STOUGHTON — In a dramatic turn of events, federal prosecutors charged former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell with the killing of Sandra Birchmore, who local and state prosecutors had ruled a suicide.
Birchmore had told Farwell she was pregnant with his child. Prosecutors allege Farwell used his knowledge of police procedures to make it look like she had hanged herself, when in reality Farwell had strangled her and arranged the crime scene to look like a suicide.
According to federal prosecutors, Farwell began having sex with Birchmore when she was 15, while he was a 27-year-old police officer. The age of consent in Massachusetts is 16. She died on February 1, 2021, in her Canton apartment.
Here are two important documents related to this case.
First, there is the four-page indictment from the Justice Department. It was initially sealed but became public on Wednesday, August 28, when the FBI arrested Farwell in Revere.
Former Stoughton police officer charged with murder Shocking new details revealed in indictment against ex-Stoughton police officer in Sandra Birchmore murder case
What does the FBI claim Farwell did?
Federal prosecutors have filed a 63-page document arguing that Farwell should remain in prison pending trial. In addition to legal arguments, it also includes an affidavit from a senior FBI investigator.
This document is part of the public court record, but readers should be aware that it contains explicit language and descriptions. Language in this document includes the prosecutor’s description of alleged sexual and physical abuse, sexual abuse of a minor, references to suicide, and profanity.
