Jurors Hear Sandra Birchmore’s Pregnancy Messages To Matthew Farwell: Reports

STOUGHTON, MA — Jurors heard more testimony Monday in the federal trial of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell.

One person, FBI Special Agent Heidi Kelsch, testified on Monday. She was the prosecution’s 14th witness overall and resumed testimony that began Friday, according to Boston 25 News.

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.

• More From Fourth Day Of Testimony: FBI Details Messages Between Farwell, Birchmore In Murder Trial: Reports

Fifth Day Of Testimony

On Monday, jurors heard about years of messages between the former Stoughton police officer and Sandra Birchmore, including conversations about sex, pregnancy and keeping their relationship secret.

Kelsch testified that Birchmore told Farwell in December 2020 that she was pregnant and wrote, “Congrats, we are going to be parents in 2021.” Farwell responded several hours later that he had nothing to say, according to messages reported by The Boston Globe. The jury also saw messages indicating the pair had discussed trying to conceive and that Birchmore later obtained a copy of her apartment key after telling a friend Farwell had offered to help raise the baby if she kept their relationship secret.

Under cross-examination, Kelsch acknowledged that DNA testing identified another man as the biological father of Birchmore’s unborn child. Prosecutors contend Farwell and Birchmore believed he was the father and said that he killed her to prevent her from disclosing federal crimes connected to their relationship, according to reports.

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

Editor’s note: This story was last updated Monday at 4 pm and will be updated with additional testimony from the fifth day of the trial.

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