Former Stoughton Police Officer Matthew Farwell Arrested in Connection with Sandra Birchmore Murder – New Bedford Guide

A former police officer from Stoughton, Massachusetts, has been charged in federal court in Boston with the murder of a young woman. He wanted to prevent her from revealing information about the sexual exploitation he had inflicted on her for years while he was on duty. The exploitation began when she was a minor.

Matthew Farwell, 38, of North Easton, Mass., has been charged with one count of killing a witness or victim. Farwell was arrested this morning and is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court in Boston today at 2:30 p.m.

According to the indictment, on or about February 1, 2021, Farwell allegedly killed Sandra Birchmore by strangulation. It is alleged that Farwell staged her body and apartment to make it appear as if Birchmore had committed suicide. The indictment alleges that Farwell killed Birchmore with the intent to prevent law enforcement from learning of Farwell’s commission or possible commission of federal crimes.

According to court documents, Farwell was a sworn officer of the Stoughton Police Department from or about March 27, 2012, through or about April 1, 2022. In his capacity as a police officer, Farwell served as an instructor for the Stoughton Police Department’s Explorer’s Program, a vocational training program designed for young people to learn about careers in law enforcement. Sandra Birchmore joined the Stoughton Explorers Program in 2010, when she was 12 years old. Farwell allegedly used his authority and access to manipulate, sexually exploit, and ultimately sexually abuse Birchmore when she was 15 years old and continued to have sex with her into adulthood.

Farwell allegedly engaged in sexual acts with Birchmore on multiple occasions while on duty as a Stoughton police officer. In order to conceal this activity, Farwell allegedly falsely claimed to be working certain hours, when in fact he was not working but was engaging in sexual acts with the then-underage victim. Farwell’s sexual contact with Birchmore continued until her death on February 1, 2021.

In December 2020, Birchmore learned she was pregnant. According to court documents, she was excited about the pregnancy, scheduling doctor’s appointments, purchasing childcare supplies, and telling loved ones how excited she was to be a mother. Shortly after learning she was pregnant, Birchmore told Farwell that he was the father of the child and that she expected him to be at least partially involved in the child’s life. Birchmore told loved ones that Farwell allegedly became violent toward her when they discussed the pregnancy and his role in the child’s life. At one point, while she was pregnant, Farwell allegedly put Birchmore in a headlock and told her he wished she were dead.

On or around January 20, 2021, Birchmore’s boyfriend called the Stoughton police and referred to Farwell and Birchmore’s sexual relationship. Upon learning of this, Farwell allegedly sent Birchmore angry text messages and a few days later—approximately a week before Birchmore’s death—Farwell visited Birchmore at her Canton apartment and asked her if she could give him a spare key to the apartment and keep it a secret. It is further alleged that a week before her death, Farwell visited Birchmore’s apartment and began looking through her closets and bathroom, behavior that made her uncomfortable. Court documents allege that on February 1, 2021, confronted with an alleged imminent disclosure of his criminal behavior, Farwell killed Birchmore to silence her.

According to court documents, Birchmore’s death was initially ruled a suicide, but the federal investigation examined old evidence and uncovered crucial new evidence that led to the charges against Farwell.

The charge of killing a witness or victim carries a mandatory sentence of death or life imprisonment. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes that govern sentencing in criminal cases.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement today. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police, the Stoughton Police Department and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Riley, Torey B. Cummings and Brian A. Fogerty of the office’s Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit are prosecuting the case.

The details in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.