Closing Arguments Set for Trial of Former Cop Accused of Killing Pregnant Sandra Birchmore

POLICY WIRE — Boston, Massachusetts — Legal teams are scheduled to deliver closing arguments this Friday in the high-profile trial of Matthew Farwell, a former detective accused of the murder of Sandra Birchmore.

Federal prosecutors allege that the 40-year-old Farwell, who once served with the Stoughton Police Department, killed the 23-year-old Birchmore in 2021. The prosecution claims the motive was to prevent her from revealing a sexual relationship that allegedly began when she was only 15 years old.

The investigation into Birchmore’s death began in 2023 following pressure from a former deputy chief who had previously led an internal affairs probe into Farwell and other officers. While local authorities initially ruled the death as a suicide, the state medical examiner’s office later changed the cause of death to undetermined.

Family and friends of the victim expressed skepticism regarding the suicide theory, noting that Birchmore was excited about her future as a mother. At the time of her death, she had been planning a baby shower and searching for infant names, and an ultrasound photo was found pinned to her refrigerator.

During the trial, the FBI uncovered approximately 40,000 text messages between the two. These exchanges reportedly showed the relationship became volatile after Birchmore learned she was pregnant in late 2020, as they argued over Farwell’s involvement in the child’s life.

A digital forensics expert testified that Birchmore’s phone ceased activity at 9:40 p.m. on February 1, just three minutes before security footage captured Farwell leaving the apartment building. The prosecution’s expert, Dr. William Smock, argued that physical injuries indicated Birchmore was strangled with a duffel bag after a struggle.

The defense countered these claims with expert Dr. Thomas Andrew, a former medical examiner from New Hampshire, who suggested the evidence pointed toward hanging. Farwell’s lawyers maintain he visited the apartment only to end the relationship, asserting that Birchmore was financially struggling and alone when she took her own life.

The defense team has also focused heavily on Birchmore’s mental health history, claiming she began psychiatric treatment at age six, attempted suicide as a teenager, and wrote about suicidal thoughts in her journals. Additionally, a paternity test later revealed that a different man was the father of the child.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)