Testimony got underway in the federal trial of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell, who is accused of killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child in Canton, Massachusetts. Prosecutors allege he orchestrated the killing to hide a long-term relationship that began when Birchmore was a minor and he was an adult volunteer in a local youth program.
Farwell, 40, is charged with killing a witness or victim and causing the death of an unborn child. According to federal prosecutors, Birchmore, 23, was strangled in February 2021 while eight to 10 weeks pregnant. Investigators assert that the death scene was staged to appear as a , a central point of contention as the high-profile federal case moves forward in Boston.
The Prosecution’s Opening Arguments
Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey Cummings delivered the opening statement for the prosecution, detailing a history of alleged grooming and exploitation. Prosecutors stated that Farwell met Birchmore when she was a 13-year-old participant in the Stoughton Police Department Explorers Academy. Cummings told the jury that Farwell was supposed to mentor Birchmore, but instead initiated a s*xual relationship when she was 15 years old and he was 27.
According to the government, Birchmore was thrilled about her pregnancy, believing the child was Farwell’s. However, prosecutors argue that Farwell-who had a third child on the way with his wife-became desperate to protect his career and personal life after a friend reported the illicit relationship to police in January 2021.
“The defendant worked hard to keep Sandra quiet, to make sure nobody would know about his crimes,” Cummings told the jury. “The defendant murdered Sandra. The evidence will show why he murdered her.”
The prosecution highlighted more than 40,000 text messages exchanged between Farwell and Birchmore over the years, some of which reportedly involved discussions of choking and strangulation. Prosecutors contend Farwell visited Birchmore’s Canton apartment on February 1, 2021, strangled her with a duffel bag strap, and attempted to cover up the crime.
The Defense’s Position
Defense attorney Kimberly Stevens presented the opening statement for Farwell, firmly denying the murder allegations and arguing that Birchmore died by .
“Matthew Farwell is a man who had an affair,” Stevens told the jurors. “He’s human. Matthew Farwell did not kill Sandra Birchmore. He did not.”
The defense pointed to Birchmore’s mental state around the time of her death, noting financial struggles, recent isolation during the holidays, and internet search history regarding . Stevens told the court that Farwell visited Birchmore’s apartment on the day of her death solely to break off the relationship and inform her that DNA results showed he was not the father of the child. The defense argues that Birchmore took her own life in an act of despair after realizing the relationship was permanently over.
Legal Background and Context
The manner of Birchmore’s death has shifted significantly since her body was found in 2021. Local investigators initially ruled the death a . However, following an intensive FBI investigation and pressure from Birchmore’s family-who hired a private investigator for a secondary autopsy-federal authorities arrested Farwell in August 2024.
In April, the medical examiner’s original ruling was formally withdrawn, and the manner of death was changed to “undetermined.” Because Farwell is accused of killing a witness to prevent her from reporting a federal offense, the case falls under federal jurisdiction in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts before Chief Judge Denise Casper.
A full jury consisting of 10 men and six women-including four alternates-was sworn in prior to opening statements. The trial is expected to last approximately five weeks, featuring extensive testimony from medical experts, forensic psychologists specializing in grooming behavior, and acquaintances of both the defendant and the victim.
Farwell has pleaded not guilty to all federal charges against him. If convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison, as federal prosecutors declined to seek the death penalty.
