A former Stoughton police officer already facing federal charges in the death of 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore has been indicted again, this time for allegedly causing the death of her unborn son.
Matthew Farwell, 39, of Easton, was charged with one count of causing the death of Birchmore’s unborn child, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. Farwell has been in federal custody since his August 2024 arrest and will be arraigned on the new charge at a later date.
Prosecutors say that on or about February 1, 2021, Farwell killed Birchmore by strangulation and then staged her apartment in Stoughton to make it appear as though she had died by suicide. The superseding indictment alleges that Farwell acted with malice and with the intent to prevent Birchmore from revealing that he had sexually abused her for years, beginning when she was 15. He was a police officer assigned to the town’s Youth Explorers program.
Investigators allege that Farwell’s actions led to the death of Birchmore’s unborn child, who was estimated to be eight to ten weeks gestational age at the time of her death.
Court documents describe a coercive relationship in which Farwell allegedly agreed to impregnate Birchmore in late 2020 to deter her from disclosing details about their relationship. Birchmore reportedly expressed happiness and anticipation over her pregnancy, scheduling doctor’s appointments, ordering baby items, and planning a Valentine’s Day announcement.
Farwell allegedly responded to her pregnancy news by calling her “the worst person on the face of the earth,” according to prosecutors.
The charge of causing the death of an unborn child under 18 U.S.C. §1841 carries a mandatory life sentence if convicted.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and FBI Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks announced the indictment on Tuesday. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Riley, Torey B. Cummings, and Brian A. Fogerty of the Human Trafficking and Civil Rights Unit.
