BOSTON – A former Stoughton, Mass. police officer has been charged in federal courtroom in Boston with allegedly murdering a younger lady to forestall her from disclosing details about his longstanding sexual exploitation of her whereas he was on obligation, starting when she was a minor.
Matthew Farwell, 38, of North Easton, Mass., has been indicted on one depend of killing a witness or sufferer. Farwell was arrested this morning and can make an preliminary look in federal courtroom in Boston at 2:30 p.m. at this time.
In accordance with the indictment, on or about Feb. 1, 2021, Farwell allegedly killed Sandra Birchmore by strangulation. It’s alleged that Farwell staged her physique and condo to make it seem as if Birchmore had dedicated suicide. The indictment alleges that Farwell killed Birchmore with the intent to forestall regulation enforcement from studying about Farwell’s fee or doable fee of federal offenses.
In accordance with courtroom paperwork, Farwell was a sworn officer of the Stoughton Police Division starting on or about March 27, 2012, till on or about April 1, 2022. In his capability as a police officer, Farwell served as an teacher for the Stoughton Police Division’s Explorer’s Program, which is a vocational training program designed for youth to find out about careers in regulation enforcement. Sandra Birchmore joined the Stoughton Explorers Program in 2010, when she was 12 years previous. Farwell allegedly used his authority and entry to groom, sexually exploit and in the end sexually abuse Birchmore when she was 15 years previous and continued to have intercourse together with her when she grew to become an grownup.
On a number of events, Farwell allegedly engaged in intercourse acts with Birchmore whereas on obligation as a Stoughton police officer. To hide this exercise, it’s alleged that Farwell falsely represented that he had labored sure hours, when in reality he was not working however participating in intercourse acts with the then-minor sufferer. Farwell’s sexual contact with Birchmore continued till her dying on Feb. 1, 2021.
In December 2020, Birchmore realized that she was pregnant. In accordance with courtroom paperwork, she was excited concerning the being pregnant: scheduling medical doctors’ appointments, buying objects for childcare and telling family members how glad she was to turn out to be a mom. Quickly after she realized she was pregnant, Birchmore instructed Farwell that he was the daddy of the kid and that she anticipated him to be concerned, at the least partly, within the baby’s life. Birchmore disclosed to family members that Farwell allegedly grew to become violent together with her once they mentioned the being pregnant and his position within the baby’s life. At one level whereas she was pregnant, Farwell allegedly held Birchmore in a headlock and instructed her that he wished she had been useless.
On or about Jan. 20, 2021, Birchmore’s pal known as the Stoughton Police Division and referenced Farwell and Birchmore’s sexual relationship. Upon studying this, Farwell allegedly then despatched Birchmore offended textual content messages and, a couple of days later – roughly one week previous to Birchmore’s dying – Farwell visited Birchmore at her condo in Canton and requested her if she may give him a spare condo key and hold it a secret. It’s additional alleged that one week previous to her dying, Farwell visited Birchmore’s condo and started wanting by way of her closets and loo, conduct which made her uncomfortable. The courtroom paperwork allege that, on Feb. 1, 2021, going through perceived imminent disclosure of his prison conduct, Farwell murdered Birchmore to silence her.
In accordance with courtroom paperwork, whereas Birchmore’s dying was initially dominated a suicide, the federal investigation probed previous proof and revealed important new proof resulting in the cost towards Farwell.
The cost of killing a witness or sufferer carries a compulsory sentence of dying or life in jail. Sentences are imposed by a federal district courtroom decide primarily based upon the U.S. Sentencing Pointers and statutes which govern the dedication of a sentence in a prison case.
Appearing United States Lawyer Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Particular Agent in Cost of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement at this time. The Massachusetts Lawyer Basic’s Workplace, Massachusetts State Police, Stoughton Police Division and Norfolk District Lawyer’s Workplace supplied help within the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Riley, Torey B. Cummings and Brian A. Fogerty of the workplace’s Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit are prosecuting the case.
The main points contained within the charging paperwork are allegations. The defendant is presumed harmless until and till confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt in a courtroom of regulation.