Sandra Birchmore
Sandra M. Birchmore
1997 – 2021
Sandra Marie Birchmore was born in May 13, 1997 to Denise F. McKain Birchmore and W. Birchmore.
Sandra Birchmore, originally from Stoughton but moved to Canton in 2020, was discovered deceased in her Windsor Woods apartment on February 4, 2021 after her employer requested a well-being check due to her absence from work for several days. The last person known to have seen Sandra alive was Matthew Farwell who was captured on camera leaving Sandra’s apartment. At the time of her death, Sandra was pregnant, and it is suspected that one of the officers, Matthew Farwell, was the father. The cause of death was determined to be suicide.
Timeline – Sandra M. Birchmore
Sandra Marie Birchmore was born on May 13, 1997, to Denise F. McKain Birchmore, taking her mother’s last name. Throughout Sandra’s childhood, Denise struggled with illness, and Sandra had no relationship with her father. She was raised by her single mother, with the support of her grandmother, Grace Theresa Coughlin, who played a significant role in her upbringing until her death in 2001. After Grace passed away, her sister, Claire G. Coughlin Gaudet, stepped in to provide grandmotherly care.
Sandra’s childhood was marked by a lack of a father figure and the early loss of her stepfather. In 2005, at just eight years old, Sandra joined the Respect Program, followed by a 14-week Strengthening Program for high-risk families the following year. These programs offered her a sense of belonging and a glimpse of a future she could aspire to, one filled with purpose and community.
Denise, who was sick throughout Sandra’s formative years, did her best to provide a stable home, with the help of Grace and Claire. Together, they nurtured Sandra, giving her a sense of love and security. But that security was shattered
in 2016 when both her mother
Denise and her grandmother
Claire passed away within a month of each other, leaving Sandra alone in the world.
Despite these early losses, Sandra sought out structure and guidance, finding it in the Stoughton Police Explorers Program, a youth initiative led by Deputy Chief Robert C. Devine, who had overseen the program since 2003.
In 2010, at just 12 years old, Sandra eagerly applied to join the Youth Explorers Program. Though initially placed on a waiting list, she was eventually admitted in the spring. The program quickly became a cornerstone of her young life, offering her not only activities and instruction but also mentorship from officers like Matthew Farwell. Farwell, who had recently become a sworn officer with the Wellesley Police Department, had a history with the Explorers Program, having participated in it himself as a teenager. He returned as an instructor, alongside his twin brother William, under the leadership of Devine.
What began as a promising mentorship soon took a dark turn. On October 28, 2012, Matthew Farwell, then 27, sent Sandra a Facebook friend request. This seemingly innocent gesture marked the beginning of a grooming process that would culminate in years of abuse. By April 2013, when Sandra was just 15, Farwell raped her. The abuse continued, with Farwell manipulating and controlling Sandra while maintaining his facade as a respected police officer and community leader. A month after the assault, Farwell married his wife, Michelle, but this did not stop him from continuing his relationship with Sandra.
Despite the abuse she was enduring, Sandra remained outwardly engaged in the Explorers Program. In 2014, her mother expressed gratitude to the program for the positive impact it had on her daughter, unaware of the dark reality beneath the surface. Sandra continued in the program until her graduation from Stoughton High School in 2015, but the end of her formal participation did not sever her ties with Farwell.
In 2016, the year she graduated, Sandra’s life was upended by the deaths of her mother and grandmother. These losses left her adrift, and police and court records later revealed that she struggled with suicidal thoughts in the years that followed. Yet, she continued to try to build a life for herself.
In 2019, she took the Massachusetts civil service exam and was placed on the eligibility list for the Stoughton police force, a testament to her resilience and determination. On two occasions in 2019, William Farwell queried CJIS information
on Sandra.
In February 2019, Sandra and Matthew Farwell exchanged text messages about their past, including the moment he had taken her virginity. The conversation revealed the deep psychological grip he had on her, with Sandra expressing happiness that he was her first, and Farwell acknowledging the significance of that act. As the year progressed, Farwell became increasingly paranoid, urging Sandra to delete their text messages and Facebook exchanges, fearful that their secret would come to light.
