Robert C. Devine, then a deputy chief in Stoughton led the department’s youth program since early 2000, the Stoughton Police Explorers Program.

2005 Sandra Birchmore attends the Respect Program at the age of 8.

2006 Sandra attends a 14-week Strengthening Program for high-risk families.

In 2010 Robert Devine brought in former Explorers Matthew Farwell and his twin brother, William, as guest instructors, the same year Sandra tried to join Youth Explorers program in March, 2010 when she was 12 but was on the stand-by list for the program, She began participating in the program in the spring of 2010.

2011 Sandra Birchmore was Freshman of high school when she began meeting with Matthew Farwell at the library so he could help her with homework.

on October 28, 2012 Matthew Farwell sent Birchmore a Facebook “friend request”

Matt and Billy Farwell are twin brothers and former Stoughton High School students who went through the same program Sandra did with Robert Devine 12 years earlier.

2013 Sandra began using a journal describing her relationship with Farwell. Matthew Farwell reportedly began an inappropriate physical relationship with Sandra Birchmore when she was 15, which is considered statutory rape under Massachusetts law. 

Birchmore’s journal entries from 2013 detail a continuous and sometimes violent sexual relationship with Farwell. Birchmore often journaled about Matthew Farwell using sex acts to punish her. According to her journal entries, Matthew Farwell would engage in forceful sex acts to punish her for her mistakes such as getting bad grades and failing to share her cell phone location with him.

February 1 at 9:14 PM Surveillance footage showed Matthew Farwell entering 3307 Windsor Woods Way. Sandra Birchmore’s building on February 1 at 9:14 PM wearing a face mask, despite witnesses stating he typically refused to wear face masks during the pandemic.

On February 4, 2021, school officials contacted the School Resource Officer to check on Sandra Birchmore, who had missed a few days of work. Officers Cotard, Brady, and Yeaton responded to 3307 Windsor Woods Way to make contact with Sandra. When they arrived, no one answered the door.

Sandra’s vehicle was in the apartment complex parking lot, covered in snow and had not been moved since the snowfall on Monday, 2/1/21.

The officers spoke with a property manager, who provided a key to access the apartment. At 11:46 AM, Officers found Sandra in the bedroom, deceased with a black strap around her neck, tied to the bedroom closet door. Sandra was 10 weeks pregnant and The cause of death was determined to be suicide.

Video from the apartment complex showed a man entering the lobby of Sandra’s building. Detectives learned from maintenance worker Michael that the person in the video looked like the man who helped Sandra move into her apartment. It was later revealed that Sandra had been victimized by three police officers who were part of the Explorer program and the man in the video was Detective Matthew Farwell

On Thursday, February 6, 2021,1 Officer Cotard, was working in the capacity of the School Resource Officer (herein referred to as SRO) at Canton High School. At approx 9:45am, I was contacted directly via cell phone from Sharon Police Officer Michael Hocking (SRO of Sharon Public Schools) who requested my assistance on performing a well-being check on a female staff member of Sharon Public Schools who has not been arriving to work or seen/heard from in several days.

Officer Hocking advised me that BIRCHMORE, Sandra Marie works as an Instructional Assistant at East Middle School in Sharon and the school Administration contacted him because Ms. BIRCHMORE has not come to work in days, is not responding when they tried to contact her, and they could not get in touch with the emergency contact that they had on file. The last known address that Officer Hocking had for Ms. BIRCHMORE was 3 Windsor Woods Lane in Canton (Canton Woods Apartments). Knowing that this place was a large apartment/condo complex, I asked Officer Hocking if there was a specific known apartment number for Ms. BIRCHMORE and he responded in the negative. This was all the information Officer Hocking was able to provide me about Ms. BIRCHMORE.

At this time, I advised Officer Hocking that I would go to the Canton Woods leasing office and attempt to verify if Ms. BIRCHMORE is in fact a resident. If confirmed, I would conduct a well-being check on the residence. With this information I contacted Sgt Lank and advised him of the information I received and that I would be responding to Canton Woods.

At approx. 10:45am, assisting SRO Brady and I spoke with the Canton Woods Property Manager, PORTER, Erin and confirmed that Ms. BIRCHMORE is a resident in apartment number 3307. We asked Ms. PORTER if she had seen or spoke with Ms. BIRCHMORE recently and she advised us that she has not seen or heard from her in several days. Ms. PORTER did advise us that she was told by someone within the building that ” asked Ms. PORTER if she could try to contact Ms. BIRCHMORE with the contact number that she had on file for her. Ms. PORTER attempted two times to contact Ms. BIRCHMORE’s cell phone but she advised us that the call was going directly to her voicemail. I advised Ms. PORTER that we would attempt to make contact with Ms. BIRCHMORE at her apartment.

At approx. 11:00am, SRO Brady and I knocked and announce our presence on the door of Ms. BIRCHMORE for several minutes but did not receive a response. At this time, I contacted Sgt. Lank and advised him of the current situation. Sgt. Lank stated that we should try to locate her vehicle in the parking lot and if located, then we will make entry into the apartment. Sgt. Lank advised us to look for vehicle: MA Reg 1YGB66 – 2018, Chevy Cruz, Sedan, Color – Blue. I located the vehicle outside of building 3 and radioed into dispatch that I located her vehicle. Officer Brady and I visually inspected the vehicle and noticed that there was snow still on and around the vehicle that appeared undisturbed. The reader should note that the last time it snowed was on Monday, February 1, 2021 into Tuesday, February 2, 2021. We also noticed her Sharon Public School identification card hanging from the rearview mirror with her name and picture on it.

