A former police officer from Massachusetts was charged with the murder of a pregnant woman, allegedly staging her death to look like suicide to conceal their relationship that began when she was 15.
Matthew Farwell, 38, reportedly strangled 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore in 2021 after she revealed she was pregnant with his child. Fearing she would expose their relationship to other police officers in Stoughton, Farwell took drastic measures.
Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara described Birchmore as vulnerable, with a history of admiring police officers, which led her to be exploited by men like Farwell.
According to court documents, Birchmore joined the Stoughton Police Explorers Academy at 12, where she met Farwell. Their relationship turned inappropriate when she was 15, leading to a secret agreement in 2020 for Farwell to help her conceive in exchange for her silence.
As Birchmore informed Farwell of her pregnancy in 2020, his behavior became violent and controlling, eventually culminating in her tragic death.
Prosecutors allege Farwell staged Birchmore’s death as a suicide to cover up his crime, initially fooling investigators until further evidence came to light.
In a shocking revelation, it was reported that multiple Stoughton Police Department employees, including Farwell and his twin brother, had inappropriate relationships with Birchmore, leading to their resignations.
Despite pleading not guilty, Farwell faces severe consequences if convicted, including a potential life sentence.
