Sandra Birchmore Case, Matthew Farwell’s Federal Murder Trial, Evidence and What Happens Next

Former Stoughton, Massachusetts, police detective Matthew Farwell is on trial in federal court in Boston, accused of killing 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore in February 2021 and staging her death to look like a suicide. Jury selection began October 6, opening statements were delivered October 9, and witness testimony began October 13, 2026. Farwell has pleaded not guilty and maintains that Birchmore died by suicide.

The jury must decide whether prosecutors have proved, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Farwell killed Birchmore to prevent her from reporting alleged federal crimes, and that the killing also caused the death of her unborn child. No verdict has been reported as of October 14, 2026. Everything below about the alleged abuse, motive and cause of death is an allegation or a party’s position unless a court has found otherwise, and Farwell is presumed innocent.

Content note: this case involves alleged sexual abuse of a minor and a disputed death, including a claim of suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988 in the U.S.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Victim	Sandra Birchmore, 23
Location	Canton, Massachusetts
Date of Death	On or about February 1, 2021, per prosecutors; body found February 4, 2021
Defendant	Matthew Farwell, former Stoughton police detective (reported age 40)
Case	United States v. Matthew Farwell, No. 1:24-cr-10259
Court	U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Boston (Moakley Courthouse), Judge Denise J. Casper
Charges	(1) Killing a witness or victim, 18 U.S.C. § 1512(a)(1)(C); (2) causing the death of an unborn child, 18 U.S.C. § 1841
Plea	Not guilty
Trial Status	Underway; testimony began October 13, 2026; expected to last about four weeks
Prosecution Theory	Farwell strangled Birchmore and staged a suicide to keep her from exposing years of alleged sexual exploitation that began when she was a minor
Defense Position	Birchmore died by suicide; Farwell went to her apartment to end the relationship
Manner of Death	Originally ruled suicide (2021); later amended to undetermined (2026)
Civil Case	Separate wrongful-death lawsuit by Birchmore’s estate (filed December 2022)
Public Settlement or Claim Form	None; this is a criminal prosecution and a private civil case

Who Was Sandra Birchmore?

Sandra Birchmore grew up in Massachusetts and joined the Stoughton Police Department’s Explorers program, a youth program introducing young people to law-enforcement careers, in 2010 as a preteen. Friends and family have described her as someone who hoped for a career in law enforcement and who was excited about becoming a mother. She was a teacher’s aide and was about eight to ten weeks pregnant when she died.

Primarily through the Explorers program, prosecutors say, she met Matthew Farwell, his twin brother William Farwell, and then-Deputy Chief Robert Devine. Prosecutors allege Farwell used his position and access to groom and sexually abuse her, beginning when she was 15, and that the relationship continued into adulthood. Massachusetts’s age of consent is 16. These are allegations, and the jury will decide the charges brought in this case.

Timeline

2010. Birchmore joins the Stoughton Police Explorers program.

2012 to 2013. Prosecutors allege Farwell began grooming Birchmore, including tutoring and a Facebook friend request in October 2012, and that sexual abuse began in 2013 when she was 15.

Late December 2020. Birchmore learns she is pregnant, according to prosecutors, and tells Farwell he is the father.

Mid to late January 2021. The indictment says a friend contacted Stoughton police around January 20 about the relationship. Prosecutors allege this convinced Farwell he had lost control of the situation and that he later asked for a spare key to her apartment.

February 1, 2021. Prosecutors allege Farwell killed Birchmore in her Canton apartment on or about this date. Security video, they say, shows him entering the building and leaving about half an hour later, at 9:43 p.m., according to reporting on the government’s case.

February 4, 2021. Birchmore’s body is found after she misses work. Her death is initially treated as a suicide, and the state medical examiner classifies it as such in May 2021. Local prosecutors said there was no evidence of foul play.

2022. A Stoughton Police Department internal investigation, released in August 2022, found inappropriate contact with Birchmore by Matthew Farwell, William Farwell and Robert Devine, according to reporting. All three left the department. In December 2022, Birchmore’s aunt, as personal representative of her estate, files a wrongful-death lawsuit.

2023 to 2024. The FBI opens an investigation. Independent forensic review, including by pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, concludes the death was a homicide, according to reporting. In August 2024, Farwell is indicted on one count of killing a witness or victim and arrested.

October 28, 2025. A superseding indictment adds a charge of causing the death of Birchmore’s unborn child. DNA testing excluded Farwell as the father; authorities have not named the father.

2026. The medical examiner amends the manner of death from suicide to undetermined. In March, a judge denies a motion to dismiss. In June, a judge reportedly denies a request to exclude evidence, with details sealed.