I requested for a uniform officer to the scene and was able to obtain keys for the apartment from Ms. PORTER. A short time later, Officer Yeaton arrived on scene and we all made are way back to Ms. BIRCHMORE’s apartment 3307. Again, I knocked and announced our presence at the door several times with no response. With the key, all Officer’s on scene made entry into the apartment and immediately noticed that the apartment was disheveled and unkept with two house cats running around the apartment when we made entry. I first entered the bathroom (open door, lights off) and rendered that area safe. I then entered the bedroom of the apartment (I opened the closed door, lights off) and noticed Ms. BIRCHMORE seated on the floor, with some sort of belt/lanyard string/rope secured tightly around her neck, that was secured to the door handle of the bedroom closet, deceased. It was immediately apparent to this officer that Ms. BIRCHMORE was deceased as I noticed lividity about the skin/face, and rigor about the body’s extremities. I also noticed a large pooling of dried blood around the mouth. After locating the body, I exited the bedroom and 1(documentation) and 1

At this time, Officer Yeaton contacted the Canton Police Station and advised them of our discoveiy. After discovering the body, we were advised by Sgt, Lank and Det. McCourt to exit the apartment and secure the scene for processing. He also requested for the Medical Examiner’s Office, the MA State Police CP AC, and Crime Scene Investigation to respond to the scene. Sgt. Lank and Det. McCourt arrived on scene and made entrance into the apartment. A short time later Troopers Kevin Tufts, Trooper Matt Dunn, and Kevin Clark arrived in scene to begin processing. I cleared from the scene a short time after.

contacted Officer Hocking via cell phone and advised him of my discovery. He stated that he would pass the information along to school Administration once I confirm with him that next of kin has been notified. He advised me that Ms. BIRCHMORE was also at one point, a staff member/teacher with Stoughton Public Schools and that he contacted Officer Sheanna Isabele (SRO Stoughton Public Schools) about Ms. BIRCHMORE earlier for contact information before contacting me. I advised him that I would reach out to her for information.

I contacted and spoke to Officer Isabelle via cell phone and advised her of the situation. She advised me that she was very familiar with Ms. BIRCHMORE and shared with me that she was a former graduate of and employee at Stoughton High School.

She stated that the Stoughton Patrol Officers has responded to her previous address of < Ave Stoughton) ……s. Officer Isabelle stated that Ms. BIRCHMORE …..

She also advised me that Ms. BIRCHMORE’s mother and grandmother recently passed away and that her aunt SMITH, Darlene would be a good person to contact for next of kin. I thanked her for the information and advised her that I would contact her once Ms. BIRCHMORE’s next of kin was notified so she could notify Stoughton Public schools Administration on the matter.

At this time, this case/investigation remains open and this report will be kept on file at the Canton Police Department pending further departmental action.

I was greeted in the lobby entrance by Officer Mike Brady and Officer Ensley Cotard, as well as Property Manager Erin Porter, who provided the key for us to gain entrance to 3307 Windsor Woods Way, Canton.

The call originated for a well-being check from Sharon Public Schools, and they contacted Sharon Officer Mike Hocking, as a teacher, BIRCHMORE, SANDRA has not shown up for work or called in sick for several days.

Officer Cotard and I entered the dwelling, and observed two cats in the apartment and noticed the conditions were cluttered and unkept, and noticed the bedroom door was closed. Officer Cotard opened the door, and we observed a young female in a seated position on the floor, with a scarf around her neck and tightly affixed to the closet door handle. Due to the discoloration in skin (blue) and lividity, and appeared that the female had been there for a long period of time.

Sgt. Mike Lank (Shift Supervisor) radioed to secure the scene immediately, while en route to the residence. Sgt. Lank directed us to secure the scene and Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office (C.P.A.C.) was notified and advised that they would be responding to the residence.

Sgt. Lank and Det. Jonathan McCourt arrived a short time later and Officer Brady, Officer Cotard and I stayed outside the apartment and Sgt. Lank and Det. McCourt entered the apartment in an attempt to gather information and proper identification of the victim.

Sgt. Lank requested Canton Fire/EMS to respond to our location. FF/Paramedic Daniel Whitley arrived and pronounced Sandra Birchmore deceased at 11:46 a.m. No life-saving measures were taken at that time.

Trooper Mike Dunn from Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office (C.P.A.C.) arrived on scene, as well as Trooper Zach Clark from Crime Scene Services to process and photograph the scene.

12:44 p.m., I received a call from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts officer of the Medical Examiners, and spoke with Intake Specialist Mercedes Robinson, and after gathering pertinent information, the ME’s office accepted jurisdiction and will be responding. Case #2021-2032 assigned.

Trooper Dunn requested next of kin to be contacted and respond to the residence, for questioning. Stoughton Police Department notified and assisting with making contact. Darlene Smith, who is the aunt of the deceased, was not home when Stoughton attempted notification.

She contacted the Canton police moments later by phone and was notified of the deceased by Officer Nix. Smith was currently in New Hampshire and unable to respond to the scene. Her contact information was provided to Trooper Dunn.

Sgt. Lank was able to access video footage with the assistance from Property Management. The victim was last seen on camera entering the building on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 4:41 p.m. Report

On February 4, 2021, at approximately 11:09 a.m., I responded to 3307 Canton Woods for a well-being check of a female party, later identified as BIRCHMORE, SANDRA.

Upon my arrival, I spoke to the first responding officer’s on scene, Officer Yeaton, Officer Cotard, and Officer Brady. I was informed the party was deceased and had hanged herself. I had the officers wait outside the apartment as I made entry.

BIRCHMORE was located in the bedroom, in a seated position on the floor, with a dark colored strap around her neck.

The strap was tied to the door handle of the bedroom closet. Obvious signs of lividity had set in BIRCHMORE’s face, hands and abdominal area. There was no visible trauma to the head, or defensive abrasions on the hands.

The bedroom along with the apartment was unorganized and unkept. No signs of a struggle were observed in the bedroom or the apartment.

On the kitchen counter of the apartment, in plain view, sonogram with Sandra;s name…….Redacted

Sgt. Lank arrived shortly after my arrival. Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office (CPAC), the Medical Examiner’s Office, and Canton Fire all were notified.

