Former police officer accused of plotting to murder his pregnant lover remains behind bars

Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell, accused of killing Sandra Birchmore to stop her from revealing scandalous details about their affair and pregnancy, remains behind bars while the murder case goes to trial in Massachusetts.

A grand jury indicted Farwell on charges of strangling 23-year-old Birchmore and staging the scene as a suicide, leading to his arrest on August 28 in Revere, Massachusetts. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

Authorities found Birchmore, who claimed Farwell was the father of her unborn child, dead in her Canton apartment on February 1, 2021.

Caroline Ferguson, public affairs specialist for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, said Newsweek The defense filed a motion on September 7 to keep the defendant in custody, with the option to review the decision later.

Farwell's detention hearing was scheduled for Thursday, but he himself has asked for it to be canceled.

A pre-trial detention hearing is a court procedure in which a judge decides whether a defendant should remain in custody or be released pending trial.

Prosecutors are pushing to keep Farwell in custody pending trial because he poses a danger to the community and a serious risk of flight and obstruction of justice.

“After having had the opportunity to consult with his counsel, Mr. Farwell now asks the Court to issue a voluntary arrest warrant without prejudice, reserving the right to request a detention hearing at a later date when his counsel has had more time to review the materials in this case and prepare for such a hearing,” the defendant's motion states. “Mr. Farwell also asks this Court to cancel the detention hearing scheduled for September 12, 2024.”

Detention without prejudice means that the defendant remains in custody, but the decision is not final. The defense can request another hearing for review, and the prosecution can still present new arguments or charges if necessary.

Newsweek contacted Farwell's attorney Jane Peachy, but she said she could not comment at this time.

Ferguson said Newsweek No further court dates have been scheduled yet, but it will likely be a normal status meeting where both parties will update the judge on the progress of the case.

Farwell, along with his twin brother William Farwell and Richard Devine, allegedly began bullying Birchmore when she was just 12 years old while she was participating in the Stoughton Police Department's Explorers program, the U.S. attorney said during a news conference last month.

At a young age, she was interested in a career in law enforcement. In March 2010, Birchmore applied to participate in the program.

The Explorer Program offers young people the opportunity to explore a variety of career paths, including police service. Police departments across the country partner with the Explorer Program to establish local Explorer programs.

Newsweek I have contacted the Stoughton Police Department to see if the program is still active, but have not received a response.

The relationship between Farwell and Birchmore

According to a detailed chronology of events, Farwell, then a 27-year-old police officer, began a sexual relationship with her on April 10, 2023, when she was 15 years old.

Farwell continued this sexual relationship with Birchmore after she became an adult, and continued to have extramarital sex with her until she was killed. Their sexual relationship lasted nearly 10 years, and Farwell said he wished it had started sooner.

On October 5, 2020, Birchmore composed a text message intended for Farwell's wife and sent it to someone else. The person she sent it to informed her that Farwell's wife was expecting their third child, due in February 2021.

That same day, Birchmore gave Farwell an ultimatum: he had to have unprotected sex with her to impregnate her, and in return she would keep their relationship secret.

The situation escalated in late 2020 and early 2021 when Birchmore learned of her pregnancy and informed Farwell, who did not share her joy, court records show.

On February 4, 2021, Canton police officers conducted a wellness check at Birchmore's apartment after one of her co-workers reported that she had not shown up for work that day.

When officers arrived, they found Birchmore's body lying on the floor with a duffel bag strap tied around her neck. The strap was connected to the doorknob of her closet, which Farwell had examined about a week earlier.

Stoughton Police Response

Stoughton police officials expressed deep concern about the alleged crime.

“The alleged murder of Sandra is a horrific injustice,” Police Chief Donna McNamara said in a press release. “The allegations against the suspect represent the worst act of professional misconduct and human indecency that I have witnessed in nearly three decades in law enforcement.”

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