In the fall of 2019, Sandra met Joshua Heal when she visited a shelter to adopt a cat. The two became friends, and Sandra confided in him about her troubled past, including her relationship with Farwell and other officers involved in the Explorers Program. Although they shared a brief consensual encounter, Joshua became a confidant, one of the few people Sandra trusted. She confided in him about intimate details of her life, including her relationships with the Farwell brothers and Devine. According to Joshua, they engaged in a consensual sex act once after working hours at the animal shelter. Joshua Heal remained friends with Sandra on Facebook.
From April 2020 through December 2020., the William Farwell, exchanged sexually graphic text messages with Sandra Birchmore on multiple occasions, including photographs and videos of his nude wife and other individuals having sexual
intercourse.
In 2020, Sandra’s life took another tragic turn. She became pregnant but suffered a miscarriage, adding to the weight of her grief and isolation.
By the fall of 2020, Sandra had secured her own apartment and started working at East Elementary School in Sharon. Farwell remained a presence in her life, helping her move and staying involved, but his behavior became increasingly erratic and controlling.
In October, 2020 Sandra learned that Matthew Farwell’s wife was pregnant with their third child. Feeling desperate and betrayed, Sandra confronted Farwell, giving him an ultimatum: have a child with her, or she would expose their relationship. This confrontation marked the beginning of the end for Sandra.
In late December 2020, Sandra informed Farwell that she was pregnant again, but instead of offering support, Farwell lashed out. During an argument, he told her, “I wish you would kill yourself.”
On January 10, 2021 Sandra met William Farwell two met for a sexual encounter in the parking lot of her apartment building.
The tension between Matthew and Sandra continued to escalate. When Farwell feared that Sandra might reveal incriminating information about his involvement in federal crimes, he decided to silence her. When a Stoughton Police employee
informed him of a call reporting aspects of his illicit sexual relationship with Sandra, Farwell immediately took action, directing the employee to keep quiet and chastising Sandra for revealing information. Throughout the final
years of Sandra’s life, Farwell repeatedly instructed her to delete communications that could implicate him.
On February 1, 2021, Sandra’s day started like any other. She ordered baby items online and made plans for her future, including scheduling an OBGYN appointment and asking Farwell for help with an impending snowstorm. That evening, she received a text from Farwell asking if he could “come by for a second.” Sandra replied, telling him that the door would be open when he arrived. This was the last message she would ever send. Farwell had a key to Sandra’s apartment and carefully inspected it beforehand to find an ideal place to commit the crime. He showed up during a snowstorm, wearing a mask to disguise his appearance.
At around 9:14 PM, Matthew Farwell was seen entering Sandra’s apartment building. He quickly strangled her, choking off her air supply until she perished. After killing her, Farwell staged the scene to make it appear that Sandra had taken her own life. He moved her body and tied a duffle bag strap to the closet doorknob, leaving her in a seated position with the strap around her neck. Despite his efforts to conceal the crime, forensic evidence, including a fractured hyoid bone and other injuries, led Dr. William Smock to conclude that Sandra’s death was a homicide, consistent with strangulation.
Farwell left Sandra’s apartment at 9:43 PM, just minutes after committing the crime. The meticulous planning and willingness to take extreme risks underscored the calculated nature of his actions. Sandra did not respond to any further messages or calls.
Three days later, on February 4, 2021, concerned school officials requested a welfare check after Sandra missed several days of work. Officers arrived at her apartment to find her car covered in snow, untouched since February 1. Inside, they discovered Sandra’s body in her bedroom, a black strap around her neck tied to the closet door. She was ten weeks pregnant. The cause of death was initially ruled a suicide.
As the investigation unfolded, it became clear that Sandra had been victimized by those who were supposed to protect her. The man seen entering her apartment that night was Detective Matthew Farwell, the same man who had groomed, manipulated, and abused her for nearly a decade. The revelations that followed exposed a deeply troubling culture within the Stoughton Police Department, leaving a community in shock and raising questions that would haunt those who knew Sandra for years to come. In the weeks before her death, Sandra confided in friends that Farwell had assaulted her during discussions about her pregnancy. His disturbing fascination with violence against women was further revealed when investigators recovered incriminating images from his iCloud account.
