Sandra Birchmore Death Investigation
Surveillance footage of Sandra Birchmore’s apartment complex, showing the last time she was seen alive and the last person to see her alive, Matthew Farwell, entering and leaving the building on February 1st, 2021.
Matthew Farwell told troopers he visited Birchmore’s apartment on the evening of Feb. 1, 2021, telling her that he wasn’t the father of her baby, records show. Birchmore was upset, Farwell told the troopers, but didn’t make “any suicidal statements.”
“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,” Fanning wrote.
Surveillance footage from Birchmore’s apartment complex showed Matthew Farwell entering her apartment building and then exiting 28 minutes later, State Police records show.
Video
First Autopsy
First Autopsy was performed by Maria Del Mar Capo Martinez, MD.
May 2021, the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that Birchmore, 23, a former participant in a Stoughton police youth program who was pregnant when she died: killed herself by hanging, according to her death certificate
2021 report, State Police Trooper Matthew Dunne described finding Birchmore’s body in her bedroom on Feb. 4, 2021.
- He said he found no indications of physical abuse or bruising, swelling, external trauma, or markings suggesting a struggle, the report said. Chris Adams and Caitlyn Bulger of the Medical Examiner’s Office took custody of the body.
- Swabs from Birchmore’s body, hair and fingernail clippings, and clothing she was wearing were taken for a sexual assault kit, was not tested.
May 2021, the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that Birchmore, 23, a former participant in a Stoughton police youth program who was pregnant when she died: killed herself by hanging, according to her death certificate
Upon entering the apartment, they located Birchmore apparently deceased, seated on the floor of the bedroom Canton Fire Dept. personnel responded. Birchmore was then determined to be deceased at approximately 11:46 AM by
Firefighter/paramedic Daniel Whitley.
Report
On Feb. 1, 2021, surveillance cameras captured Matthew Farwell arriving and then leaving Birchmore’s apartment building in Canton, and he was the last known person to see her alive, a Stoughton police internal affairs report
said. Birchmore’s body was found there three days later. During an interview on Feb. 6, 2021 with State Police, Farwell gave an account of his encounter with Birchmore at her apartment five days earlier.
Report
Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamarra results of an 18-month internal affairs investigation. Evidence uncovered in the investigation found that William Farwell had engaged in “multiple inappropriate physical encounters”
with Birchmore and had sent explicit messages and photos to the girl while he was on duty. “The investigation found that Matthew exploited Miss Birchmore when she was young,” McNamara said.
IAB Report
The town’s deputy police chief has been put on paid administrative leave following an internal investigation, but the chief says he can’t say why the No. 2 person in the department was suspended. October 20, 2014 flowers were delivered to Lisa Devine at her residence…
Report
September 23, 2022, Chief McNamara held a press conference with many media outlets in attendance. After extensive preparation, the Chief made a statement related to former members of the Stoughton Police Department who had been involved with the late Sandra Birchmore
Throughout your conversations with my client, and later with myself, you have indicated that you view him as a witness in your investigation. This is consistent with reality as Mr. Farewell has committed no crime. Like many,
he is saddened by Ms. Birchmore’s death. During our recent conversations, you asked Mr. Farewell to submit a DNA sample and participate in a polygraph interview. Although I appreciate your diligence, I advised my client
to decline these requests and the request for a further interview (not a polygraph) that accompanied them.
Letter
Brought by the Plaintiff, Darlene Smith as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Sandra Birchmore, (hereinafter referred to as “Plaintiff”), for wrongful death, negligence, negligent supervision, negligent retention,
pain and suffering, and emotional distress as against the Defendants, Matthew Farwell, William Farwell, Robert Devine, the Town of Stoughton, and the Stoughton Police Department for claims arising out of an ongoing scheme
of grooming Sandra Birchmore and misconduct that ultimately led to the loss of Ms. Birchmore’s life on
February 4, 2021
On February 1, 2021, then Stoughton Police Detective Matthew Farwell killed Sandra Birchmore.Matthew Farwell committed this murder, at least in part, to prevent Birchmore from disclosing to authorities information regarding his commission or possible commission of one or more crimes, including coercion and enticement in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b), deprivation of rights under color of law in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242, and a then-ongoing wire fraud scheme in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Matthew Farwell murder of Birchmore was the culmination of Matthew Farwell’s years-long pattern of abuse targeting Birchmore.
Matthew Farwell used his authority and access to groom, sexually exploit, and ultimately sexually abuse then-15-year-old Birchmore. Matthew Farwell continued this sexual abuse after Birchmore became an adult, and he continued to engage in an extramarital sexual relationship with Birchmore until he killed her on February 1, 2021.