Canton Fire Fighter Whitley arrived on scene and pronounced BIRCHMORE deceased. FF Whitley informed me that he believes BIRCHMORE was deceased for a few days.

Trooper Matt Dunne and Trooper Kevin Tufts arrived from CPAC. Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene was present as well. Troopers processed and photographed the scene.

Once the Troopers were finished processing the scene, Chris Adams and Caitlyn Bulger of the Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the body.

After the body was removed, and CPAC and the Medical Examiner’s Office cleared, I located additional the bedroom closet in a cardboard box.

Prior to clearing the scene, Officer Brady and I had animal control take custody of the two cats in the apartment. Officer Brady locked the door once we cleared.

The apartment contained two cats, and the conditions were cluttered and unkept. The bedroom door was closed, and when opened, revealed a desk lamp and colored Christmas lights around the window, both of which were turned on. The bed was unmade, with a sheet over the mattress and an exposed box spring. Sandra’s eyeglasses were found on the bed, and among the scattered items in the bedroom was a US Army ACU-pattern duffel bag.

Sandra was discovered in a seated position on the floor, with a scarf tightly affixed around her neck and secured to the closet door handle. Another officer noted that the strap was tied to the bedroom closet’s door handle. There were no visible signs of trauma to the head or defensive abrasions on her hands. However, Officer Ensley Cotard observed a large pooling of dried blood around her mouth. The skin discoloration (blue) and lividity indicated that she had been deceased for an extended period.

Sandra’ cell phone was on the floor located approximately 12 inches from her right hand and 6 inches from her bent right knee.

Sandra Birchmore was wearing the same clothing that she wore when she was seen on video entering her apartment on February 1, 2021, at 5:30 p.m.

• There were two cats in the apartment
• There was a kitchenette immediately upon entry, toward the left side. There was a living room area directly in front of the entrance way, a short hallway that led directly to the bathroom, and the single bedroom was to the left side of the hallway.
• The countertops in the kitchenette were almost entirely covered with personal items to include postal correspondence, junk mail, medication. and trash and an ultrasound photograph Birchmore’s name and date of birth were printed on the ultrasound..
• the conditions of the apartment were cluttered and unkept, the living room area. Officers noted trash and clumps of cat fur on the carpet indicating that it had not been cleaned or vacuumed in some time. There was debris. trash and personal effects on virtually every horizontal surface in the living room area. There were two glass end tables, a dining room table, a glass coffee table, a couch, and a television stand with a television. There was a nook area that contained two recliners side by side, which were both covered on top and in front with personal effects and boxes.
• the bedroom door was closed once door was opened There was a desk lamp turned on and color Christmas lights around the window that were also on. The room was cluttered and untidy in the same manner as the kitchenette and living room, with items covering the desk and a plastic storage table with drawers. There was an unmade bed with a sheet over the mattress and an exposed box spring. Sandra’s eyeglasses were on top of the bed. Among the scattered items inside the bedroom, they found a US Army ACU-pattern duffel bag.

Responding Officers: Officer Cotard, Officer Brady, Officer Yeaton, Sergeant Michael Lank, of the Canton Police Dept. Detective McCourt, Trooper Tufts, Trooper Dunn.

Medical Examiner Office: Chris Adams and Caitlyn Bulger of the Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the body. Report

How the body was found:

• Sandra was in a seated position on the floor, with a scarf around her neck and tightly affixed to the closet door handle. Note: Different statements are made by first responders.
  
• Other officer: The strap was tied to the door handle of the bedroom closet.
• There was no visible trauma to the head, or defensive abrasions on the hands
• According to Ensley Cotard: He noticed a large pooling of dried blood around the mouth.
• Due to the discoloration in skin (blue) and lividity, and appeared that the female had been there for a long period of time
• Birchmore’s cell phone was on the floor, approximately 12 inches from her right hand and 6 inches from her right knee.
• Chris Adams and Caitlyn Bulger of the Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the body.

Cell Phone

On February 1, 2021, Sandra’ cell phone was on the floor located approximately 12 inches from her right hand and 6 inches from her bent right knee. 9:18 PM Phone was locked, Sandra Birchmore’s phone recorded a screenshot of a black screen. In other words, after sending a final text message to Matthew Farwell to tell him the door was unlocked, Birchmore’s phone locked and was not unlocked until after the device was recovered by police.

• On February 1, 2021, at 12:19 p.m., Birchmore sent Matthew Farwell text messages indicating that she was going to be released early at 12:35 p.m. from her job at the Sharon Public Schools. Matthew Farwell told her that he would not be in the area that day.
• 7:57 p.m. Birchmore texted a friend to obtain baby clothes from her
• 9:00 PM Sandra spoke with a coworker on the phone.
• 9:03 PM that evening, she sent a message via Snapchat to inquire about a work schedule.
• 9:08 p.m Matthew Farwell sent Birchmore a text message asking whether he could “come by for a second.”
• February 1, 2021 9:10 p.m., Sandra Birchmore sent Matthew Farwell a text message indicating that when he arrived at her apartment, the door would be open for him. This is the last known outgoing message sent from Sandra’s cell phone.
• February 1, 2021 9:13 p.m Sandra’s phone was locked
• February 1, 2021 9:14 PM Surveillance footage showed Matthew Farwell entering 3307 Windsor Woods Way
• February 1, 2021 9:28 PM The Coworker replied to Sandra, but she never opened a message, which was unusual for Sandra not to open.
• February 1, 2021 9:40 p.m Sandra’s phone registered eight steps. It was the last movement of her phone and Farwell was still in the apartment.
• February 1, 2021 9:43 PM Matthew Farwell Exit Sandra’s Apartment.
  
• February 3, 2021 device powered off because of battery loss

Health data on Sandra Birchmore’s phone indicates that the last movement recorded by the phone:

on February 1, 2021, 9:40 p.m last movement recorded by Sandra’s Phone. That was 3 minutes before Matthew Farwell was captured on surveillance video at 9:43 PM leaving Birchmore’s apartment.

