QUICK SUMMARY
Former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell pleaded not guilty to charges of killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child. Federal prosecutors allege Farwell strangled Birchmore in her Canton apartment in February 2021 and attempted to stage her death as a suicide. If convicted, he faces life in prison or a possible death sentence.
Matthew Farwell, a former Stoughton police detective, pleaded not guilty to new charges related to the alleged murder of Sandra Birchmore and the death of her unborn child. Federal prosecutors claim that Farwell strangled Birchmore, 23, in her Canton apartment on February 1, 2021, and made her death appear as a suicide. He has faced accusations of grooming Birchmore since she was 15, during which time he allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with her. Birchmore revealed her pregnancy to Farwell in late 2020, prompting prosecutors to allege that he killed her to conceal their relationship. A significant development occurred in June 2024 when DNA testing confirmed Farwell was not the father of the unborn child, raising questions about paternity. Initially, the state medical examiner ruled Birchmore's death a suicide, and no charges were filed until federal authorities intervened. Farwell was arrested on August 28, 2024, following a federal indictment. If found guilty, he could face life in prison or a possible death sentence.