October 6 to 13, 2026. Jury selection (October 6), opening statements (October 9) and the start of testimony (October 13) take place. Six witnesses testified on the first day, including Stoughton Police Detective Heather Cheever, who knew Birchmore through the Explorers program.

What Are the Charges?

Count 1: Killing a witness or victim (18 U.S.C. § 1512(a)(1)(C))

This law makes it a crime to kill or attempt to kill another person with intent to prevent that person from communicating to law enforcement information about the commission or possible commission of a federal offense. The government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Farwell killed Birchmore and that he acted with that intent. Showing only that she died, or that the two had a relationship, would not be enough.

Because federal jurisdiction rests on the possible federal offense, no federal investigation has to be pending at the time. According to reporting, the superseding indictment alleges Birchmore could have disclosed civil-rights violations by a police officer acting under color of law (18 U.S.C. § 242), coercion and enticement of a minor (18 U.S.C. § 2422) and wire fraud tied to falsely logging on-duty hours (18 U.S.C. § 1343). The Justice Department says the count carries a possible sentence of death or life imprisonment.

Count 2: Causing the death of an unborn child (18 U.S.C. § 1841)

The Unborn Victims of Violence Act applies when a qualifying federal crime of violence causes the death of a child in utero. Birchmore was about eight to ten weeks pregnant. The charge does not depend on Farwell being the child’s biological father, which DNA testing excluded. The Justice Department says the count carries a mandatory life sentence. This is a separate count with its own elements.

Death penalty status: Early 2026 reporting noted prosecutors could seek the death penalty because of the federal charge, while one later trial summary says they are not seeking it. The current status should be confirmed on the docket before relying on either statement.

Why federal court instead of a state murder case?

Murder is usually a state crime. The initial suicide finding led state authorities not to pursue a homicide case. Federal prosecutors charged killing a witness or victim, which is a federal offense tied to protecting potential witnesses. There is also no statute of limitations for federal offenses punishable by death (18 U.S.C. § 3281), which is why charges could follow years after 2021. Federal prosecution does not lower the government’s burden of proof.

What Evidence Are Prosecutors Presenting?

The following describes the government’s allegations and evidence as reported in the indictments and courtroom coverage. It is not a set of findings by a court.

• Surveillance video that prosecutors say shows Farwell entering Birchmore’s building the night of February 1 and leaving about half an hour later.
• Phone data that prosecutors say shows Birchmore’s phone stopped moving around that time.
• Text messages exchanged between the two over years, which prosecutors use to show the relationship and the alleged motive.
• DNA evidence that prosecutors say links Farwell to the strap found around Birchmore’s neck.
• Medical expert testimony. Prosecutors say injuries are far more consistent with strangulation than with suicidal hanging. The judge allowed two prosecution experts, Dr. William Smock and Dr. Michael Baden, to give opinions, per WBUR coverage.
• Witness testimony from people who knew Birchmore and Farwell, police colleagues and others, including a friend who reportedly described Birchmore’s excitement about her pregnancy.
• Birchmore’s own writings and messages. Reporting says the judge allowed her journals, texts and social media posts under the forfeiture-by-wrongdoing hearsay exception (Fed. R. Evid. 804(b)(6)), which can apply when a defendant is found to have caused a witness’s unavailability. The defense reportedly was allowed to introduce evidence of her mental-health history.

How much weight each item deserves depends on what is admitted, how it is challenged and how the jury assesses credibility. A news report about evidence is not a substitute for the trial record.

What Is the Defense?

Farwell has pleaded not guilty. In opening statements, the defense told jurors, per reporting, that Farwell did go to Birchmore’s apartment on February 1, that he went to end the relationship and tell her he believed the baby was not his, and that she died by suicide afterward. The defense says Farwell “did not kill Sandra Birchmore” and has pointed to her history of emotional distress and self-harm and to texts describing stress and sleeplessness. It plans to call Dr. Thomas Andrew, a former New Hampshire chief medical examiner, who reviewed the autopsy and, per WBUR, could not determine the manner of death or rule out suicide by hanging.

These are defense arguments, not established facts. The prosecution disputes them. The defendant is not required to prove innocence or testify.

Why Was the Death First Ruled a Suicide, and What Changed?

The state medical examiner classified the death as a suicide in May 2021. The family disputed it, and an FBI investigation and independent pathology review followed. In 2026, the medical examiner amended the manner of death to undetermined, with the cause listed as asphyxia rather than asphyxia by hanging, according to one report.

An undetermined ruling means the examiner did not definitively classify the death as suicide or homicide. It is not a finding that any person committed murder. The jury must decide based on the evidence at trial rather than treating either the original ruling or the indictment as conclusive.