On February 6, when Farwell met with Massachusetts State Police detectives investigating Sandra’s death, he lied to them. He falsely claimed that his sexual relationship with Sandra began in 2020, when in reality, it had started in 2013 when Sandra was just 15. Farwell also downplayed the frequency of their encounters, falsely stating they had sex only two or three times in the past year, despite text messages revealing at least ten encounters in the 13 months before her death. He further lied about the last time he saw Sandra, falsely claiming it was in October 2020, when in fact, he had visited her apartment just days before her death. Farwell’s attempted to distance himself from Sandra in his statements to detectives were contradicted by text messages showing he had asked for a key to her apartment and visited her shortly before her death.
Timeline of Sandra Birchmore’s Death Investigation
February 1, 2021, Farwell texted Birchmore to inform her that he was on his way to her apartment. Despite being known for resisting COVID-19 mask mandates, he entered her apartment wearing a face mask. Once inside, Farwell murdered Birchmore, the 23-year-old pregnant woman he had exploited for years, by strangling her to death. Surveillance footage captured him leaving her apartment just minutes after committing the crime.
- 12:19 PM 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, has a load of wet clothes in the washing machine and another load dry in the dryer.
- 1:31 PM booking a newborn photography shoot
- 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 onand askito 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 the key, Matthew Farwell 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.
- 9:14 PM, Matthew Farwell was seen entering Sandra’s apartment building.
- 9:28 PM Sandra’s coworker replied to the Snapchat message at 9:28 PM, but Sandra did not open the message.
- 9:43 PM Matthew Farwell was seen exiting Sandra’s lobby at 9:43 PM.
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. Report
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.
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.
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. Report
Detectives obtained Video from the apartment complex showing a man entering the lobby of Sandra’s building. They learned from maintenance worker Michael that the person in the video looked like the man who helped Sandra move into her apartment.
Surveillance footage of Sandra Birchmore’s apartment complex showed the last time she was seen alive at 5:33 p.m. and Sandra Birchmore wearing the same clothing that she was wearing when she was seen on video entering her apartment on February 1, 2021. The last person to see her alive, Matthew Farwell, entered and left the building on February 1, 2021. It was later learned after leaving Sandra’s apartment, Matthew Farwell drove his wife to the hospital delivery unit where they welcomed their third child.
Sandra’s cell phone was on the floor located approximately 12 inches from her right hand and 6 inches from her bent right knee.
It was later determined that On February 1, 2021, at 9:18 p.m., Sandra Birchmore’s phone recorded a screenshot of a black screen while still locked. 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.
- February 1, 2021 9:13 p.m Sandra’s phone was locked
- 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 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, occurred at 9:40 p.m. That was 3 minutes before Matthew Farwell was captured on surveillance video leaving Birchmore’s apartment. Specifically, this data indicates that the mechanism that Apple uses to record
movement registered eight steps at approximately 9:40 p.m.
These recorded steps occurred while Matthew Farwell was still in Sandra Birchmore’s apartment. The phone recorded no additional steps between 9:40 p.m. and the time it was recovered by first responders on February 4, 2021.
During Sandra’s death Investigation, detectives learned from the family that Sandra was seeing Detective Matthew Farwell. On February 5, 2021, Chief McNamara ordered Deputy Chief Holmes to conduct an internal investigation to determine any violations of policies procedures, rules and regulations of the Stoughton Police Department by any of its officers. IAB Report
On February 6, 2021, Matthew Farwell was interviewed by the Massachusetts State Police as part of the Sandra Birchmore death investigation. During the interview, Matthew Farweil stated that he had known Sandra “for about ten years,” they met when she was in the “Explorer” program of the Stoughton Police Department. Matthew Farwell told the State Police that he began a relationship with Sandra Birchmore early in 2020. He admitted that In December 2020, Sandra told him she was pregnant. He stated he last saw her on the evening of February 1, 2021, when he went to her apartment to end their relationship. They had a “pretty nasty argument,” and he left at approximately 9:30 PM. According to a Report Farwell lied
On February 11, 2021, William Farwell was interviewed by the Massachusetts State Police as part of the Sandra Birchmore death investigation. During the interview, Willian Farwell stated that he first met Sandra “about ten years earlier” when she was in the “Explorer” program and he was a guest instructor. In 2018, while he was assigned to a paid detail, Sandra approached him, and they began to talk about her interest in joining the Army. Farwell put her in touch with an Army recruiter, and Sandra began to contact him regularly. William Farwell admitted during his State Police interview that he and Sandra had relationships going back about two years.
