Matthew Farwell, Murder, Massachusetts 2021

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Former Stoughton Police Officer Arrested in Connection with Young Woman’s Murder

BOSTON – Matthew Farwell, a 38-year-old former Stoughton police officer, has been arrested and charged in federal court in Boston with allegedly murdering a young woman to prevent her from disclosing information about his longstanding sexual exploitation of her while he was on duty.

According to the indictment, Farwell allegedly killed Sandra Birchmore, a 15-year-old girl who was a member of the Stoughton Police Department’s Explorer’s Program, by strangulation on February 1, 2021. Farwell had served as an instructor for the program, which is designed for youth to learn about careers in law enforcement.

Farwell allegedly used his authority and access to groom, sexually exploit, and ultimately sexually abuse Birchmore when she was 15 years old and continued to have sex with her when she became an adult. The indictment alleges that Farwell engaged in sex acts with Birchmore while on duty as a Stoughton police officer on several occasions, and that he falsified records to conceal this activity.

Birchmore learned that she was pregnant in December 2020, and soon after, she told Farwell that he was the father of the child. Farwell allegedly became violent with her when they discussed the pregnancy and his role in the child’s life, and told her that he wished she were dead. On January 20, 2021, Birchmore’s friend called the Stoughton Police Department and referenced Farwell and Birchmore’s sexual relationship, which led Farwell to allegedly send Birchmore angry text messages and visit her at her apartment.

The indictment alleges that Farwell murdered Birchmore on February 1, 2021, to silence her and prevent law enforcement from learning about his criminal conduct. While Birchmore’s death was initially ruled a suicide, the federal investigation probed old evidence and revealed critical new evidence leading to the charge against Farwell.

Farwell is charged with one count of killing a witness or victim, which carries a mandatory sentence of death or life in prison. He will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today at 2:30 p.m. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office.

As a sworn officer of the Stoughton Police Department, Farwell served from March 27, 2012, until April 1, 2022, and was an instructor for the Stoughton Police Department’s Explorer’s Program. Sandra Birchmore joined the program in 2010, when she was 12 years old.

This case is a sobering reminder of the importance of holding accountable those who abuse their power and authority to commit crimes.