Kriti Mehrotra
When a 23-year-old pregnant woman was found dead in her apartment in Canton, Massachusetts, on February 1, 2021, the tight-knit community was left baffled to the very core. That’s because her death was initially ruled a suicide, as per NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Betrayal of Sandra Birchmore,’ which her loved ones refuted since they knew she was making plans for the future. In the end, following three years of extensive investigations, the involvement of federal officials, and the arrest of Matthew Farwell, it turned out the young woman had indeed been murdered.
Matthew Farwell is Accused of Grooming Sandra Birchmore Since She Was a Minor
Although not a lot of details regarding Matthew Farwell’s background or early years are publicly available as of writing, we do know he was in his late 20s when he decided to shift gears. He seemingly left the professional endeavors he had been engaging in to become a police officer, getting sworn into the Stoughton Police Department in March 2012 upon completing his training. According to state records, he started off on patrol before climbing up the ladder to become a detective, all the while also serving as an instructor for the vocational youth-focused Explorer’s Program.
It was at this program that Matthew first encountered Sandra Birchmore, who had joined it in 2010 when she was just 12 years old in an effort to learn about careers in law enforcement. According to reports, the officer allegedly used his access and authority to groom, sexually exploit, and ultimately sexually abuse the young girl, starting from around 2013. As per records, later on, both the FBI and private investigators uncovered texts from back in the day wherein he allegedly bragged about taking her virginity at age 15.
Matthew is alleged to have engaged in sex acts with Sandra from when she was 15 right until she passed away nearly 7 years later. According to the Department of Justice, he allegedly often did so while on active duty before reportedly choosing to conceal it by falsely representing that he had worked certain long hours.
Matthew Farwell Allegedly Killed Sandra Birchmore Over Their Alleged Secret Affair
Matthew and Sandra’s alleged relationship had likely become a normal part of their lives over the years, only for things to change in December 2020 when she learned she was pregnant. As per records, the 23-year-old was genuinely excited about this new chapter since she didn’t waste any time before informing her loved ones or scheduling long-term doctors’ appointments. She allegedly even told the officer he was the father before indicating that, while she did not expect him to leave his pregnant wife and two kids, she wanted him to be involved with the baby.
According to the Department of Justice, Matthew reportedly turned violent while discussing the expectations. It is alleged that he held Sandra in a headlock and told her he wished she were dead. Moreover, when one of her friends contacted the Stoughton Police Department in January 2021 and indicated there was an alleged sexual relationship between the duo, he reportedly sent her several angry text messages. However, within a few days, he allegedly visited his lover, requested a spare key to her place, and asked her to keep everything a secret before later returning to seemingly explore the apartment.
As per records, Matthew allegedly looked through Sandra’s bathroom and closets with such detail that she felt uncomfortable enough to mention it to friends, a week before her death. It has since been alleged that on February 1, 2021, the officer dropped his wife off at Newton-Wellesley Hospital for her planned C-section for their third child before leaving for the 23-year-old’s home. There, he reportedly allegedly killed the young pregnant woman out of fear she might soon disclose their involvement with how long they had been sexually active before allegedly staging it to look like a suicide.
Related
Matthew Farwell is Currently Awaiting Trial While in Custody
It was in 2022 that authorities realized foulplay was involved, driving them to open an internal investigation into the matter. It was during this that the then-detective handed in his resignation, with his last day on the force being April 1. Then, with the discovery of all the aforementioned alleged details, the 38-year-old was arrested on August 28, 2024.
Matthew has been accused of killing Sandra by strangulation before staging her apartment and her remains to make it appear as if she had died by suicide. It has been alleged that his motive was to save his growing family, his beloved job, and prevent everyone from learning about the alleged federal crime of statutory rape. He has since officially been charged with the murder of a witness or victim, to which he has pleaded not guilty. He was subsequently denied bail, so today, at the age of 39, he remains in custody, awaiting trial. If convicted, he faces either life in prison or the death penalty, which is why he has now added a death penalty expert to his legal team. It’s also imperative to note that DNA test results have since revealed he was not the father of Sandra’s unborn baby.
