Jury Selection Begins For Trial Of Ex-MA Cop Accused Of Killing Pregnant Woman

STOUGHTON, MA — Jury selection begins Tuesday in the federal trial of a former Stoughton police detective who is accused of killing Sandra Birchmore and staging her death as a suicide.

Matthew Farwell, 40, pleaded not guilty to charges of killing a witness or victim and causing the death of an unborn child. Prosecutors say he strangled 23-year-old Birchmore in her Canton apartment on Feb. 1, 2021, to prevent her from reporting his alleged sexual abuse of her, which they say began when she was 15.

Jury Selection, Trial Schedule

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U.S. District Judge Denise Casper plans to seat 12 jurors and four alternates, NBC10 Boston reports. Opening statements are scheduled for Friday and the trial is expected to last about 20 court days.

The federal indictment says Farwell used his position in the Stoughton Police Explorers program to groom and sexually abuse Birchmore beginning when she was a minor. Prosecutors say the relationship continued into adulthood and included encounters while Farwell was on duty.

Birchmore was eight to 10 weeks pregnant when she died and believed Farwell was the father, according to prosecutors. But, DNA testing later excluded Farwell as the father, WBUR reported.

Initially, the state medical examiner ruled Birchmore's death a suicide, but the FBI opened a separate investigation in 2023 and Farwell was indicted the following year. The medical examiner later changed the manner of death to "undetermined", according to WBUR.

Defense Disputes Prosecution's Account

Farwell's attorneys maintain that Birchmore died by suicide and have pointed to a history of self-harm. Prosecutors plan to call two forensic experts who are expected to testify that her injuries and the position of her body were more consistent with strangulation than a suicidal hanging, WBUR reported.

The case is being prosecuted federally because the government accuses Farwell of killing Birchmore to prevent information about possible federal offenses from reaching law enforcement. The charge involving Birchmore's unborn child carries a mandatory life sentence if Farwell is convicted, according to the USAO.

See Also:

• Judge Denies Not Guilty Bid From MA Mom Accused Of Killing Her Children