Charges Against Disgraced Massachusetts Trooper

A former Massachusetts state trooper has been charged with the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, who he allegedly began abusing when she was just 15 years old. However, the Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that he will not face the death penalty if convicted.

Matthew Farwell now faces the possibility of life in prison after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi directed federal prosecutors to avoid seeking capital punishment, as reported by NBC Boston.

The 38-year-old, who previously worked as a police officer in Stoughton, is accused of murdering 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore in her Canton apartment back in 2021, making her death appear like a suicide.

Birchmore was reportedly three months pregnant at the time and had told Farwell that the baby was his. The two had a history, both volunteering for the police department at age 15. Allegations suggest Farwell began a sexual relationship with Birchmore when she was 26.

It appears Birchmore started volunteering at the age of 13 and, during that time, was allegedly groomed and abused by two other officers.

Although Farwell acknowledged having a sexual relationship with Birchmore, he claimed it only began after she turned 16, which is the legal age of consent in Massachusetts.

Prosecutors allege that Birchmore was desperate for a child and had made threats to expose her relationship with Farwell if she didn’t end up pregnant.

When she did become pregnant, she was said to be extremely excited, frequently updating Farwell on her pregnancy milestones, including her due date and doctor’s appointments. Tragically, she was found dead on February 4, with prosecutors claiming that Farwell had strangled her and orchestrated the scene to look like a suicide.

Initially, her death was classified as a suicide, but authorities later rescinded that decision, leading to a murder charge in August. In October, a charge concerning the murder of her fetus was added.

Farwell has pleaded not guilty to all charges.