Former Massachusetts Detective Convicted in Pregnant Woman’s Killing

Matthew Farwell, a former Stoughton police detective, has been found guilty of murdering Sandra Birchmore, a pregnant woman whose death prosecutors say he tried to disguise as a suicide.

Federal prosecutors said Farwell killed Birchmore in her Canton apartment in February 2021 and was also convicted of causing the death of her unborn child. The jury began deliberating Friday after hearing more than three weeks of testimony. On Monday, jurors told the judge they were deadlocked, but returned Tuesday to continue their discussions.

Prosecutors argued that Farwell killed Birchmore after she became pregnant and threatened to reveal their relationship. They said the relationship began when Birchmore was 15 and Farwell was 27.

Birchmore was found dead in her apartment with a strap around her neck. Her death was first ruled a suicide, but the medical examiner later changed the official finding to undetermined.

Federal investigators reopened the case and found about 40,000 text messages between Birchmore and Farwell. Prosecutors said the messages and other evidence showed they had been involved in a sexual relationship for years.

In closing arguments, prosecutors said Farwell feared Birchmore would expose his alleged misconduct. The defense argued that Birchmore died by suicide, citing her mental health history and previous statements about suicide. Farwell’s attorneys acknowledged that the two had an extramarital relationship but said he did not kill her. A defense medical expert also disputed the prosecution’s claim that Birchmore had been strangled.

Farwell faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.