Matthew Farwell murder trial jury selection begins

Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in the federal trial of Matthew Farwell, a former Stoughton police detective accused of murdering Sandra Birchmore. Prosecutors allege that Farwell killed Birchmore and her unborn child in February 2021 to prevent her from exposing a long-term sexual relationship.

According to prosecutors, Farwell began grooming Birchmore when she was 15 years old and a participant in the Stoughton Police Department’s mentoring program. The prosecution claims Farwell murdered Birchmore after she became pregnant in late 2020. While Birchmore’s death was initially ruled a suicide by state investigators, a subsequent FBI investigation led to Farwell’s indictment and arrest in August 2024.

Farwell, 40, has pleaded not guilty. His attorneys maintain that Birchmore’s death was a suicide. The trial is expected to involve dozens of witnesses and hundreds of exhibits, including surveillance video, autopsy photos, and text messages.