Note: These recorded steps occurred while Matthew Farwell was still in Sandra Birchmore’s apartment. This data indicates that the mechanism that Apple uses to record movement registered eight steps at approximately 9:40 p.m.The phone recorded no additional steps between 9:40 p.m. and the time it was recovered by first responders on February 4, 2021.

After leaving Sandra, Matthew Farwell drove to Newton-Wellesley Hospital, situated in a wealthy suburb 12 miles outside of Boston. It was at this hospital, on February 2nd, 2021, at 9:25 a.m., that Michelle Farwell gave birth to a son.

Surveillance footage from Birchmore’s apartment complex captured Matthew Farwell entering her building and exiting 28 minutes later.

Afterward, Farwell drove to Newton-Welles Hospital, located 12 miles outside of Boston. At this hospital, on February 2, 2021, at 9:25 a.m., Michelle Farwell gave birth to their son.

First Autopsy

First Autopsy was performed by  Maria Del Mar Capo Martinez, MD.

May 2021, The Medical Examiner’s written autopsy report noted that Birchmore’s hyoid bone (a U-shaped bone at the front of the neck) was fractured on the right side and that she suffered from petechial hemorrhages of the bulbar and palpebral conjunctivae. Additionally, the Medical Examiner concluded that Birchmore had a hemorrhage of her left sternothyroid muscle.

• killed herself by hanging, according to her  death certificate
• The Medical Examiner determined that Birchmore’s cause of death was asphyxia by hanging.
• The Medical Examiner ruled Birchmore’s manner of death a suicide.
• The Medical Examiner’s autopsy report further confirmed that Birchmore was approximately 8 to 10 weeks pregnant at the time of her death.
• The autopsy included toxicology testing. The results of the toxicology tests were negative for all substances except for sertraline, which was likely explained by the antidepressants Birchmore had been prescribed.

Second Autopsy

Former NY City medical examiner Dr. Michael Baden in a June 18 letter to a lawyer for Birchmore’s estate wrote. 

“Ms. Birchmore did not die of suicidal hanging … The cause of Ms. Birchmore’s death is ‘Strangulation’ and the manner of death is ‘Homicide.’”

Baden said the extent of Birchmore’s injuries, as well as the placement of a ligature found on her body, were among the reasons for his determination.

He noted that Birchmore had suffered a fracture to a small U-shape bone in the neck, known as the hyoid bone, which fractures “rarely, if at all, in suicidal hanging” but does in “half of homicidal strangulation of women.”

The three Stoughton police officers — Matthew Farwell, his brother William Farwell, and Robert Devine — are accused of abusing and exploiting Birchmore for a decade after meeting her when she enrolled in the department’s Explorer youth program when she was 13 in 2010.

In the wake of Birchmore’s death, an internal Stoughton Police Department probe found that Matthew Farwell had allegedly started sexually abusing her when she was 15.

Third Autopsy 

As part of this investigation, the government retained Dr. William Smock as an expert to independently review the crime scene photos, autopsy photos, and the Medical Examiner’s autopsy report. Dr. Smock is an emergency medicine residency and forensics.

The Medical Examiner’s autopsy report further confirmed that Birchmore was approximately 8 to 10 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. The autopsy included toxicology testing. The results of the toxicology tests were negative for all substances except for sertraline, which was likely explained by the antidepressants Birchmore had been prescribed.

Dr. Smock has made several observations and conclusions that call into question the prior finding that Birchmore’s cause of death was suicide and instead further  confirm that Birchmore’s cause of death was homicide.

Dr. Smock concluded that the fracture of the right superior horn of Birchmore’s hyoid bone is not consistent with the position in which first responders found her: sitting. A sitting hanging is called “an incomplete hanging,” meaning only partial body weight is applied to the neck ligature.

Dr. Smock noted that, during the autopsy, a pattern imprint was documented on Birchmore’s right upper chest. The pattern imprint was the consequence of a buckle or buckles from the ligature strap being forced downward into Ms. Birchmore’s chest. When first responders found Birchmore’s body, the buckle responsible for this imprint was observed just below her right ear. However,  the location of the imprint on her chest is not consistent with an incomplete ligature hanging.

Dr. Smock reviewed the autopsy photos that depict Birchmore with areas of skin missing from the inferior and lateral aspects of her nose consistent with abrasions. These types of injuries are commonly seen in cases of  suffocation when the victim moves their nose back and forth in an effort to breathe.

Dr. Smock noted that Birchmore was in the habit of always wearing a chain necklace with a flamingo pendant. The chain was found broken around Birchmore’s neck. The breaking of Birchmore’s chain necklace is consistent with a struggle.

Autopsy Findings:

• hyoid bone is not consistent with the position in which first responders found Sandra
• The pattern imprint was the consequence of a buckle or buckles from the ligature strap being forced downward into Ms. Birchmore’s chest. When first responders found Birchmore’s body, the buckle responsible for this imprint was observed just below her right ear.
• skin missing from the inferior and lateral aspects of her nose consistent with abrasions. These types of injuries are commonly seen in cases of  suffocation when the victim moves their nose back and forth in an effort to breathe.
• chain was found broken around Birchmore’s neck. The breaking of Birchmore’s chain necklace is consistent with a struggle.

Investigators found text messages showing the sexual relationship continued for years. 

Farwell had sex with Birchmore when she was 15, and couldn’t legally consent, according to the federal indictment. Farwell had previously told investigators that he first had sex with Birchmore seven years later, in 2020, but the evidence found that was a lie. 

Matthew Farwell tracked Birchmore’s phone location, punished her with violent sex acts for perceived misbehavior and became angry when Sandra’s friend informed the police department of their relationship.

n the Fall of 2019 Sandra Birchmore met Joshua Heal when she came to the shelter to adopt a cat. They became friends and later engaged in a consensual sex act once after working hours at the animal shelter. Sandra started to confide in him about intimate details of her life including her relationship with Farwell brothers and Devine.. According to Joshua, they engaged in a consensual sex act once after working hours at the animal. Joshua Heal is friends with Sandra on Facebook

October 12, 2019 Sandra lost her favorite aunt Alice.

