Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell has been indicted on charges of killing a pregnant 23-year-old woman, Sandra Birchmore, who he exploited since she was a teenager and staging her death as a suicide. The indictment alleges that Farwell strangled Birchmore after she told him she was pregnant with his child and then staged her apartment to make it appear as a suicide. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy described how Farwell groomed and sexually exploited Birchmore throughout their relationship, abusing her both emotionally and physically.
Farwell, who was arrested at a shopping center, faces a minimum sentence of life in prison if convicted and is eligible for the death penalty. The FBI revealed that Farwell tried to cover his tracks and mislead investigators to avoid suspicion about the nature of his relationship with Birchmore, which began when she was just 15 years old. The investigation uncovered evidence inconsistent with suicide, including Birchmore’s plans for a newborn photo shoot and obtaining baby clothes before her death.
Chief Donna McNamara of the Stoughton Police Department supported the FBI’s investigation, calling the alleged murder a horrific injustice and the worst act of human indecency she has observed in her career. The DOJ is sharing information with local and state authorities to determine if additional charges are warranted. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
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