By Salma El-Sakka
Former Massachusetts police detective Matthew Farwell is on trial in federal court, charged with killing Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old pregnant woman, and staging her death as a suicide to conceal a sexual relationship that began when she was 15.
Initial investigation called into question
When Birchmore was found dead in her home in February 2021, state police troopers working with the Norfolk County district attorney's office quickly ruled the death a suicide. Federal prosecutors say investigators interviewed Farwell for only 15 minutes in a parking lot, took no notes, did not examine him for injuries or collect DNA, and reviewed his phone only after he had deleted texts with Birchmore. The lead investigator, a longtime family friend of Farwell, reportedly told Farwell's twin brother he wanted the case closed.
FBI takes over case
The FBI opened its own investigation in 2023 after a former Stoughton Police Department deputy chief raised concerns. An expert for federal authorities, Dr. William Smock, concluded Birchmore was strangled with a duffel bag strap and had struggled before dying. The state medical examiner later changed the official cause of death from suicide to "undetermined."
Relationship began when Birchmore was 15
Birchmore met Farwell through a police mentoring program in Stoughton when she was 12 and he was 24. They exchanged roughly 40,000 texts over the years. In a 2020 message, Birchmore wrote that their first sexual encounter occurred on April 10, 2013, when she was 15 and Farwell was 27. Farwell replied, "Me too." Prosecutors say messages also show Farwell engaging in sexting involving choking and threats.
Pregnancy and escalating conflict
In late 2020, Birchmore pressed Farwell to get her pregnant and threatened to tell his wife about their relationship. After she became pregnant, she texted him an image reading, "Congrats, we are going to be parents." Farwell responded that he had "nothing to say" and later called her "the worst person on the face of the earth" when she suggested he be present at the birth. A friend testified that Farwell pushed Birchmore to the ground during a fight and refused to sign a birth certificate acknowledging paternity.
Events leading to death
In January 2021, a tipster reported Farwell's relationship with Birchmore to Stoughton police. Twelve days later, on Feb. 1, Farwell texted Birchmore asking to visit her apartment. Security camera footage showed him entering the building at 9:14 p.m. Digital forensics indicated Birchmore's phone stopped moving at 9:40 p.m., three minutes before cameras recorded Farwell leaving. Prosecutors allege Farwell killed Birchmore, who was about eight weeks pregnant, to prevent her from exposing their relationship.
Defense argues suicide
Farwell's attorney, Kimberly Stevens, acknowledged the affair but denied he is a killer. She portrayed Birchmore as a troubled woman with a history of psychiatric medication and a prior suicide attempt, who was desperate, alone for the holidays, and had less than $3 in her bank account. A paternity test later revealed the father was Army recruiter Jason Pickard, who testified that Birchmore told him Farwell was the father and that their relationship began when she was underage.
Trial nears conclusion
Prosecutors finished presenting their case this week. The defense is expected to call witnesses before the case goes to the jury as early as next week.