On May 19, 2020, the police were called to Sandra Birchmore’s home for a well-being check. A dispatcher informed the officers that Birchmore was expressing a desire to harm herself, according to police radio call recordings. According to police records and information disclosed by a friend, on that day, Birchmore had gotten into a fight with a family member, who called the police and reported Birchmore was going to harm herself. The police took Birchmore to the hospital, where she was evaluated and deemed not at risk for self-harm. She was released a few hours later.

In September 2020, Sandra applied for housing and secured her own place.

In October 2020, she started working at East Elementary School in Sharon, she moved out of her aunt’s place and into an apartment with the assistance of Matthew Farwell.

On October 5, 2020, Joshua Heal told Sandra Birchmore that Matthew Farwell’s wife was pregnant with the couple’s third child. Joshua Heal indicated that the baby was due in February 2021. Sandra Birchmore responded that she was going to tell Matthew Farwell’s wife that he had been having sex with her (Birchmore) for nearly ten years.

October 12, 2020 Birchmore presented Matthew Farwell with an ultimatum: He would have to agree to engage in unprotected sex with Birchmore with the goal of conceiving a child; and in return, Birchmore would not disclose their relationship. But Birchmore had already told others that Matthew Farwell had been having sex with her since before she was 16 years old, which she knew was a crime, and Birchmore knew that Farwell was leaving work to have sex with her while he was on duty as a Stoughton police officer.

December 2020 Birchmore was pregnant and believed Farwell was the father since he had agreed to impregnate her as part of a deal they made for Birchmore to stay quiet about their relationship. Sandra told Farwell about the pregnancy, and he became angry, and said “he wished she just would die and he wants nothing to do with the baby,”.

January 8, 2021 – Sandra Birchmore meet with Matthew Farwell at her apartment to discuss the pregnancy, they ended up arguing, Farwell has pushed her and shoved her and put her in a choke hold,and Sandra kicked him out of her apartment.

January 20, 2021 Sandra’s friend is angry with Sandra because Sandra had owed her the money for a couple months. She called the Stoughton Police and informed them about the monetary dispute, and was advised that this was a civil matter. She became upset and responded to the officer on phone by insinuating that the Stoughton officer or detective that Birchmore is engaged in a sexual relationship with Matthew Farwell and should tell her to pay back the money she owes. Matthew sent Birchmore text messages revealing his extreme anger. He sent her a series of text messages with expletives, telling Birchmore that he thought no one knew about their relationship, that she had no clue how bad this was, and indicating that he does not know if he needs to worry about other disclosures.

January 21, 2021 Sandra called her friend and told her that she didn’t respond to her because she had hit her head on her car door and then again on the pavement and had to go to the hospital.

January 24, 2021, Matthew Farwell request for a key for Birchmore’s apartment in which Sandra gave him the pass code to her building’s front door and told him, “I have your key too when you want it”. The same day Sandra Birchmore paid $2.00 to have a key copied at a11:10 a.m.

January 29, 2021, Matthew Farewell asked Sandra if the code was the general one given to the entire building, not just one assigned to her.

On January 30, 2021, Birchmore asked Farwell if she could share the baby names she was considering. Farwell responded he would prefer to discuss the topic in person.

January 31, 202 Sandra saw a Therapist. During this session, she was screened for depression and suicidal ideation and Therapist concluced no signs of depression or suicidal ideation.

Matthew Farwell brought her the ginger ale she had asked for that night in January. Birchmore texted her friend: He was coming around to the idea of being a dad to the child they’d have together. He opened her closet door and looked in her bathroom, and she didn’t know why. “That’s weird,” her friend texted. “Yeah, it was really weird,” she responded.

Eight days later, Birchmore was found dead in her apartment, hanging from the door handle of her bedroom closet. The medical examiner ruled her death a suicide. Prosecutors allege the night Farwell brought Birchmore ginger ale, he was actually planning to kill her and was scoping her apartment for ways to stage her death as a suicide.

The day of Sandra’s Death

On February 1, 2021, at 12:19 p.m., Birchmore sent Matthew Farwell text messages indicating that she was going to be released early (at 12:35 p.m.) from her job at the Sharon Public Schools. Matthew Farwell told her that he would not be in the area that day. once home Sandra Birchmore ordered baby items. She used her computer,

1:25p.m. She planned for newborn baby photos, an official pregnancy announcement, which she planned to do on Valentine’s Day, as well as a gender reveal. She also made plans for her more immediate future, scheduling an OBGYN appointment for February 10, 2021, and asking Matthew Farwell to help shovel out her car during the impending snowstorm.

• 5:01 p.m., Sandra received a DoorDash order, and then went outside briefly and returning with a snow brush at 5:31 p.m, and 5:33 p.m. The last time Birchmore is seen alive on the video is on February 1, 2021, at 5:33 p.m.
• Sandra was doing laundry – she has a load of wet clothes in the washing machine and another load dry in the dryer.
  
• 7:57 p.m. Birchmore texted a friend to obtain baby clothes from her
• 8:25 p.m Birchmore performed a Google search for “Cubby Kids” furniture
  
• 9:00 PM Sandra spoke with a coworker on the phone.
• 9:03 PM that evening, she sent a message via Snapchat to inquire about a work schedule.
• 9:08 p.m Matthew Farwell sent Birchmore a text message asking whether he could “come by for a second.”
• 9:10 p.m., Birchmore sent Matthew Farwell a text message indicating that when he arrived at her apartment, the door would be open for him. This is the last known outgoing message sent from Sandra’s cell phone.
• At around 9:14 PM, Matthew Farwell was seen entering Sandra’s apartment building. Sandra’s coworker replied to the Snapchat message at 9:28 PM, but Sandra did not open the message. 
  
