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Federal prosecutors accuse former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell of killing Sandra Birchmore and staging her death to look like a suicide. Farwell has pleaded not guilty, and as of October 8, 2026, jury selection was underway in his federal trial. The charge has not been resolved by a verdict.
What happened to Sandra Birchmore?
Birchmore was found dead in her Canton, Massachusetts, apartment on February 4, 2021, during a police well-being check, according to the federal detention affidavit. Prosecutors allege that Farwell killed her on or about February 1 and arranged the scene to make her death appear to be suicide. Those are allegations in the criminal case, not findings established by a verdict.
The case also involves Birchmore’s pregnancy. Prosecutors say she told Farwell in December 2020 that she was pregnant and that he was the father. The superseding indictment alleges she was eight to ten weeks pregnant and adds a charge alleging that Farwell caused the death of her unborn child. The pregnancy details and claimed causal connection are allegations in charging documents.
Why do prosecutors accuse Farwell?
The Justice Department’s August 28, 2024, charging announcement says the indictment alleges Farwell strangled Birchmore and staged her body and apartment to conceal the killing. Prosecutors say he acted to prevent law enforcement from learning about his alleged sexual exploitation of her.
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The relationship described by prosecutors
According to the Justice Department, Birchmore joined Stoughton’s Police Explorers program in 2010, when she was 12. Prosecutors allege Farwell, then a police officer and Explorers instructor, began grooming and sexually abusing her when she was 15, and that sexual contact continued into her adulthood. These claims describe the government’s theory and should not be treated as findings that have been proven at trial.
Prosecutors also allege that in January 2021 a friend contacted the Stoughton Police Department about the relationship and that an employee told Farwell about the call. The government’s account includes a visit to Birchmore’s apartment shortly before her death. These details form part of the prosecution’s account of motive and events; the allegations remain to be tested in court.
What did the medical examiner conclude?
The medical examiner’s determination and the prosecution’s theory are separate parts of the record. The federal detention affidavit says an Office of the Chief Medical Examiner pathologist initially ruled Birchmore’s manner of death a suicide in May 2021. In April 2026, the office amended the death certificate: the cause changed from “asphyxia by hanging” to “asphyxia,” and the manner changed from “suicide” to “undetermined.” Boston.com reported the amendment and quoted an OCME spokesperson explaining that findings may be updated when new information becomes available.
“Undetermined” is not a ruling of homicide, and the amended certificate does not establish that Farwell killed Birchmore. Prosecutors separately allege that he strangled her and staged the scene. Neither the initial ruling nor the later amendment is a criminal verdict.
What are the charges, and where does the case stand?
The operative, two-count superseding indictment charges Farwell with killing a witness or victim under 18 U.S.C. § 1512(a)(1)(C), and with causing the death of a child in utero under 18 U.S.C. § 1841. The second count was added in the superseding indictment returned October 28, 2025, according to the Justice Department and the federal court’s March 9, 2026, order.
The court denied Farwell’s motion to dismiss the superseding indictment on March 9, 2026. That procedural ruling allowed the charges to proceed; it did not determine whether the allegations are true.
Farwell pleaded not guilty, Boston 25 News reported on October 8, 2026. Jury selection began October 6. On October 8, the station reported that selection could conclude that day and opening statements might follow Friday if it did. That was a conditional schedule: the available report does not establish that jury selection had concluded, that opening statements had begun, or that a jury had returned a verdict.
Key dates in the case
- 2010: Birchmore joined the Police Explorers program at age 12, according to the Justice Department.
- When Birchmore was 15: Prosecutors allege Farwell began grooming and sexually abusing her.
- December 2020: Prosecutors say Birchmore learned she was pregnant and told Farwell he was the father.
- January 2021: Prosecutors allege a friend raised the relationship with Stoughton police and that an employee informed Farwell.
- On or about February 1, 2021: Prosecutors allege Farwell killed Birchmore and staged her death.
- February 4, 2021: Canton police found Birchmore during a well-being check, according to the detention affidavit.
- May 2021: The detention affidavit says an OCME pathologist ruled the manner of death suicide.
- August 27–28, 2024: A federal grand jury indicted Farwell on the witness-or-victim-killing charge; the Justice Department announced the arrest and allegations on August 28.
- October 28, 2025: A superseding indictment added the unborn-child count.
- March 9, 2026: The federal court denied Farwell’s motion to dismiss the superseding indictment.
- April 2026: OCME amended the death certificate to list the manner as undetermined and the cause as asphyxia, as reported by Boston.com.
- October 6–8, 2026: Jury selection began October 6. On October 8, Boston 25 reported that it could conclude that day, with openings possible Friday if it did.
How to read the record fairly
The Justice Department stated when announcing the charges: “The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.” The distinction matters here: prosecutors have made a specific accusation, the medical examiner’s official manner-of-death determination was later amended to undetermined, and the trial was still at jury selection as of October 8, 2026.
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