Detective Matthew Farwell has been charged in connection with the death of Sandra Birchmore. He is accused of killing Birchmore “with malice aforethought, willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation” to prevent her from providing information to law enforcement regarding potential federal crimes. Matthew Farwell used his authority and access to groom, sexually exploit, and ultimately sexually abuse then-15-year-old Birchmore.
January 2021, Matthew Farwell faced the specter of additional disclosures to LE regarding his prior sexual abuse of Birchmore and his then-ongoing efforts to defraud the Stoughton Police Department.
On February 1, 2021, Matthew Farwell went to Birchmore’s apartment in Canton, Massachusetts wearing a COVID-19/medical facemask. Once inside, he killed her and staged her body and apartment to make it appear that Birchmore had died by suicide.
Now comes the United States, through counsel, and hereby requests that the Court enter a protective order restricting the use and dissemination of information in this case, as set forth below.
I. Defendant Matthew f AR VELL was charged by indictment on August 27, 2024, with one count of killing a person with intent to prevent the communication to law enforcement infomiation relating to the, commission or possible commission of a federal crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 15l2(a)(l)(C). ECF I.
Farwell had requested a “voluntary order of detention without prejudice,” allowing him to stay in custody while retaining his right to request a detention hearing at a later date so his attorney could have more time to work through the details of the case. Federal Judge granted Farwell’s motion for voluntary order of detention and canceled Thursday’s scheduled hearing in the case. Farwell had requested a “voluntary order of detention without prejudice,” allowing him to stay in custody while retaining his right to request a detention hearing at a later date
Matthew Farwell Arrest
January 2021, Matthew Farwell faced the specter of additional disclosures to law enforcement regarding his prior sexual abuse of Birchmore and his then-ongoing efforts to defraud the Stoughton Police Department and Town of Stoughton by meeting her for sex when he was supposed to be on duty as a police officer. On February 1, 2021, Matthew Farwell went to Birchmore’s apartment in Canton, Massachusetts wearing a COVID-19/medical facemask. Once inside, he killed her and staged her body and apartment to make it appear that Birchmore had died by suicide.
On February 4, 2021, three days after the murder, members of the Canton Police Department went to Birchmore’s apartment to conduct a well-being check. When police officers entered Birchmore’s apartment, they found her body. A paramedic determined that Birchmore was dead, and her body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (hereinafter, the “OCME”).
In early May 2021, an OCME pathologist ruled Birchmore’s manner of death to be suicide.
Matthew Farwell started sexually exploiting Sandra Birchmore no later than 2013, when she was 15 years old.1 At that time, Birchmore was enrolled in the Police Explorers. Matthew Farwell used his position of trust and authority as a sworn police officer and instructor in the Police Explorers to groom Birchmore. Ultimately, Matthew Farwell sexually abused Birchmore, including by engaging in sexual intercourse with her.
The Explorer Program is a vocational education program that enables youth to explore career paths, such as careers in law enforcement. Police departments throughout the country partner with the Explorer Program to create what are commonly known as local Police Explorers Programs. The Stoughton Police Department chartered and facilitated the Stoughton Police Explorers. It was a quasi-paramilitary program designed to expose youth participants to various aspects of policing.
2008 Matthew Farwell became a sworn member of the Wellesley Police Department.
On March 27, 2012, he was hired by the Stoughton Police Department, where he worked until he resigned on April 1, 2022. Prior to joining Stoughton Police Department in 2012, he was a Police Explorers volunteer. After joining the Stoughton Police Department, he served as a Police Explorers instructor. He had several roles as an instructor, including teaching firearms and explosives safety and conducting canine demonstrations. At the time, Matthew Farwell was already familiar with the Police Explorers because he had also been a participant as a teenager.
In March 2010, Sandra Birchmore applied to be a Police Explorers participant. At the time, Birchmore was 12 years old. She began participating in the program in the spring of 2010, and she remained in the program through 2016.
Matthew Farwell began to groom Birchmore when she was a child. This grooming culminated in Matthew Farwell raping Birchmore in April 2013, when she was only 15 years old. At the time of this assault, Matthew Farwell was 27 years old. Matthew Farwell continued to sexually abuse Birchmore prior to her eighteenth birthday. After Birchmore turned 18 years old, Matthew Farwell continued cultivating a sexual relationship with her that lasted until her death on February 1, 2021.
