A former Massachusetts police officer, Matthew Farwell, has been arrested and charged with killing a pregnant woman, Sandra Birchmore, who had previously accused him of sexual abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s office alleges that Farwell killed Birchmore to silence her about their inappropriate relationship and his potential federal offenses.
Birchmore’s death in 2021 was initially ruled a suicide, but a federal investigation uncovered new evidence leading to Farwell’s arrest.
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Prosecutors claim that Farwell began a relationship with Birchmore when she was just 15, while he was an instructor in the Stoughton Police Department’s Explorers program.
Birchmore became pregnant in December 2020 and identified Farwell as the father. Shortly after a friend reported their relationship to the police, Birchmore was found dead in her Canton apartment.
Farwell is facing a charge of killing a witness or victim, which carries a mandatory sentence of death or life in prison if convicted. Birchmore’s family had previously disputed the suicide ruling, hiring a prominent pathologist who concluded she had been strangled.
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Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara expressed anger over the injustices Birchmore suffered, emphasizing the need for accountability within the police force.
“Every good and decent police officer should be aware of and angry about the injustices inflicted upon Sandra Birchmore,” McNamara said to the Boston Globe. “Sandra idolized police officers and what policing stood for in America, and she was victimized as a result.”
Two other former officers were also implicated in inappropriate relationships with Birchmore but are not currently facing charges.
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