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.
According to Maria Del Mar Capo Martinez, MD Sandra Birchmore died by suicide
The Medical Examiner’s written autopsy report noted that Birchmore’s cause of death was suicidal hanging.
- killed herself by hanging, according to her death certificate
- 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.
A subsequent State Police investigation found no evidence of foul play.
Matthew Farwell has been a sworn member of the Stoughton Police Department from March 27, 2012. He was a member of the Stoughton Police “Explorers” group during his teenage years and had beon designated the rank of Deputy Chief within the program in 2002.
After high school he entered the military and later acted as a guest instructor within the “Explorers” program at the request or direction of Robert Devine. Sandra Birchmore was a member of the Stoughton Police “Explorers” group beginning in 2010 when she was thirteen (13) years old. She was on the stand-by list for the program in 2010, was a member in 2011 and remained in the program until 2016, the year she graduated from Stoughton High School.
Matthew Farwell hired an attorney and sent a letter to PD.
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
February 9, 2021- Detective Collected iPhone11 from Farwell
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.
Later on Detectives Recovered Farwell’s iCloud account which contained images that confirm his interest in domestic and sexual violence, including strangulation.
- A meme containing a photo of a woman with tape over her mouth that states, “Duct tape turning ‘no, no, no’ into ‘mmm, mmm, mmm’ since 1942”;
- An image that states, “When she says ‘choke me daddy’ and you get carried away and now she’s dead”;
- A screenshot of an image of a woman saying that she could not sleep, followed by a man choking her saying, “goodnight bitch”; and
- A meme glorifying a person who kills and sexually abuses someone who “no one will miss.”
In text messages with Birchmore, he romanticizes the statutory rape, by discussing the first time they knew they were going to have sex and his regret that they did not have sex earlier in 2012, And Farwell repeatedly disclosed to Birchmore his interest in having sex with children. Via text message, Farwell asked Birchmore to pretend that she was 13 or 14 years old when they were having sex. He also had Birchmore join his sexual role play in which he posed as her older brother and simulated nonconsensual incest.
After Birchmore’s death, Farwell gave limited consent to search his personal cell phone to law enforcement officers who were investigating the death. However, on February 9, 2021, Farwell used his work cell phone to make and delete two Google searches. First, he searched for and deleted, “can delete [sic] imessage be recovered hy [sic] cellebrite.” Then, he searched for and deleted, “can you revoke consent in Massachusetts.
Not getting answers, and due to the Medical Examiner ruling Sandra; ‘s death as a suicide, Darlene Smith as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Sandra Birchmore, filed a 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 March 12, 2021 Officer William Farwell was served notice that he was under investigation. Note: William Farwell was at the time on military leave detailed to his MA Army National Guard unit and had been deployed since for several months. His anticipated return to full duty date was May through July 2022.
Text messages show that Farwell physically abused Birchmore. On at least 20 occasions in just the year before her death, Farwell sent Birchmore text messages stating that he would grab her throat, pin her down by her throat, squeeze her throat, or choke her during sexual activity. For example, less than four months before her death, Farwell told Birchmore that during their next sexual encounter, he was going to “grab [her] throat and say stfu [shut the fuck up] now or I won’t pull out.” In November 2020, Farwell told Birchmore, “Maybe I’ll hold you down by your throat while I pound you.” He then reflected on “how tight” he should squeeze, texting that he wanted her to feel like “omg this is really happening and I can’t stop it.” Farwell’s penchant for violence is confirmed by Birchmore’s disclosures to friends that the defendant assaulted her in the weeks before her death.
Birchmore’s own journal entries reveal Farwell’s efforts to “punish” her with violent sex acts. This violent sexual punishment started as early as 2013 and continued until 2020. The evidence indicates that the defendant used violent sex acts to punish Birchmore for getting bad grades, lying to him, or being sexually active with other people. The evidence indicates that Farwell’s efforts to control Birchmore also included directing her to use her phone to share her location with him and admonishing her when she failed to do so
On Thursday, November 4, 2021, Detectives identified, observed, and discussed conversations from Sandra’s laptop between Matthew Farwell, William Farwell, and a recruiter from the MA Army National Guard, who was believed to be Birchmore’s recruiting officer. They identified conversations that would be of interest to the US Military and noted that photographs and videos had been exchanged between Birchmore, William, and Matthew Farwell.
