A former police officer arrested and charged with murdering the pregnant mom of his unborn baby — and accused of sexually exploiting the 23-year-old since she was 15 — has now been charged within the child’s loss of life, as effectively.
Sandra Birchmore’s loss of life at 23 years outdated in 2021 was initially dominated a suicide, however the relentless efforts of her household uncovered a extra harrowing saga that resulted within the arrest of Matthew Farwell, 38 on August 28, 2024, charged together with her homicide. Greater than a 12 months later, he is now dealing with an extra cost of inflicting the loss of life of her unborn baby.
The brand new cost carries with it a compulsory sentence of life in jail, ought to Farwell be discovered responsible. His preliminary cost of killing a witness or sufferer carries a compulsory sentence of loss of life or life in jail. Farwell has pleaded not responsible, in accordance with NBC Boston. His trial has been scheduled for October 5 2026.
The allegations in opposition to him, per the DA, are that Farwell killed Birchmore by strangulation in her condo after which staged the scene to make it seem that she had dedicated suicide. Per the press launch, it’s believed he did so to forestall regulation enforcement from discovering his felony sexual relationship with the sufferer.
In accordance with a 2024 press launch from the USA Lawyer’s Workplace District of Massachusetts, Farwell labored as a police officer in Stoughton, MA from March 27, 2012 to April 1, 2022. It was in his capability as an officer with the native “Police Explorers” program that he first met Birchmore when she was simply 12 years outdated.
Birchmore first joined in March 2010, at which period Farwell was working as a volunteer earlier than in the end becoming a member of the police drive two years later and turning into an teacher with this system.
Alleged Abuse
When he was 26 12 months outdated and Birchmore was 15 years outdated, Farwell is accused of speaking together with her on-line, per the courtroom submitting, which claims he would “sexually groom her beneath the guise of offering educational tutoring” on the Stoughton Public Library.
Prosecutors consider the connection turned sexual in 2013, however {that a} textual content message cited within the indictment confirmed that he expressed to Birchmore he would have preferred to have had intercourse together with her even sooner.
As soon as Birchmore reached authorized maturity, authorities state that Farwell started what the DA described as a “controlling and typically abusive relationship” together with her. The DA’s workplace additional alleges that some sexual encounters occurred whereas Farwell was on responsibility, which may make them violations of a number of federal legal guidelines, together with coercion, enticement, deprivation of rights beneath colour of regulation, and wire fraud.
 
                      
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Being pregnant Settlement
The pair entered into an settlement in October 2020, per the courtroom paperwork, with Farwell allegedly agreeing to have a toddler with Birchmore in trade for her maintaining quiet about their felony sexual encounters.
Within the October 28, 2025 press launch from the DA’s workplace, it is alleged that when Birchmore advised Farwell she was “maintaining it” and “the start certificates is being signed,” he allegedly responded by telling her she was “the worst individual on the face of the earth.”
Saying that he “responded poorly” to her being pregnant, prosecutors alleged that Farwell turned “bodily violent” with Birchmore. The indictment studies that she described to associates being “pushed and shoved” by him.
 
                      
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At one level whereas pregnant, per the indictment, “Farwell allegedly held Birchmore in a headlock and advised her that he wished she have been useless.”
It was a good friend of Birchmore who in the end contacted police in January 2021 concerning the alleged bodily abuse, per the DA’s workplace. When Farwell was knowledgeable concerning the name by an worker of the division, prosecutors say he “angrily demanded the worker by no means inform anybody concerning the info.”
He then allegedly texted Birchmore, per the courtroom submitting, “What else do I’ve to fret about now? Which different good friend will do one thing tomorrow.” Prosecutors consider that is when Farwell started plotting her loss of life.
 
                      
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After Demise
Birchmore had continued to share her pleasure concerning the upcoming child with Farwell, per the discharge, together with her due date, ultrasounds, physician’s appointments and gender reveal. She had even booked prenatal care appointments that she would by no means make on account of her loss of life.
Moreover, she had ordered child objects, performed Google searches associated to being pregnant and even parenting conditions that may come up sooner or later. She deliberate new child child images, and had a being pregnant announcement deliberate for Valentine’s Day. All of this was why her household didn’t purchase the preliminary suicide willpower whereas she was simply eight to 10 weeks pregnant.
On February 1, 2021, Birchmore was discovered useless in her condo “in a seated place with a strap round her neck and door knob,” per the courtroom submitting. The state health worker’s workplace dominated her loss of life a suicide the next month, however her household pushed again nearly instantly, launching a Fb web page about her loss of life, which gained hundreds of supporters.
 
                      
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They then adopted adopted that up with a wrongful loss of life lawsuit (obtainable right here, courtesy of HuffPost) in December 2022. Therein, they accused Farwell and two extra officers of pushing Birchmore to suicide. It was their perception, per the go well with, that every one three males engaged in sexual acts with Birchmore whereas she was nonetheless a minor and a part of the Police Explorers program.
All three males both denied the declare or claimed to not have sufficient data to verify or deny any duty in her loss of life. All three voluntarily left their positions with the division. Neither of the opposite two males are dealing with expenses in relation to this case.
As reported by The Boston Globe in June, a forensic pathologist employed by the sufferer’s household decided that her loss of life was a murder. The indictment of Farwell is applauded by the household, however they consider the work stays undone.
A message posted to the “Justice for Sandra Birchmore” web site reads, “This isn’t the tip. It’s just the start to getting Sandra and her unborn baby the justice they deserve.”
 
                      
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After Arrest
After Farwell’s arrest, Stoughton police chief Donna McNamara launched a assertion that there was an ongoing inside affairs investigation since “the day after Sandra Birchmore was discovered useless in her Canton condo.”
“The alleged homicide of Sandra is a horrific injustice,” McNamara stated in her assertion. “The allegations in opposition to the suspect, a former Stoughton Police Officer, characterize the only worst act of not simply skilled misconduct however certainly human indecency that I’ve noticed in an almost three-decade profession in regulation enforcement.”
She went on to say that her “life’s work” has been to “be certain that justice was served” on this case, as “Sandra Birchmore obtained no justice throughout her life. It’s crucial that justice be served in her loss of life, and at this time’s actions seem to deliver our society one step nearer to justice.”
In accordance with the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace, “the cost of killing a witness or sufferer carries a compulsory sentence of loss of life or life in jail.” It isn’t but identified if Farwell has entered a plea.
For those who consider you or another person is the sufferer of kid sexual exploitation, the Nationwide Middle for Lacking and Exploited Kids gives 24/7 help for these in want at  1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678), or at report.cybertip.org. You may also contact the FBI at ideas.fbi.gov.
For those who or somebody you recognize wants assist, name 988 to achieve the Suicide and Disaster Lifeline. You may also name the community, beforehand often called the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, textual content HOME to 741741, or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/assets for extra assets.