• Matthew Farwell was seen exiting Sandra’s lobby at 9:43 PM.

As part of this investigation, the government retained Dr. William Smock as an expert to independently review the crime scene photos, autopsy photos, and the Medical Examiner’s autopsy report. Dr. Smock is an emergency medicine residency and forensic

The Medical Examiner’s autopsy report further confirmed that Birchmore was approximately 8 to 10 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. The autopsy included toxicology testing. The results of the toxicology tests were negative for all substances except for sertraline, which was likely explained by the antidepressants Birchmore had been prescribed.

Dr. Smock has made several observations and conclusions that call into question the prior finding that Birchmore’s cause of death was suicide and instead further   confirm that Birchmore’s cause of death was homicide.

Dr. Smock concluded that the fracture of the right superior horn of Sandra Birchmore’s hyoid bone is not consistent with the position in which first responders found her: sitting. A sitting hanging is called “an incomplete hanging,” meaning only partial body weight is applied to the neck ligature.

Dr. Smock noted that, during the autopsy, a pattern imprint was documented on Birchmore’s right upper chest. The pattern imprint was the consequence of a buckle or buckles from the ligature strap being forced downward into Ms. Birchmore’s chest. When first responders found Birchmore’s body, the buckle responsible for this imprint was observed just below her right ear. However,   the location of the imprint on her chest is not consistent with an incomplete ligature hanging.

Dr. Smock reviewed the autopsy photos that depict Birchmore with areas of skin missing from the inferior and lateral aspects of her nose consistent with abrasions. These types of injuries are commonly seen in cases of  suffocation when the victim moves their nose back and forth in an effort to breathe.

Dr. Smock noted that Birchmore was in the habit of always wearing a chain necklace with a flamingo pendant. The chain was found broken around Birchmore’s neck. The breaking of Birchmore’s chain necklace is consistent with a struggle.

April 26, 2021

Matthew Cell phone

Detectives received Matthew’s work cellphone data extraction, performed by Trooper Nick Guarino. The detective analyzed both of these phones and did not find any communication with Sandra Birchmore. Matt had said in a previous interview that he deleted all communications with Sandra.

Sandra’s laptop

Sandra’s laptop gave me access to approximately 12 months of iMessages, social media content, and other documents/databases. Matt and Sandra texted thousands of times over the year and communicated with Sandra’s many other friends and family. It was clear, based on texts with Matt, that he and Sandra had a sexual relationship, as he told us in his previous interview. Sandra communicated often with friends and family. It appeared that Sandra had sexual relationships with other men in the months leading up to her death. There were no threats of harm by any of these individuals, including Matt.

February 5, 2021 – Friday

1:08 PM – The detective spoke with Sandra’s aunt, who stated she was aware that Sandra Birchmore was pregnant and that the father of the baby was Matthew Farwell. Sandra had previously mentioned that she and Farwell had been talking through issues regarding Farwell signing the birth certificate. was asked if she was aware of any allegations or signs of abuse between Farwell and Birchmore, to which she stated she was not.

The same day on February 5, 2021 Deputy Chief Brian Holmes issued a serious directive, ordering a comprehensive internal investigation to determine any potential misconduct within the Stoughton Police Department.

3:10 PM: Matt Dunne and interviewed Matt Farwell at the Gibbons School (Stoughton) in the parking lot out front.

Matt said that sometime early in 2020, he began a sexual relationship with Sandra. He said that he was intoxicated one night and ended up meeting up with her and having sex. Matt said that he maybe had sex with her 2-3 since last year. He said that the last time they had sex was at the end of October 2020.

Matt said that sometime in December 2020, Sandra told him that she was pregnant and he was the father. Matt said that he was confident the last time he had sex with her and that the timeline didn’t add up based on her expected due date in September. Matt was adamant that he was not the father of the unborn child that Sandra was carrying at the time of her death.

On Monday, February 1, 2021, he went to Sandra’s apartment in Canton. He said that he asked her if he could come by, and she said no problem. Matt said that he intended to break everything off with Sandra. Matt said that he told Sandra that she was crazy and it was not his child. He said that Sandra told him that he was a dick” Matt said that he was straightforward in his conversation with her and told her that it was all over and he was blocking her from all forms of communication. Matt said that it was a pretty nasty argument, but they weren’t too loud. Matt said he kept telling Sandra that there was no way that he was the father based on her timeline. Matt said that he kept calm and was not trying to incite a fight. Matt said that Sandra was upset, but she did not make any suicidal statements at all. Matt said that he had left, and Sandra was standing in the kitchen when he walked out.

Matt said that he arrived around 9: 1 0pm and left around 9:30pm. (Video surveillance observed Matt entering and leaving Sandra’s building; the approximate time was 28 minutes.)

Matt said that when he left, he blocked Sandra on all communicated often with friends and family. It appeared that Sandra had sexual relationships with other men in the months leading up to her death. There were no threats of harm by any of these individuals, including Matt.

February 8, 2021

Detective Interviewed Sandra’s Closest Friend

They met in high school, and Birchmore was one academic year below her.

She and Birchmore would typically speak approximately three times a week and see one another in person one to two times per week. When asked how she and Birchmore would normally communicate, stated that Birchmore told her that she had kicked the baby’s father out of her apartment one time, approximately 2 or 3 weeks earlier, after the two had argued about the birth certificate issue. Stated that Birchmore had also told her about another verbal argument between the two. Birchmore told her that she and the baby’s father were still trying to figure out how to approach the situation regarding him signing the baby’s birth certificate. According to Birchmore, he would waver between being okay with signing it and then not.

Detective Interviewed Teacher and a friend

Birchmore would not necessarily get sad if something upset her; instead, she would tend to become aggressive and angry. She said she was never sure she could accept Birchmore’s word as true. For example, she was aware Birchmore would occasionally fabricate events. Therefore, she was leery of what Birchmore would tell her and what was actually true. She stated that recently, she had spoken with Birchmore less often due to the coronavirus pandemic. During this time, she described their communication as “spotty.”

