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By Courtney McGinley
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Former Stoughton officer Matthew Farwell, who's charged with killing Sandra Birchmore to keep her from revealing scandalous details about their affair and her pregnancy, remains behind bars as the Massachusetts murder case heads to trial.
A grand jury indicted Farwell for allegedly strangling 23-year-old Birchmore and staging the scene as a suicide, leading to his arrest on August 28 in Revere, Massachusetts. If convicted, he could face a possible death sentence.
Authorities found Birchmore, who claimed Farwell was the father of her unborn child, dead in her Canton apartment on February 1, 2021.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Public Affairs Specialist Caroline Ferguson told Newsweek the defense filed a motion on September 7 to keep the defendant in custody, with the option to revisit the decision later.
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Farwell's detention hearing was set for Thursday, but he has requested it be canceled.
A detention hearing is a court proceeding where a judge decides whether a defendant should remain in custody or be released while awaiting trial.
The prosecutors are pushing to keep Farwell in custody before trial, arguing he's a danger to the community and a serious flight and obstruction risk.
"After an opportunity to consult with his counsel, Mr. Farwell now asks the court to enter a voluntary order of detention without prejudice, saving his right to request a detention hearing at a later date when his counsel has had additional time to review materials relating to this case and prepare for such a hearing," the defendant's motion said. "Mr. Farwell further asks that this Court cancel the detention hearing scheduled for September 12, 2024."
Detention "without prejudice" means the defendant stays in custody, but the decision isn't final. The defense can ask for another hearing to review it, and the prosecution can still bring new arguments or charges if needed.
Newsweek contacted Farwell's lawyer, Jane Peachy, but she said she does not have any comment at this time.
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Ferguson told Newsweek no further court dates have been scheduled yet, however, it will likely be a standard status conference where both parties will update the judge on the progress of the case.
Farwell, along with his twin brother William Farwell and Richard Devine, allegedly began grooming Birchmore when she was just 12 years old. This occurred during her participation in the Stoughton Police Department's Explorers program, the U.S. attorney said during a press conference last month.
During her younger years, she had an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement. In March of 2010, Birchmore applied to be a participant in the program.
The Explorer Program provides young people with opportunities to explore different career paths, including law enforcement. Police departments across the country partner with the Explorer Program to establish local Explorer Programs.
Newsweek reached out to the Stoughton Police Department to see if the program is still intact, however, they have not yet responded.
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Farwell and Birchmore's Relationship
By age 15, Farwell, then a 27-year-old officer, had initiated a sexual relationship with her on April 10, 2023 – a detailed timeline indicates.
Farwell continued this sexual relationship with Birchmore after she became an adult and continued to engage in an extramarital sexual relationship with her until she was killed. Their sexual relationship spanned nearly 10 years, with Farwell saying he wished it had started earlier.
On October 5, 2020, Birchmore drafted a text message meant for Farwell's wife and sent it to someone else. The person she sent it to told her that Farwell's wife was expecting their third child, due in February 2021.
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That same day, Birchmore gave Farwell an ultimatum: he needed to agree to have unprotected sex with her to impregnate her, and in exchange, she would keep their relationship a secret.
The situation escalated in late 2020 and early 2021 when Birchmore discovered she was pregnant and informed Farwell who did not share her excitement, according to court filings.
On February 4, 2021, Canton police officers performed a well-being check at Birchmore's apartment after one of her co-workers reported she did not come in to work that day.
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When officers arrived, they found Birchmore's body seated on the floor in a reclined position with a duffle bag strap tied around her neck. The strap was connected to her closet door knob, the closet Farwell had inspected approximately one week earlier.
Stoughton Police Department Response
Stoughton Police Department officials expressed deep concern about the alleged crime.
"The alleged murder of Sandra is a horrific injustice," said Police Chief Donna McNamara in a press release. "The allegations against the suspect represent the worst act of professional misconduct and human indecency I have observed in nearly three decades of law enforcement."
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