What About the Civil Lawsuit?

In December 2022, Birchmore’s aunt, Darlene Smith, as personal representative of her estate, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit. As reported at filing, it named former officers Matthew Farwell, William Farwell and Robert Devine. Later reporting describes additional defendants, including the Town of Stoughton, so the current parties should be checked against the docket. The complaint alleged grooming and sexual abuse by officers connected to the Explorers program and that this contributed to her death.

A civil complaint states a plaintiff’s allegations. It does not establish liability. Civil wrongful-death claims in Massachusetts are governed by state law (M.G.L. c. 229, § 2). A town’s liability depends on the claims and defenses, such as the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act (M.G.L. c. 258) and, for federal civil-rights claims, the standards of Monell v. Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658 (1978). The civil standard of proof is a preponderance of the evidence, much lower than beyond a reasonable doubt. For a plain-English guide, see our related article listed below.

Who Are the Other Former Officers?

Reporting says Matthew Farwell’s twin brother, William Farwell, acknowledged a sexual relationship with Birchmore after she was an adult, and is on the prosecution’s list of potential witnesses. Robert Devine, the former deputy chief who oversaw the Explorers program, was decertified by the state’s police-standards commission, reportedly in December 2025, and William Farwell and Matthew Farwell also lost certification, according to reports.

These matters are separate from the charges against Matthew Farwell. A witness’s past relationship with Birchmore does not establish that the witness committed the charged killing, and allegations in a civil complaint or administrative findings are not criminal convictions.

What Happens Next in the Trial?

The trial is expected to run for about four weeks, with more than 100 potential witnesses listed, and cameras are not allowed in the federal courtroom. The general stages are:

1. Prosecution case: Witnesses and exhibits admitted by the court.
2. Cross-examination: Each side tests the other’s witnesses.
3. Defense case: The defense may present witnesses and experts.
4. Closing arguments and jury instructions: The judge explains the law.
5. Deliberations and verdict: The jury must be unanimous on each count (Fed. R. Crim. P. 31). It may convict or acquit on either count independently. If it cannot agree on a count, the judge may declare a mistrial on that count.

The schedule can change. Check current court records and reliable local reporting before updating.

What Penalties Could Farwell Face if Convicted?

Penalties would follow only after a conviction and federal sentencing. The Justice Department says the witness-killing count carries death or life imprisonment under the statute, and the unborn-child count carries a mandatory life sentence. An acquittal on a count means no sentence on that count. Birchmore’s family would have the right to be heard at sentencing under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (18 U.S.C. § 3771), if there is a conviction.

Why the Case Matters Beyond the Trial

• Police youth programs: The allegations focus on a young participant and adult officers who ran a youth program, prompting scrutiny of supervision and accountability.
• Handling of complaints: Prosecutors allege that concerns about the relationship reached police before Birchmore died.
• Death investigations: An early classification of suicide can be revisited when new evidence emerges.
• Different legal systems: The criminal case asks whether Farwell committed federal offenses. The civil case seeks remedies and raises broader allegations. They have different purposes and standards of proof.

What Is Not Established

• No verdict has been reported, and Farwell is presumed innocent.
• The prosecution’s account of motive, strangulation and staging is an allegation until proven.
• The defense account (suicide) is a position, not a finding.
• The manner of death is currently listed as undetermined by the medical examiner.
• Allegations in the civil case and administrative findings involving other officers are not criminal findings.
• Details from news coverage of testimony should be checked against the official record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is charged in Sandra Birchmore’s death?

Former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell faces two federal charges: killing a witness or victim, and causing the death of an unborn child. He has pleaded not guilty.

Did Matthew Farwell kill Sandra Birchmore?

That is the central question for the jury. Prosecutors allege he strangled her and staged a suicide. The defense says she died by suicide. No verdict has been reported.

Was Birchmore pregnant when she died?

Yes, about eight to ten weeks, according to the indictment.

Was Farwell the father of the unborn child?

DNA testing excluded him as the biological father. Prosecutors allege Birchmore told him he was the father and that he believed it. Authorities have not named the father.

Why was the death first ruled a suicide?

The medical examiner classified it as a suicide in May 2021. After further investigation and review, the manner of death was amended to undetermined in 2026.

When was she found?

Her body was found on February 4, 2021. Prosecutors say she was killed on or about February 1.

Why is the case in federal court?

The charge is that Farwell killed her to stop her from reporting possible federal crimes, which is a federal offense.

What penalties does he face?

The Justice Department says the counts carry a possible sentence of death or life, and a mandatory life sentence. Check the docket for the current status of any death-penalty decision.

