A former police officer from Massachusetts, already facing charges for strangling a pregnant woman he allegedly began abusing when she was just 15, has now been charged with the murder of her unborn child, according to federal prosecutors.
Matthew Farwell, age 39 and formerly with the Stoughton Police Department, was previously charged with killing 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore in her Canton apartment in February 2021. Recently, the Massachusetts federal prosecutor’s office announced new charges related to the death of her fetus.
In a press release, prosecutors stated that the indictment claims Farwell intentionally killed Birchmore to prevent her from informing law enforcement about his years of grooming and sexual abuse, starting when she was a minor and lasting until her death, even while he was on duty.
Additionally, the indictment alleges that the murder of Birchmore led to the death of her fetus.
Farwell joined the police department in March 2012. Court records indicate that Birchmore participated in a youth program when she was just 13, and he began abusing her when she turned 15.
Farwell is among three former officers accused of sexually abusing Birchmore. He and others admitted to having sexual encounters with her after she reached the age of consent, which is 16 in Massachusetts.
In the fall of 2020, authorities say Farwell agreed to try to impregnate Birchmore, possibly as a means to keep her from revealing their illicit relationship. She did eventually become pregnant and planned to announce the news on Valentine’s Day 2021.
However, the truth began to surface on January 20, 2021, when a friend informed the police about the situation. A federal indictment made public this week outlines these events.
Reports suggest that on February 1, 2021, a furious Farwell allegedly strangled Birchmore, trying to stage it as a suicide. Initially, investigations didn’t reveal enough proof, but in August 2024, he was charged in connection with her death.
Now, he faces additional charges for the unborn child’s death.
All involved officers resigned in 2022, including Farwell’s twin brother, who had a sexual encounter with Birchmore shortly before her death.