In January 2021, Birchmore told her that she was pregnant. Birchmore stated that the father was a close friend” but did not mention a name. She said that she was not sure if Birchmore was telling the truth about the pregnancy at the time, given that she could not always believe Birchmore’s word.

On January 22, 2021 Birchmore told her she had already had several ultrasounds. Birchmore would share “drama” about the Stoughton Police with her, specifically mentioning how the chief was treating one specific officer unfairly

10:58AM – Interviewed Daniel J.

She last spoke with Birchmore on Sunday night, January 31. She checked her phone for the time, and after looking, they had actually spoken at 1 1:57 AM, and she had received a missed call from Birchmore at 7:16 PM on that day.

She stated that she met Birchmore last year. Around December or January, while taking classes at Massasoit. She stated that she and Birchmore spoke almost daily. According to Birchmore was approximately 12 weeks pregnant and planned to announce it publicly on February 14.

Birchmore had mentioned being involved in a court case due to a car crash she had been in.

Birchmore was upset that the baby’s father wanted to have his own kids with his wife. But not with her. When questioned about any signs or mention of abuse between the baby’s father and Birchmore, she stated that she knew he had raised his voice to Birchmore before, but “never anything more than that.”

Detective Interview, cousin of Sandra Birchmore’s mother.

She had seen Birchmore in person approximately two weeks ago, at which time they had spoken about her pregnancy.

She also stated that she believed the baby’s father had a key to Birchmore’s apartment. She stated that during her conversation with Birchmore, she brought up the topic of adoption; however, Birchmore stated she was not considering that an option. When questioned whether she ever said who the baby’s father was, she stated Birchmore never mentioned him by name.

She told Detectives that Birchmore had babysat for his children before, which she believed to have occurred somewhat recently. However, stated she could not really get much information out of Birchmore regarding her relationship with the baby’s father.

Detective Interviewed Sandra’s friend

she and her sister had breakfast with Birchmore, which turned into a long conversation. She stated that Birchmore was a member of the “respect program” at age 8 and later the junior officer program at age 13.

Birchmore began a relationship with Matt Farwell of the Stoughton Police Department at the age of 15. Birchmore had previously enlisted in the military at one point but had gotten kicked out, Birchmore was pressuring Matt Farwell to sign the baby’s birth certificate.

She further stated that Matt’s brother, Billy Farwell, had informed Matt’s wife about the affair.

Matt’s wife confronted him but he denied it. Birchmore had previously told that Matt Farwell’s wife knew about the affair.

Detective Interviewed a close friend of Birchmore

She had known Birchmore since they were 7 or 8 when they were involved in a program that helps mothers strengthen bonds with their children. They then played volleyball together from approximately ages 9 through 12. She stated she moved to a different school in Brookline around the 5″ to 6″ grade but remained living in Stoughton.

Over the years, she and Birchmore would lose touch for an extended period of time, then reconnect and occasionally communicate via social media or an occasional text message here or there. This continued into their late teens and early 20s. According to her, this past summer, she and Birchmore began interacting again.

Sandra asked her if she could move into her house. Birchmore had said at the time that she was having an issue with her aunt, who was selling the house where they were both living. She also stated that Birchmore did not trust her aunt with her cats and wanted her mother to look after them. Birchmore also asked to watch her cats and dog if she ended up going back into the military.

November or early December, she went to Birchmore’s apartment complex, where they hung out for approximately two hours outside the building. She then went back to Birchmore’s apartment a few days after that. Around December 12, Birchmore said that she was pregnant. She said that the baby’s father was a Stoughton detective, but she did not say his name. Birchmore said that she and the father are dating, but because he’s still married, they are not “official.” Birchmore had told her that the baby’s father was going to divorce his wife but can’t right now because of the coronavirus. Birchmore had told her that at the time she became pregnant, and told that her she used to babysit.

Birchmore asked if she was going to have a baby too and mentioned something about “baby fever.” Birchmore began avoiding certain foods when she began to suspect she was pregnant but pointed out this was before Birchmore ever even took a blood or urine pregnancy test.

Birchmore told her she had told the baby’s father about the pregnancy a few days after Christmas. Apparently, the father was upset about the pregnancy, and She then kicked him out of the apartment.

• Stated that Birchmore told her he had said, “I wish you would kill yourself’ or “l wish you were dead.”
• She wanted the baby to have the father’s last name and for the birth certificate to reflect that.
• She also wanted him in the delivery room when she gave birth.
• Birchmore had demanded that if he could be in the delivery room with his wife, then he could be in the delivery room with her.

Birchmore had told about a second meeting between her and the father of the baby to discuss the pregnancy. which occurred sometime around January 8″. According to Birchmore the father argued at this meeting as well.

Sandra had owed her the money for a couple of months, and eventually, she told Birchmore she needed some of it paid back.

January 16, 2021, stated that Birchmore responded by saying that she would send her $150 that night. After receiving no response from Birchmore, got irritated and asked her why she only stopped responding when she requested that Birchmore pay her back. Birchmore responded a few days later, stating that she didn’t respond because she had hit her head on her car door and then again on the pavement and had to go to the hospital

January 20″, she called the Stoughton Police and informed them about the monetary dispute. was advised that this was a civil matter. She stated that she became upset and responded to the officer on phone by insinuating that the Stoughton officer or detective that Birchmore is engaged in a sexual relationship with should tell her to pay back the money she owes. stated she then received a phone call from Birchmore not long after this took place.

Interview with ex-wife of Birchmore’s mother’s cousin

Birchmore had told her she was upset about her aunt selling the house. She stated that Birchmore “seemed down” and knew that the pregnancy was going to be an “uphill battle. Stated that she knew the father was a detective, has two children of his own, and that his wife is pregnant and due sometime in February. further stated that the father of the baby is a twin and Birchmore’s mother is a twin, so they had discussed the potential of Birchmore possibly being more likely to have twins. She said that she later spoke with Birchmore after an ultrasound and was told Birchmore was only pregnant with one child.

