Department. The defense maintained that Birchmore had a history of mental health struggles and that she died by suicide after Farwell ended their relationship.
Key Details of the Case
Farwell and Birchmore first met when she was 13 years old while participating in the Stoughton Police Department’s youth explorers program. Prosecutors allege that Farwell began a sexual relationship with Birchmore when she was 15, which continued for years. The relationship became tumultuous, with Birchmore threatening to expose the abuse before her death.
Federal investigators uncovered approximately 40,000 text messages between Birchmore and Farwell, which prosecutors said provided evidence of a years-long affair. The defense argued that the messages were taken out of context and that Birchmore’s mental health issues were the primary cause of her death.
Legal Consequences and Sentencing
Farwell was found guilty on all counts, including murdering a witness or victim and causing the death of an unborn child. He now faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for February 3, 2027. The Department of Justice had the option to pursue the death penalty but chose not to do so in 2024.
The jury deliberated for more than three weeks, hearing testimony from 50 witnesses. On Monday, jurors sent a note to the judge stating they were deadlocked, but they resumed deliberations and reached a verdict on Tuesday.
Reactions and Aftermath
Birchmore’s family expressed relief upon hearing the verdict. Barbara Wright, Birchmore’s cousin, described the moment as a mix of sadness, happiness, and relief. The case has drawn attention to the handling of sexual abuse allegations within law enforcement and the initial misclassification of Birchmore’s death as a suicide.
Federal prosecutors criticized the initial police investigation, stating that officers failed to follow leads and closed the case too quickly. The defense maintained that Farwell did not kill Birchmore and that the evidence did not support the prosecution’s claims.