After Birchmore’s death, law enforcement agents obtained Birchmore’s cell phones, both Apple iPhones, and laptop and reviewed the data on those devices. During that review, agents discovered messages between Matthew Farwell and Birchmore. The messages confirmed that Matthew Farwell frequently communicated with Birchmore for years. The messages also indicate that Matthew Farwell had sex with Birchmore when she was a minor, starting in or around April 2013, when Birchmore was 15 and Matthew Farwell was 27.
Data from Birchmore’s Facebook account reveals aspects of the beginning of Matthew Farwell and Birchmore’s online communications. Specifically, Facebook data indicates that Matthew Farwell sent Birchmore a Facebook “friend request” on October 28, 2012. At that time, Birchmore was 15 years old and a participant in the Police Explorers. Matthew Farwell was her 26year-old instructor.
On February 21, 2019, Birchmore and Matthew Farwell had a text message conversation about Matthew Farwell taking Birchmore’s virginity. Birchmore told Matthew Farwell that she was happy that he “took it.” Later in the same conversation, Matthew Farwell acknowledged that it was “a big thing to get to be the first.”
In the same text conversation, Matthew Farwell also reminisced about the first time he digitally penetrated Birchmore’s vagina. Discussing the day that occurred, Matthew Farwell asked Birchmore what she would have done if he (Matthew Farwell) told her he wanted her that day. Birchmore responded that she would have told him that he could have sex with her “after school.” She also recalled the specific class and seat that she was in when she realized that she was going to lose her virginity to Matthew Farwell. Based on my investigation, I believe that this occurred during the 2012-2013 school year when Birchmore was 15 years old.
February 21, 2020, Birchmore and FARWELL reminisced about when they first became sexually active:
- BIRCHMORE: I listened better back then tho FARWELL: I wish it had been a year sooner after helping you study at the library
- FARWELL: You still listen and give me whatever I want baby
- BIRCHMORE: I didnt even make you wait a year after that
- BIRCHMORE: And good. But I dont think your gonna get what you want next time so
- FARWELL: Of course I will I’ll just take it
- BIRCHMORE: That’s what you think. Good luck with that
- FARWELL: What was the first day you said omg I want this guy to be my first I want to feel him inside me
- BIRCHMORE: Yeah so 2012 I finally decided that I was gonna try and find a way to fuck you and just wasnt sure how. BIRCHMORE: How did you feel when I asked to make your dream come true
- FARWELL: Amazing! BIRCHMORE: Good
- FARWELL: I absolutely would’ve fucked you in 12
- BIRCHMORE: In 12?
- FARWELL: 2012
Additionally, on March 19, 2019, Matthew Farwell asked Birchmore, “what would you have done if we never used a condom and I never pulled out . . .” Birchmore reassured Matthew Farwell that she “would’ve [sic] still finished school :)” Birchmore then told Matthew Farwell, “I loved prom night! It was worth not going to prom.”
April 5, 2020, Matthew Farwell told Birchmore that he knew he wanted to take her virginity when he “started helping [her] with school work.”
June 17, 2019, the two discuss how Matthew Farwell had helped her “test prep” at the library.
- Matthew Farwell told Birchmore that she should have told him that she was interested in having sex with him that day.
- Sandra Birchmore told him that she was scared to speak up.
- Matthew Farwell then asked her, “did you think I wouldn’t want to fuck you?”
- Sandra Birchmore responded, “Yes and like cause of my age I didnt want you to be like uhhh no wtf.”
- Matthew Farwell then told her, “I understand that.”
On February 11, 2020, Birchmore and Matthew Farwell discussed the exact day that Matthew Farwell took then 15-year-old Birchmore’s virginity:
- BIRCHMORE: I had butterflies so bad the day you took my virginity
- FARWELL: Me too it was such a big day
- BIRCHMORE: Still know the date to this day
- FARWELL: Really?
- BIRCHMORE: Yes.
- FARWELL: 🙂
- BIRCHMORE: Thats not a date I’ll ever forget
- BIRCHMORE: It was april 10, 2013
- FARWELL: 🙂
- BIRCHMORE: Best day of my life [face with heart emoji]
- FARWELL: Me too
On June 19, 2020, Birchmore and Matthew Farwell had the following conversation in which Matthew Farwell reminisced about his past criminal sexual abuse of Birchmore:
- BIRCHMORE: I’m glad you agreed to take my virginity though
- FARWELL: Me too ***
- FARWELL: Lol if I pushed I absolutely could’ve fucked you without condoms from day one
- BIRCHMORE: Probably if you really pushed it.
- BIRCHMORE: I was kinda scared to say no in the beginning not knowing how you’d take it so yeah you wouldve got no condoms [sic] lol.
