Matthew Farwell convicted of murdering Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child in Massachusetts murder trial

Jury finds former Stoughton, Mass. police officer Matthew Farwell guilty of killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child. The verdict was read Tuesday afternoon in South Boston federal court.

Farwell was charged with murder of a witness or victim and causing the death of an unborn child. He pleaded not guilty. The jury previously said in a note Monday that it was “in a dead end.”

Birchmore’s family gasped as the verdict was read aloud in court.

Farwell faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for February 3, 2027. The Justice Department could have continued death penalty against Farwell, but decided last year that would not be the case.

Jurors heard from 50 witnesses during four weeks of testimony. To convict Farwell of killing a witness or victim, jurors had to conclude that he not only killed Birchmore, but did it to prevent her from reporting his crimes to federal authorities.

“Today, justice was served for Ms. Sandra Birchmore and her unborn son, both of whom died at the hands of Matthew Farwell. The evidence presented at trial was both shocking and clear,” Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said at a news conference, calling Farwell’s actions “absolutely evil behavior.”

Farwell and Birchmore met when she was a 13-year-old cadet in the Stoughton Police Department’s Young Explorers program. Prosecutors say Farwell began a sexual relationship with her when she was just 15 years old.

“We finally got justice,” says family

Birchmore, 23, was found dead in her Canton apartment with a strap around her neck in February 2021. Her death was initially ruled a suicide. But more than three years later, Farwell was arrested and the medical examiner changed Birchmore’s Way of Dying to “undetermined”.

Prosecutors argued that Farwell strangled Birchmore, who was pregnant with what she believed to be his child, then staged her death to look like a suicide to cover up their years-long affair. The defense said Birchmore had a history of mental health problems and committed suicide because Farwell told him he was not the father and that the relationship was over.

Barbara Wright, Birchmore’s cousin, said she felt a mix of sadness, happiness and relief.

“It’s been almost six years since we lost Sandra and let’s not forget her little boy,” she told the court. “We finally got justice. We fought long and hard for her. And she deserves it. She’s waited a long time.”

Norfolk DA responds to verdict

Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said in a statement that he hoped the verdict would bring closure to Birchmore’s family and friends.

Morrissey’s office was criticized by those close to Birchmore for choosing not to pursue Farwell on state charges.

“The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office (NDAO) recognizes the criticism it has received for its handling of this case. However, its ability to prosecute has been limited by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s (OCME) finding that the circumstances of the death were a suicide,” the prosecutor said. “The NDAO referred the matter to the Attorney General’s Office for further review and has consistently worked collaboratively with federal prosecutors, including funding the development of additional evidence. From October 2022, in an effort for transparency, the NDAO made public its file and the investigation documents in its possession. We respect the jury’s verdict and will have no further comment.

Reaction from the Stoughton Police Department

James O’Connor, interim police chief of the Stoughton Police Department, released a statement following the verdict.

“I am grateful for this verdict. It is the outcome that Sandra, her unborn child and her family have deserved for over five years. The jury heard the evidence and made a decision, and I fully support it,” O’Connor said. “What happened to Sandra is a profound betrayal of the trust that every police officer is sworn to uphold. Matthew Farwell used his position to harm someone the community had entrusted to this department. He no longer wears that badge and he does not represent the men and women of the Stoughton Police Department, who serve this city with honor every day.”

Chief Donna McNamara is currently on paid leave from the Stoughton Police Department in connection with an investigation unrelated to the Farwell case. McNamara said in a statement that the verdict was not about Farwell, but rather honored Birchmore.

“That’s what today is about. Today, it’s not just about a verdict. Today, it’s about Sandra. Today, a federal jury confirmed what was obvious to me some time ago, that Sandra was murdered and that her killer was a police officer who took advantage of her trust and faith in the badge and the uniform,” McNamara said. “There were those who wanted to forget Sandra Birchmore. But enough people were unwilling to remain silent. Enough people spoke up. Enough people asked questions. And rest assured there are still more unanswered questions than answers, even after today.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.