Has anyone been convicted?

No conviction is reported in the sources reviewed as of October 14, 2026.

Is there a settlement or claim form?

No. The criminal case is a prosecution, and the wrongful-death lawsuit is a separate private case.

Where can I follow the case?

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts maintains a case page, the federal docket is available on PACER, and local outlets including WBUR, GBH, Boston 25, NBC Boston, Boston.com and The Boston Globe are covering the trial.

Key Dates

Date	Event
2010	Birchmore joins the Stoughton Police Explorers program
2013	Prosecutors allege sexual abuse begins when she is 15
Late December 2020	Birchmore learns she is pregnant
On or about February 1, 2021	Date prosecutors say she was killed
February 4, 2021	Body found
May 2021	Medical examiner rules the death a suicide
August 2022	Police internal investigation findings released
December 2022	Estate files wrongful-death lawsuit
August 2024	Farwell indicted and arrested
October 28, 2025	Superseding indictment adds the unborn-child charge
2026	Manner of death amended to undetermined; motions to dismiss and exclude evidence denied
October 6, 2026	Jury selection begins
October 9, 2026	Opening statements
October 13, 2026	Witness testimony begins

Related Coverage

• What Is A Wrongful Death Lawsuit? Everything Families Need To Know

Sources and Records

1. U.S. Department of Justice, “Former Massachusetts Police Officer Arrested in Connection With Murder of Young Woman,” August 2024: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-massachusetts-police-officer-arrested-connection-murder-young-woman
2. U.S. Department of Justice, “Former Stoughton Police Officer Indicted for Allegedly Causing the Death of His Victim’s Unborn Baby,” October 28, 2025: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/former-stoughton-police-officer-indicted-allegedly-causing-death-his-victims-unborn-baby
3. U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts, United States v. Matthew Farwell case page: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/united-states-v-matthew-farwell
4. WBUR, “What to Know About the Trial of Matthew Farwell for Allegedly Killing Sandra Birchmore,” October 6, 2026: https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/10/06/matthew-farwell-sandra-birchmore-trial
5. WBUR, report on opening statements, October 9, 2026: https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/10/09/sandra-birchmore-trial-matthew-farwell
6. GBH News, “Testimony Begins in Trial of Former Police Officer Accused of Killing Sandra Birchmore,” October 13, 2026: https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2026-10-13/testimony-begins-in-trial-of-former-police-officer-accused-of-killing-sandra-birchmore
7. Boston 25 News, report on first day of testimony, October 13, 2026: https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/6-witnesses-take-stand-first-day-testimony-matthew-farwell-murder-trial/4CJZM7GW5VH3XKRPH55I3FWGCU/
8. Boston 25 News, trial live updates and opening statements, October 9, 2026: https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/matthew-farwell-trial-live-updates-competing-accounts-sandra-birchmores-death-define-openings/VWU7T5QOVRDJRBA7KKH2DJBY2U/
9. Boston.com, “Opening statements: Prosecutors allege Matthew Farwell killed Sandra Birchmore to ‘silence’ her, while defense says she was suicidal,” October 9, 2026: https://www.boston.com/news/crime/2026/10/09/opening-statements-prosecutors-allege-matthew-farwell-killed-sandra-birchmore-to-silence-her-while-defense-says-she-was-suicidal/
10. The Boston Globe, trial preview, October 1, 2026: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/10/01/metro/sandra-birchmore-matthew-farwell/
11. The Boston Globe, twin brother listed as potential witness, September 11, 2026: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/09/11/metro/matthew-farwell-sandra-birchmore/
12. The Boston Globe, “Judge Denies Matthew Farwell’s Request to Toss Evidence in Sandra Birchmore Death,” June 5, 2026: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/06/05/metro/matthew-farwell-sandra-birchmore/
13. The Boston Globe, wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Birchmore’s family, December 29, 2022: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/29/metro/family-former-stoughton-police-explorer-files-wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-3-ex-officers/
14. NBC Boston, trial date set for Matthew Farwell: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/sandra-birchmore-case-matthew-farwell-trial-date/3828187
15. 18 U.S.C. §§ 242, 1343, 1512, 1841, 2422, 3281 and 3771; Fed. R. Crim. P. 31; Fed. R. Evid. 804(b)(6); M.G.L. c. 229, § 2 and c. 258; Monell v. Department of Social Services, 436 U.S. 658 (1978)

This article summarizes the public record and news reporting available as of October 14, 2026, is for general informational purposes, and is not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. Criminal allegations are not findings of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Because this is a live trial, details may change as testimony and rulings continue.