Stoughton cop charged with killing pregnant victim’s fetus

BOSTON – In a chilling turn of events, former Stoughton Police Officer Matthew Farwell has been indicted for the alleged murder of pregnant woman Sandra Birchmore and her unborn son. Farwell, 39, stands accused of strangling Birchmore to prevent her from disclosing his sexual exploitation of her as a minor.

According to the latest charges, Farwell is also accused of staging the scene of Birchmore’s death to make it appear as suicide. The indictment claims that Farwell had been grooming and sexually abusing Birchmore since she was 15 years old, using his position as an officer to facilitate the abuse.

The court documents reveal a sinister agreement between Farwell and Birchmore in the fall of 2020, where Farwell attempted to impregnate her to stop her from revealing their relationship. Despite this, Birchmore maintained excitement over her pregnancy, planning for ultrasounds, genetic testing, and even a pregnancy announcement. However, court records indicate that she was eight to ten weeks pregnant at the time of her alleged murder.

Matthew Farwell faces a mandatory life sentence under 18 U.S.C. §1841 for causing the death of an unborn child. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth Riley, Torey B. Cummings, and Brian A. Fogerty of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, confirmed the charges against Farwell today. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.