Ex-Cop Charged With Killing Pregnant Woman Also Charged With Killing Her Unborn Child

STOUGHTON, MA — A former Stoughton police officer charged with killing a pregnant woman to cover up his sexual exploitation of her beginning when she was charged Tuesday killing her unborn son.

Matthew Farwell, 39, was indicted Tuesday on federal charges of killing a witness or victim and causing the death of a child in utero.

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Farwell, an Easton resident, was already charged with strangling 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore to death in February 2021.

"Shortly thereafter, Farwell allegedly staged her body and apartment to make it appear as if Birchmore had committed suicide," according to a media release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

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The release said "Farwell killed Birchmore with malice aforethought and with the intent to prevent her from disclosing to law enforcement that he used his authority and access as a police officer to groom and sexually abuse Birchmore, including while he was on duty, beginning when she was 15 years old and continuing until her death."

Birchmore and Farwell met when she was a teenage Stoughton Police Explorer and he was a Police Explorer volunteer, according to the indictment.

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"Before Birchmore attained the age of 16 years old, Farwell engaged in sexual intercourse and other acts with Birchmore," the indictment said. "Farwell's sexual contact with Birchmore continued until in or around early 2021."

"According to court documents, Farwell agreed to attempt to impregnate Birchmore in the Fall of 2020 to avoid her publicly disclosing details about their relationship," the release said.

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"Birchmore told Farwell that she was 'keeping it' and 'the birth certificate is being signed,'" according to the release.

"Farwell allegedly responded by telling her that she was 'the worst person on the face of the earth,'" the release said. "Over the next several weeks, Birchmore expressed excitement to Farwell about her due date, ultrasounds, genetic testing, gender reveals and doctor appointments. She booked prenatal care appointments that post-dated her death. She also ordered baby items, conducted Google searches related to her pregnancy and future child-rearing decisions, planned for newborn baby photos and an official pregnancy announcement intended for Valentine’s Day."

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Birchmore was eight to 10 weeks pregnant when Farwell killed her, according to the release.