Grooming Expert, Friends Testify In Trial Of Ex-MA Cop Accused of Killing Pregnant Woman: Reports

STOUGHTON, MA — The seventh day of testimony has finished in the federal trial of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell.

Seven witnesses testified on Wednesday, including Massachusetts State Police forensic scientist Stephanie Waite, forensic psychologist Lisa Rocchio, former Stoughton Police Explorer Donyea Holloway, Birchmore’s former hairstylist Shauna McGrath, Birchmore's former schoolmate Karlie Williams , Stoughton police Detective Sandra Barrett, Birchmore’s friend Becca Chandler and Stoughton police Detective Daniel Barber, according to multiple reports.

Farwell, 40, is charged with killing Birchmore and causing the death of her unborn child. Prosecutors allege he strangled the pregnant 23-year-old in her Canton apartment in 2021 to prevent her from disclosing their relationship, which they say began when she was 15. Farwell has pleaded not guilty and maintains Birchmore died by suicide.

Prosecutors say Farwell killed the 23-year-old to prevent her from disclosing that he had groomed and sexually abused her beginning when she was 15, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The first set of witnesses took the stand Tuesday after a jury of 16 was finalized last week.

Farwell faces federal charges of killing a witness or victim and causing the death of a child in utero, according to a superseding indictment. Prosecutors claim Farwell strangled Birchmore in her apartment on Feb. 1, 2021, then staged the scene to appear as though she died by suicide.

Farwell’s defense acknowledges that he had an affair with Birchmore but maintains that he did not kill her.

• Details From Sixth Day Of Testimony: Dispatcher, Doctor Testify In Trial Of Ex-MA Cop Accused of Killing Pregnant Woman

Seventh Day Of Testimony

Rocchio gave jurors general testimony about how perpetrators groom children by targeting vulnerabilities, gaining access, building trust and gradually desensitizing victims. She said she had not reviewed evidence or interviewed witnesses in Farwell’s case, according to Boston.com.

Holloway, who attended the Explorers program with Birchmore, testified that Birchmore identified Farwell as the father of her unborn child and said he did not want to be listed on the birth certificate. McGrath testified that Birchmore told her the baby’s father was named Matt, worked for the Stoughton Police Department and did not want to help raise the child, according to WHDH.

Barrett testified that Farwell appeared agitated in January 2021 and told her he was having a problem with a woman who was threatening to disclose their relationship to his wife. Barrett said Farwell told her he believed “the problem was really going to take care of itself,” according to WHDH.

Barber testified that Farwell appeared stressed in late 2020 and early 2021. He also said Farwell sounded frantic and asked who else knew when Barber called him after Birchmore’s death about rumors of their relationship, according to NBC10 Boston.

The trial is expected to last about five weeks. Farwell would face life in federal prison if convicted.

Editor’s note: This story was updated Wednesday evening with testimony from the seventh day of the trial.

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