Farwell Trial Begins Over Alleged Killing of Birchmore

Testimony began in the federal trial of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell, who is accused of killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn baby after prosecutors alleged he sexually exploited her for years and staged her 2021 death in Canton, Massachusetts, to appear as a suicide.

Farwell, 40, faces charges of killing a witness or victim and causing the death of an unborn child. He has pleaded not guilty and could face life in prison if convicted, according to prosecutors.

Birchmore, 23, was found dead in her Canton apartment in February 2021 while she was 8 to 10 weeks pregnant. The initial ruling was suicide, but the medical examiner later changed the manner of death to undetermined after the FBI investigation, according to court records cited by the news outlets.

Prosecutors said Farwell met Birchmore through the Stoughton Police Department Explorers Program when she was 13 and later began a sexual relationship with her when she was 15 and he was 27. They alleged he killed her after fearing she would expose their relationship.

"The evidence will show that he was not happy about [having a baby with her], but he was trying to appease her in order to keep her quiet," prosecutor Torey B. Cummings said.

Cummings told jurors that Farwell's alleged actions were connected to an effort to conceal years of misconduct. The prosecution also said DNA testing ruled out Farwell as the father of Birchmore's unborn child.

"She could end his life with the information she had, so he was going to end hers first," Cummings said.

The defense argued that Farwell made serious mistakes but did not kill Birchmore. Attorney Kimberly Stevens said Birchmore died by suicide after their relationship ended and Farwell denied being the father.

"Matthew Farwell did not kill Sandra Birchmore. He did not," Kimberly Stevens said.

Stevens presented Farwell as a person who made mistakes but rejected the murder allegation. She also referred to him differently from prosecutors during opening statements.

"the defendant," Torey B. Cummings said.

"Matt," Kimberly Stevens said.

Family members and supporters of Birchmore challenged the earlier suicide ruling and described her as someone planning for the future. CBS News reported that Lauren Andrews, the mother of one of Birchmore's close friends, discussed her view of the relationship.

"At that point, the only thing that we thought of is that Matthew Farwell murdered her," Lauren Andrews said.

Andrews said Birchmore had been preparing for motherhood and pursuing nursing school. The trial is expected to include testimony from more than 100 possible witnesses and hundreds of exhibits, including thousands of messages between Farwell and Birchmore.

"She made a really strong decision that she was going to go to nursing school, and she had applied to nursing school," Lauren Andrews said.

The court is also expected to hear expert testimony about Birchmore's injuries and whether they were consistent with homicide or suicide. The trial is being held in federal court, where cameras are not allowed.