She just didn’t want the father’s wife to find out. Birchmore had told her that the father was willing to help with the pregnancy and the baby. She stated that she and Birchmore discussed the baby, but they also spoke about topics such as her plans for the baby, daycare, a baby shower, etc.

February 9, 2021

Detectives interviewed a friend of Birchmore when they were younger. She moved across the street from Birchmore’s house when she was about 4 years old and had known Birchmore, off and on, for about 17 years. She and Birchmore were very close between the ages of 4 and 12. She stated that until about a month ago, she had not spoken to Birchmore in approximately two years. Birchmore had reached out to her about a month ago out of the blue, stated that she was actually kind of surprised to hear from Birchmore. She stated that when they last spoke. they had left things “not necessarily on bad terms, but not great terms.”

They then spoke via Facetime for approximately two hours. During that conversation, Birchmore said that she was pregnant, but she was not sure who the father was. She said that she was sleeping with twin brothers. Sandra told her that Birchmore that one or both of the twins were cops. Birchmore never actually said the name of either party. Birchmore said that she wasn’t sure what to do and asked her for advice since she already had a child of her own.

When asked to elaborate on what Birchmore told her regarding the pregnancy, that Birchmore did not know who the father was due to a “time frame thing in which she was sexually active with more than one individual around the time she became pregnant. However. stated that Birchmore later told her that she knew who the father was and stated he was a cop. Birchmore told that he made a lot of money and it was an awkward situation because the father of the baby was married and Birchmore did not know what to do.

Sandra had told the father of the baby how much money he would have to pay per month once the baby was born. According to Birchmore told her that she would be demanding $4,000 per month from the baby’s father. plus an additional $3,000 for daycare. stated that Birchmore had already picked out a specific daycare center, the Creative World Children’s Learning Center in South Easton, MA, and noted that it was not even a month into her pregnancy when Birchmore told her all of this.

Birchmore told her that the baby’s father was in denial, saying that it was not his child. Birchmore told her that he did not seem happy about the pregnancy. further stated that Birchmore seemed set on having the baby alone if he was not going to be involved, and stated she did not need help. said Birchmore “seemed completely OK with that.”

stated she was aware that sometimes Birchmore would make up stories; however, she believed the information at the time, and it sounded real. then went on to state that she was aware there were various rumors going around Stoughton regarding Birchmore’s death, such as the death was a suicide, that a cop was involved, and that the death was suspicious with blood all over the walls in her apartment.

On February 9,2021 12pm, Detectives met with Matthew Farwell at the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office in Canton. Matthew gave consent to retrieve the data off his phone relative to the investigation into the death of Sandra Birchmore.

February 11, 2021, at 4:05pm

Trooper Matt Dunne interviewed William “Billy” Farwell (Matthew Fawell’s twin brother) in a parking lot at Cobbs Corner in Stoughton.

Billy said that he heard Sandra passed away on Friday. Billy said that he first met Sandra about ten years ago when Sandra was a Police Explorer in Stoughton and Billy was a guest instructor. The Police Explorer program is a junior academy program for high school-aged kids, exposing them to the different facets of law enforcement.

Billy said that he had not seen Sandra in a very long time probably since the Explorers program.

Billy became a Stoughton Police Officer in 2017. In 2018

Billy saw Sandra while he was working a paid detail in Stoughton. Billy said that Sandra remembered him but he didn’t really remember her that well.

Billy said that Sandra wanted to get into the Army and asked if he had any contacts. Billy, who still serves in the military, helped her contact recruiters.

Billy said that Sandra got into the Army but eventually got kicked out during boot camp.

Billy said that Sandra started constantly contacting him.

The last time he was in contact with Sandra was about two weeks ago via email.

Sandra told Billy that she had been accepted to nursing school.

Billy said that he had a sexual relationship with Sandra going back about two years. Billy said that in 2020, he had been with her sexually, maybe 2-3 times.

Billy said that the last time they were together was sometime in December of 2020. Sandra told Billy that she was pregnant and that the father was his brother Matt. Billy said he knew that he didn’t get her pregnant

February 12, 2021

Interview with a co-worker

stated that she has known Birchmore since elementary school. She stated that over time, she and Birchmore fell out of touch, but reconnected toward the end of high school around the time they were age 17 or 18 said that she and Birchmore attended volleyball open-court sessions in Stoughton around that time.

She stated that Birchmore told her that at one point after expressing he was unhappy about the pregnancy, an argument took place between the two. Birchmore told him that she was going to tell his wife and his job. stated that Birchmore was aware this would get him into trouble. The father of the child then got angry and took Birchmore’s phone from her. stated this was approximately two weeks prior to her being found deceased.

Birchmore said that she had been sleeping with a married man, and he was the father of the baby. She also said she had already bought a baby stroller. that said that Birchmore had wanted a family of her own, but she believed the baby’s father may not have wanted the pregnancy. According to Birchmore “wasn’t trying to not get pregnant.” When asked to elaborate, said that she believed Birchmore may have intentionally gotten pregnant

She stated that Birchmore told her that at one point after expressing he was unhappy about the pregnancy, an argument took place between the two. Birchmore told him that she was going to tell his wife and his job. stated that Birchmore was aware this would get him into trouble. The father of the child then got angry and took Birchmore’s phone from her. stated this was approximately two weeks prior to her being found deceased. Birchmore had also said that “he should leave his wife, he loves me” and that he loves her more than his wife.

Birchmore sent her a message via Snapchat at approximately 9:00 PM on Monday, February 1 about work the following day since they both worked for the Sharon school system. There had been a half-day on that day due to snow, and a remote half-day was scheduled for Tuesday, February 2″. Birchmore never opened the last Snapchat message she sent to Sandra answering a question at 9:28 PM on Monday, February 1.