On Tuesday, December 21, 2021, Detectives met with interviewed Joshua HeAl. After some small talk, he was asked if he had any idea why he was being interviewed. He said no. He was informed that the investigation concerned the matter of Sandra Birchmore. During this interview Joshua Heal was asked if he was involved in any type of sexual behaviour with Sandra, Heal denied, Detective offered to allow to stop the interview if he felt that he needed to consider the representation that he had. The interview started as approximately 10:30AM. After approximately 30 minutes of questions, Joshua Heal asked to stop the interview for a break. After the break he asked to stop the interview so that he could consult further representation.
During his second interview, Heal admitted something happened one time between him and Birchmore inside the animal shelter after hours. Heal told Stoughton investigators that Birchmore adopted a cat from the shelter around 2019 and then would occasionally come by to see the shelter’s dogs and cats. While there, she would tell Heal details about her relationships with the other Stoughton police officers, including sharing photos and videos, according to interview transcripts. Heal testified Birchmore seemed to need to “vent.”
On Wednesday, December 22, 2021, Detectives received records of all available pet adoption files previously stored at the Stoughton Animal Control Shelter. In an attempt to locate adoption papers where Sandra Birchmore adopted a cat from the shelter 2-3 years ago, they conducted a complete review of the files, and no such documents were located.
January 11, 2022 Detectives received an authorization for forensic analysis of the couch that is located in the office. On Friday January 14, 2022, Detectives met with, Detective Lieutenant Kenneth Heffernan of the MSP crime laboratory and forensics technician Jennifer Preisig at the location to process a couch.
Matthew Farwell resigned from his position with the Stoughton Police Department on March 11, 2022 with the resignation to take effect on April 1, 2022. He resisted sitting for an interview in this investigation. The investigation has determined that Matthew Faiwell violated Stoughton Police Department rules and regulations.
On April 6, 2022, I interviewed Angelique Pirozzi at her home in South Boston. Angelique explained that she is Sandra Birchmore’s mother’s first cousin [Denise Birchmore]. She explained when asked about her education and current employment [National Education Association] as a legislative advocate. She spoke of her learning of the death of Sandra and her later interview with the MSP. Her goal in being interviewed was to raise awareness about Sandra’s relationship with Matthew Farwell and how the relationship had grown toxic before the end of Sandra’s life. She described the pressure that Sandra placed on Matthew Farwell to participate in the baby’s life. Generally things were not going well and Angelique was encouraging Sandra to back off of pressuring Matthew. She had secondhand knowledge that Sandra had babysat for Matthew Farwell and his wife.
On Thursday April 7, 2022, Detectives received a text message with a screenshot of the comments section of a Facebook post commenting on the recent Boston Globe article on the resignation of Matthew Farwell and of Sandra Birchmore. The post was alleged that Birchmore’s friends had been contacted by members of the Stoughton Police Department after her death and that the friends were threatened and called liars.
On April 8, 2022, Robert Devine was interviewed by Paul L’Italien and Robert Fries at the MPTC training academy in Randolph. Mr. L’Italien and Mr. Fries were acted as delegates from Chief of Police, Donna McNamara during this interview. During the interview Robert Dovine continually denied that he had any type of contact or relationship with Sandra Birchmore. When informed that at that stage of the investigation we hadn’t found any direct communications between Devine and Birchmore he replied “because you won’t find il”.
The investigation later revealed there was direct contact between Devine and Birchmore by Facebook messenger between November 27, 2020 and February 1, 2022. During some of their Facebook messenger communications the nature of the conversation was that Devine and Birchmord There was also at least one instance where they met when Devine was on duty [See Exhibit 30, Marty Riggs message exchange]. Findings: Regarding the allegation that Officer Robert Devine demonstrated Incompetence when he failed to demonstrate “sound judgement” in violation of Section 3, of the Stoughton Police Department Rules and Regulations, this allegation is SUSTAINED. Analysis: On the date of December 21, 2020, Robert Devine failed to demonstrate “sound judgement” when he engaged in Facebook messenger communications with Sandra Birchinore while on duly for the Stoughton Police Department. The content of the text messages was that he requested Birchmore to meet him at the Chateau restaurant.
