FBI arrests ex-police officer who allegedly faked suicide in murder case

A former detective accused of killing a pregnant Massachusetts woman in 2021 was arrested Wednesday.

FBI officials in Boston said Matthew Farwell was arrested for the suspected murder of Sandra Birchmore.

Farwell was working for the Stoughton Police Department when 23-year-old Birchmore was found dead in her apartment.

A 2022 internal investigation found that three Stoughton Police officers had inappropriate sexual relationships with Birchmore.

Matthew Farwell was named as one of the officers involved, along with William Farwell and Richard Devine.

Farwell is also accused of staging Birchmore's apartment to make it appear as if she had committed suicide.

Federal prosecutors allege that Farwell and Birchmore had a sexual relationship since Birchmore was a teenager. Prosecutors believe Farwell killed the young woman to prevent her from revealing their relationship.

Birchmore's death was ruled a suicide, but a pathologist hired by Birchmore's parents classified her death as a homicide.

According to a federal indictment filed Tuesday, Farwell is alleged to have strangled Birchmore.

According to the FBI, Farwell was taken into custody without incident.

Content from The National Desk is provided by Sinclair, the parent company of FOX45 News.

Originally published: August 28, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.