Pregnant Witness Found Dead — Police “Suicide” Exposed

Pregnant woman sitting on a bench in a park during sunset

The Department of Justice has decided not to seek the death penalty against a former Massachusetts police officer accused of murdering a young woman he allegedly groomed as a minor and her unborn child, sparking questions about accountability in cases involving law enforcement predators.

Story Highlights

DOJ will not pursue capital punishment against ex-Stoughton officer Matthew Farwell, who faces life in prison if convicted
Federal prosecutors charge Farwell killed Sandra Birchmore and her unborn baby boy to silence her as a witness
Local authorities initially ruled Birchmore’s 2021 death a suicide before federal investigation concluded she was strangled
Case exposes alleged decade-long sexual exploitation that began when Birchmore was 15 in police youth program

Federal Decision Removes Death Penalty Option

U.S. Attorney Leah Foley filed court documents in December 2025 announcing the Attorney General directed federal prosecutors not to seek the death penalty against Matthew Farwell. The former Stoughton police officer faces two federal counts of killing a witness, carrying mandatory life sentences if convicted. The decision came ahead of a January 2026 deadline set by the federal court, with trial scheduled for October 2026.

Farwell pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he murdered 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child to prevent her from communicating with law enforcement about years of sexual exploitation. Federal prosecutors argue the killings constitute witness intimidation under federal law, which carries severe penalties even without capital punishment. The superseding indictment specifies Birchmore was 8-10 weeks pregnant with a baby boy when she died.

Local Investigation Failures Exposed Federal Corruption

Norfolk County authorities initially ruled Birchmore’s February 2021 death a suicide by asphyxia, with the district attorney’s office publicly stating no evidence of foul play existed. However, federal investigators later concluded she was strangled and the scene staged to appear as suicide. This stark contradiction highlights potential conflicts of interest when local authorities investigate cases involving their own officers, raising concerns about institutional protection of corrupt law enforcement.

Surveillance footage shows Farwell entering Birchmore’s Canton apartment building the evening she was last seen alive and leaving approximately 30 minutes later. Federal prosecutors allege he killed her after a friend reported their sexual relationship to Stoughton police in January 2021, creating exposure for his long-term exploitation crimes. The federal intervention proved necessary to uncover what local authorities either missed or ignored.

Predatory Exploitation in Police Youth Program

The case exposes systemic vulnerabilities in police youth programs that can enable predatory behavior by officers in positions of authority. Birchmore joined the Stoughton Police Explorers program at age 12, where she met Farwell, then about 25 years old. Federal prosecutors allege he began grooming her immediately and initiated sexual contact when she turned 15, continuing the exploitation for nearly a decade until her death.

The power imbalance between a sworn officer and vulnerable youth participant created conditions for sustained abuse that went undetected by supervisors. Birchmore’s family filed wrongful death lawsuits against Farwell, his twin brother William, supervisor Robert Devine, and the Town of Stoughton, alleging negligent hiring and supervision. This case demonstrates how police departments must implement stronger oversight of youth programs to prevent officers from exploiting their positions to harm children.