On Tuesday, May 17, 2022, Detectives were reviewing the contents of Sandra Birchmore’s laptop; they discovered a conversation thread in the Facebook messenger files. The contact appeared to be either a blocked or anonymous Facebook user. Based on the content and context of the conversation, the user appears to be Officer Robert Devine. The person is an attorney and an employee of the Stoughton Police Department. They discussed, among other things, meeting with Sandra Birchmore while on duty in a patrol car. The conversation discussed meeting locations in Stoughton. Sandra also discussed with the Facebook user, who is believed to be Devine; after further investigation, the user was identified as “Marty Riggs.”
Thursday August 25, 2022, Detectives received via first class mail, a letter from Robert Devine in response to questions that were mailed. Devine’s response was received by me after I documented his credibility assessment as part of this report. I maintain this assessment despite Devit1e’s response. Devine opened his response by indicating “of course I desire to cooperate”. His response to the third question outrageously makes claims about accounts being hacked. IMC in-house records checks of Devine [Exhibit 33] and located no incident reports in which Devine reports being hacked or is the victim of a computer crime. [Note: he is listed as victims of other crimes such as A&B PO]. This response is a consistent theme that was developed and employed throughout the investigation of Paul White [June 2015 investigation].
June 18: Sandra Birchmore’s death is ruled a homicide by prominent pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, a former chief medical examiner in New York City, wrote in a letter to an attorney for Birchmore’s estate that she was a homicide victim who died by strangulation. His conclusion contradicts the findings of the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
August 28: Matthew Farwell indicted in connection to Sandra Birchmore Federal authorities have indicted former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell on charges that he killed Birchmore, a 23-year-old pregnant woman in 2021 amid claims that he fathered her unborn baby and initiated sexual contact when she was a teenage participant in a law enforcement youth progra
September 24, 2024 Respondent William Farwell has entered into a
Voluntary Decertification Agreement (“Agreement”) under which he has agreed to the permanent revocation of his certification (also known as decertification) as a law enforcement officer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
beginning on the date of approval of the Agreement by the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (“Commission”, and the entry of his decertification in the National Decertification Index. As further conditions
of the Agreement, the Respondent has waived all rights to contest, in this or any other administrative or judicial proceeding to which the Commission is or may be a party, the factual allegations, conclusions of law, terms
and conditions, and other provisions contained in the
Agreement.
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. The Stoughton Explorer program ended in 2016, and the department has not found any agreements with Learning for Life or the Boy Scouts for the other years the program was active.
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
Records – 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
ction 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
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. According to the indictment, the possible charges Farwell could have faced include deprivation of Birchmore’s rights, coercion and enticement, and wire fraud. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. Murder Indictment
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. Charges Farwell could have faced include deprivation of Birchmore’s rights, coercion and enticement, and wire fraud. If convicted, he
could face the death penalty.
FBI SPECIAL AGENT
Defendant Matthew Farwell, a former Stoughton police officer, has been charged with killing Sandra Birchmore to prevent her from communicating information about his commission or possible commission of federal crimes, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(a)(1)(C). The government moves to detain Farwell pending trial because he is a danger to community and poses a serious risk of flight and obstruction. The Court is authorized to conduct a detention hearing and detain Farwell on each of those independent bases because Farwell has been charged with a crime of violence that carries a mandatory life sentence.
DECERTIFICATION ORDER SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 Respondent William Farwell has entered into a Voluntary Decertification Agreement under which he has agreed to the permanent revocation of his certification (also known as decertification) as a law enforcement officer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, beginning on the date of approval of the Agreement by the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (“Commission”, and the entry of his decertification in the National Decertification Index. As further conditions of the Agreement, the Respondent has waived all rights to contest.
Timeline
Sandra Birchmore Case Timeline
1997
May 13: Sandra Marie Birchmore is born to Denise F. McKain Birchmore and W. Birchmore.
1999
Robert C. Devine joins the Stoughton Police Department (SPD).
2001
Devine serves as a school resource officer.
2002
Devine becomes head of the Explorers Program
2003
William Farwell is designated as Lieutenant within the Explorer 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.
2010
Sandra Birchmore joins the Youth Explorers Program but is placed on standby.
