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5 clusters · 11 sources · 18 days · First seen · Last updated

Matthew Farwell murder trial

Overview

Jury selection commenced on October 6, 2026, in the federal murder trial of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell. Farwell is accused of killing 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child in February 2021, then staging the scene to resemble a suicide.

Prosecutors allege Farwell groomed Birchmore through a police mentoring program when she was 15 and killed her to prevent the exposure of their long-term sexual relationship after she became pregnant. Farwell faces two federal charges: killing a witness or victim and killing a child in utero. While state investigators initially ruled the death a suicide, an FBI investigation led to Farwell’s indictment and arrest in August 2024.

By October 13, testimony had begun. During the first day of testimony, Detective Heather Cheever testified regarding a 2020 mental health call at Birchmore’s home. Cheever noted that while Birchmore had expressed a desire to hurt herself during an argument with her aunt, she did not believe the young woman was suicidal at that time.

During opening statements, Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings stated that Farwell used his position as a mentor to groom and abuse Birchmore starting when she was 15 years old. Evidence presented includes explicit text messages regarding their relationship.

Farwell has pleaded not guilty, and his defense maintains the death was a suicide. Defense attorneys have pointed to Birchmore’s history of suicidal thoughts and text messages sent on the day of her death expressing stress and physical discomfort. If convicted, Farwell faces a mandatory life sentence.

Entities

Sandra Birchmore · Matthew Farwell · Stoughton Police Department · FBI · Denise Casper

Timeline

  1. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Matthew Farwell on trial for murder of Sandra Birchmore

    Former Massachusetts police officer Matthew Farwell is on trial for the murder of Sandra Birchmore, whom prosecutors say he killed to cover up years of sexual abuse.

  2. [CRIME] 4 sources
    Matthew Farwell trial begins for alleged murder of Sandra Birchmore

    Federal testimony has begun in the trial of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell, who is accused of killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child in 2021.

  3. [CRIME] 7 sources
    Matthew Farwell murder trial begins for former Massachusetts officer

    The murder trial of former Massachusetts police officer Matthew Farwell has begun. He is accused of killing pregnant Sandra Birchmore in 2021 and staging the scene to look like a suicide.

  4. [CRIME] 3 sources
    Matthew Farwell murder trial jury selection begins

    Jury selection begins Tuesday in the federal trial of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell, accused of murdering Sandra Birchmore to cover up a yearslong sexual relationship.

  5. [CRIME] 2 sources
    Matthew Farwell murder trial to proceed in Boston after judge denies venue change

    A federal judge denied a request to move the murder trial of former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell out of Boston, clearing the way for jury selection to begin on October 6.

Sources

boston.com · cbsnews.com · haberaktuel.com · internewscast.com · kvia.com · okmagazine.com · thelocalreport.in · usmagazine.com · wbur.org · whdh.com · world-today-news.com

This summary has been updated 4 times: see revision history