Text messages between Birchmore and others confirm that Matthew Farwell sexually abused Birchmore as a child and continued a sexual relationship with her until her death. For example, on October 5, 2020, Birchmore texted one of her friends (hereinafter, “Person 1”) that Matthew Farwell had been having sex with her for “the last almost 10 years” and that Matthew Farwell had taken her virginity “before [she] was 16.”
On June 15, 2019, Matthew Farwell and Birchmore exchanged text messages in which they discussed role-playing during their next sexual encounter.
- Matthew Farwell asked Birchmore how old she was going to pretend to be during that encounter.
- When Birchmore responded “14,”
- Matthew Farwell replied with a smiley face emoji.
February 21, 2020 In another conversation between Matthew Farwell and Birchmore on February 21, 2020, Matthew Farwell describes pinning Birchmore down during sex and asks her: “Will you say Matt stop I’m 13 I’m not ready for this omfg please stop.”
several text messages from 2020 in which Matthew Farwell instructs Birchmore to act as if he were her older brother coming into her room at night to have sex with her.
Sandra friend confirmed that Birchmore would meet Matthew Farwell to “help with her homework.” Friend indicated that Birchmore confided in him/her that she was meeting with FARWELL in early high school to have sex with him in his police car or his truck.
on April 10, 2020, Matthew Farwell wrote, “I’m going to sneak away from work quick.”
On May 20, 2020, Birchmore told another friend that she had lost her virginity five days before the Boston Marathon bombing.
On October 5, 2020, friend told Sandra Birchmore that Matthew Farwell’s wife was pregnant with the couple’s third child. Friend indicated that the baby was due in February 2021. 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. That say Sandra Birchmore prepared a draft text message to Matthew Farwell’s wife. Birchmore sent this draft text to Friend.The text states, in part:
- “I am just messaging to inform you that your husband Matthew has been out cheating on you since before you guys were even married.” I am aware that FARWELL and his wife got married in May 2013, shortly before Birchmore turned 16 years old.
There is no known record indicating the draft message was sent to Matthew Farwell’s wife.
On November 24, 2020, Birchmore asked if Matthew Farwell would be on duty when the two were scheduled to meet. FARWELL responded, “Yes I will be on the clock”.
Affidavit of FBI Special Agent - Matthew FarwellThe Stoughton Police Department ran the Explorer program for about 15 years, but could only locate a single one-year agreement with Learning for Life, the Scouting affiliate that oversees the national Explorer program.
The Stoughton Police Department ran the Explorer program for about 15 years, but could only locate a single one-year agreement with Learning for Life, the Scouting affiliate that oversees the national Explorer program.
Robert C. Devine has led the Stoughton Police Explorers Program since 2003, a youth initiative under the department.
The agreement, signed by Devine in 2010, required the department to encourage officers to take Youth Protection Training and undergo an annual evaluation by Learning for Life. However, the department has not found any records indicating that any officers involved in the program completed the training, nor were any records of evaluations located.
2011 Police Explorers Staughton
Robert C. Devine has led the Stoughton Police Explorers Program since 2003, a youth initiative under the department. Devine invited former Explorers, Matthew Farwell and his twin brother, William, to serve as guest instructors. The Explorers, a co-ed branch of the Boy Scouts, is designed for older teens and often centers on specific fields like law enforcement. While the program existed before Devine became an advisor, it was struggling with low attendance and enthusiasm. To revive interest, Devine surveyed the members, proposing a mock police academy. Initially, the Explorer post had just five participants, but after promoting the academy, the number increased to 14. By 2011, the program was attracting 25 to 30 kids annually. The post met year-round, with the academy running from March to June, two nights a week.
Police Explorers Staughton
Robert C. Devine, led the department’s youth program since 2003, the Stoughton Police Explorers Program. Robert Devine brought in former Explorers Matthew Farwell and his twin brother, William, as guest instructors.
September 1998 Matthew and William Farwell joined Police Explorers Program, they were 12 years old. Farwell brothers were known to have disciplinary issues while attending school.
In 2003 Robert Devine brought in former Explorers Matthew Farwell and his twin brother, William, as guest instructors. Later that year William Farwell was designated a the rank of Lieutenant within Explorer Program.
Billy has volunteered with the Stoughton Police Explorers program with which he grew up.
He has assisted Stoughton Police Executive Officer Robert Devine with the running of the annual academy, bringing in Army EOD equipment so the kids could try on a bomb suit or drive one of the robots.
Devine said, “All three were in the very first Explorers class 11 years ago. It means a lot to have one of the men in our department. They grew up right before my eyes. If we played even a small part in their success, I’m proud of that.”
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- December 9, 2013, the Stoughton Police Department posted a photo on their official Facebook page