2011
Sandra joins the local Explorer post at age 13, aspiring to become a police officer.
September 6, 2011: William Farwell applies to the police department but is bypassed for employment.
2012
William Farwell begins a sexual relationship with Sandra Birchmore, who is 15 years old, while he is 27.
Joshua Heal is working as an Animal Control Officer.
2013
April, 2013 April, 2013 – 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.
May 11, 2013 Matthew Farwell married Michelle Farwell.
2014
April 17: Sandra’s mother writes a letter thanking Devine for running the Explorer post.
September: William Farwell receives an offer of employment as a Patrol Officer and attends the Massachusetts State Police Academy.
2016
May 18: Sandra’s mother, Denise, passes away.
June 24: Sandra’s grandmother passes away.
Devine receives a 60-day unpaid suspension after an internal investigation and is later demoted from deputy chief to patrolman.
2017
Matthew Farwell is promoted to detective.
May 27: William Farwell is appointed to Stoughton Police Department.
2018
Sandra approaches William Farwell about joining the Army. He connects her with an Army recruiter, but she is eventually discharged during boot camp.
2019
Sandra’s closest aunt passes away.
Sandra became pregnant but had a miscarriage.
Sandra takes the Massachusetts civil service exam and is placed on the eligibility list for the Stoughton police force.
Sandra meets Joshua W. Heal at the local animal shelter, and they become friends.
2020
May 19: Police respond to a well-being check at Sandra’s home due to concerns about her harming herself.
June 7: Matthew Farwell sends Sandra a text to meet him on Walnut Street while on duty.
July 14: Joshua Heal leaves Stoughton Animal Control Office to become an Abington police officer.
September: Sandra applies for housing and prepares to move into her own place.
October: Sandra begins working at East Elementary School in Sharon.
November 14: Sandra moves out from her aunt’s house.
December: Sandra moves into her apartment with Matthew Farwell’s help.
December 23: Sandra argues with Matthew Farwell, who tells her, “I wish you would kill yourself.”
2021
January 22: Sandra has an ultrasound.
January 30: Sandra visits a hair salon.
January 31: 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.
Sandra’s last movements are captured on surveillance, including purchasing a baby car seat and ordering pizza.
February 1: Sandra is last seen entering her building at 5:46 PM and is last heard from at 9:00 PM. A man enters her building later that evening.
February 4: Sandra is found deceased in her apartment by Canton Police during a well-being check.
February 5-12: Investigations and interviews are conducted with various individuals involved in Sandra’s life, including Matthew and William Farwell.
2021
May 2021 The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner rules Sandra’s death a suicide by hanging.
July 1, 2021
Matthew Farwell is automatically certified as a police officer in Massachusetts.
October 6, 2021
Detectives receive Sandra’s MacBook Air.
December 22, 2021
Detectives find no records of Sandra adopting a cat from the shelter where Joshua Heal worked. Heal walks out of an interview with investigators.
February 2022
Joshua Heal agrees to another interview and provides details about Sandra’s relationships with Stoughton police officers.
2022
April 1: Matthew Farwell resigns from his position.
April 8: Robert Devine denies any relationship with Sandra during an interview.
August 2022
August 1: Matthew Farwell resigns from the police department.
August 16: Robert Devine resigns from the police department.
August 29: An investigation into violations is completed, sustaining allegations against Farwell.
September 23, 2022 Stoughton Police Chief reveals the results of the internal investigation, confirming inappropriate relationships with Sandra Birchmore by three former officers.
October 10, 2022 – The Commission denies the Stoughton Police Department’s application for recertification of Matthew Farwell.
2022
November 22, 2022 The Commission authorizes a preliminary inquiry into allegations against Farwell.
December 29, 2022 Sandra Birchmore’s aunt files a lawsuit against Matthew Farwell, William Farwell, Robert Devine, and the Stoughton Police Department.
2023
June 30, 2023 The Division submits its report of preliminary inquiry to the Commission.
July 12, 2023 The Commission votes to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Farwell.
2024
March 21, 2024
Matthew Farwell’s law enforcement certificate is revoked.
2024
July 12, 2024
A Civil Lawsuit Motion to Compel Hearing is held, with ongoing investigations by the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s office.
Sandra Birchmore
May 13, 1997 – February 1, 2021
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- Sandra Birchmore
