US v. Matthew Farwell

Developing StoryLast updated MAY 4
SUMMARY

Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell, accused of murdering Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child, had Birchmore's cause of death reclassified from suicide to undetermined by the state Medical Examiner on May 4, 2026. As of April 28, 2026, Farwell was denied bail, with prosecutors citing new phone evidence including searches for teenage pornography and his alleged use of a private search engine to research Birchmore. Farwell faces federal charges of sex trafficking and child pornography, with prosecutors alleging he strangled Birchmore to conceal their relationship, which began when she was underage. New DNA evidence links Farwell to a strap found in Birchmore's underwear, and his trial is scheduled for October 5, 2026. A federal judge denied his motion to dismiss a superseding indictment on March 9, 2026.

Timeline

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May 2026 — 1 developments

  1. The state Medical Examiner has reclassified Sandra Birchmore's cause of death from suicide to undetermined.

    The state Medical Examiner has reclassified Sandra Birchmore's cause of death from suicide to undetermined. This change is noted as potentially beneficial to federal prosecutors in the case against former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell. Farwell faces federal charges for the murder of Birchmore and her unborn child, with prosecutors alleging he strangled her and staged the scene.

April 2026 — 6 developments

  1. Matthew Farwell, accused of murdering Sandra Birchmore, is seeking release on $50,000 bail, which prosecutors are opposing.

    Matthew Farwell, accused of murdering Sandra Birchmore, is seeking release on $50,000 bail, which prosecutors are opposing. Prosecutors cite his alleged use of a private search engine to research Birchmore and the investigation, along with online activity including pornographic content referencing teenage girls. The US Department of Justice announced charges against Farwell, alleging he strangled Birchmore and staged her apartment to conceal sexual exploitation that began when she was a minor, and a federal judge denied his motion to dismiss a superseding indictment.

  2. Matthew Farwell, a former Stoughton police officer, was denied bail on April 28, 2026, as he awaits trial for the murder of Sandra Birchmore.

    Matthew Farwell, a former Stoughton police officer, was denied bail on April 28, 2026, as he awaits trial for the murder of Sandra Birchmore. Prosecutors presented new phone evidence, including searches for teenage pornography accessed after Birchmore's death, arguing that Farwell poses a danger to the community and is a flight risk.

  3. Matthew Farwell, a former Stoughton police officer, has been charged with federal sex trafficking an…

    Matthew Farwell, a former Stoughton police officer, has been charged with federal sex trafficking and child pornography offenses in connection with the 2021 death of his pregnant girlfriend, Sandra Birchmore. Prosecutors allege the murder was committed to conceal their relationship, which began when Birchmore was underage. New DNA evidence links Farwell to a strap used in the death and found in Birchmore's underwear.

  4. Prosecutors are using new cellphone evidence, including alleged online activity referencing teenage …

    Prosecutors are using new cellphone evidence, including alleged online activity referencing teenage girls after Sandra Birchmore's death, to argue that Matthew Farwell is a danger and a flight risk. This evidence is being presented as part of the ongoing bail hearing.

  5. Prosecutors revealed new DNA evidence in the Matthew Farwell murder case, including Farwell's DNA found on the ligature and in the victim's underwear.

    Prosecutors revealed new DNA evidence in the Matthew Farwell murder case, including Farwell's DNA found on the ligature and in the victim's underwear. Sandra Birchmore's family has also requested a no-contact order against Farwell's legal team, alleging defense investigators visited the home of the estate's personal representative. Farwell's trial is scheduled for October 5, 2026.

  6. Prosecutors have revealed new DNA evidence in the Matthew Farwell case, including Farwell's DNA found on the ligature used to strangle Sandra Birchmore and on her underwear.

    Prosecutors have revealed new DNA evidence in the Matthew Farwell case, including Farwell's DNA found on the ligature used to strangle Sandra Birchmore and on her underwear. This evidence is being used to argue that Farwell is a danger to the community and a flight risk, opposing his bail requests.

March 2026 — 4 developments

  1. Matthew Farwell's defense team filed a new motion for his release on $50,000 bail, proposing strict conditions including home confinement and GPS monitoring.

    Matthew Farwell's defense team filed a new motion for his release on $50,000 bail, proposing strict conditions including home confinement and GPS monitoring. The motion also states that an unidentified person, not Farwell or his brother, is the biological father of Sandra Birchmore's unborn child, potentially weakening a key prosecution motive.

  2. Matthew Farwell's defense team has filed a motion seeking his release from federal custody while he awaits trial, proposing a $50,000 bail with strict conditions.

    Matthew Farwell's defense team has filed a motion seeking his release from federal custody while he awaits trial, proposing a $50,000 bail with strict conditions. Attorneys argue he is not a flight risk and poses no danger to the community. His trial is scheduled for October 5, 2026.

  3. A federal judge in Boston denied former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell's motion to dismiss the superseding indictment against him.

    A federal judge in Boston denied former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell's motion to dismiss the superseding indictment against him. Chief U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper rejected all arguments from the defense team. Farwell's trial is now set for October 2026.

  4. A federal judge has refused to dismiss charges against former Massachusetts police officer Matthew F…

    A federal judge has refused to dismiss charges against former Massachusetts police officer Matthew Farwell, who is accused of murdering his mistress, Sandra Birchmore, and her unborn baby. Farwell allegedly killed Birchmore, who was eight to 10 weeks pregnant in February 2021, and then staged her body to appear as a suicide. The relationship between Farwell and Birchmore began when she was 15 years old and he was an officer in the Stoughton Police Department's youth program.

January 2026 — 1 developments

  1. Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell pleaded not guilty on November 21, 2025, to new charges in connection with causing the death of an unborn child.

    Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell pleaded not guilty on November 21, 2025, to new charges in connection with causing the death of an unborn child. His attorneys are arguing that intense media coverage has made it impossible to find an impartial jury in Massachusetts, leading a federal judge to consider moving the trial. Farwell faces charges in the murder of Sandra Birchmore and the death of her unborn baby.

December 2025 — 1 developments

  1. Federal prosecutors announced on December 9, 2025, that they will not seek the death penalty against former Stoughton, Massachusetts police officer Matthew Farwell.

    Federal prosecutors announced on December 9, 2025, that they will not seek the death penalty against former Stoughton, Massachusetts police officer Matthew Farwell. Farwell is charged with killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child. Birchmore was pregnant when she died in 2021, and her death was initially ruled a suicide.

October 2025 — 3 developments

  1. Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell has been indicted on a superseding charge related to the death of Sandra Birchmore's unborn child.

    Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell has been indicted on a superseding charge related to the death of Sandra Birchmore's unborn child. The indictment adds a second count under the state's protection of unborn children law. Prosecutors allege Farwell engaged in sexual activity with Birchmore before she was 16, while he was on duty as a police officer.

  2. Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell faces additional charges in federal court related to the death of Sandra Birchmore's unborn child.

    Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell faces additional charges in federal court related to the death of Sandra Birchmore's unborn child. A federal judge has denied Farwell's request to move the trial out of Massachusetts, ruling that it will proceed in Boston.

  3. Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell has pleaded not guilty to charges including the death of Sandra Birchmore's unborn child.

    Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell has pleaded not guilty to charges including the death of Sandra Birchmore's unborn child. A federal judge has set October 5, 2026, as the trial date for Farwell, who was arrested in August 2024.

August 2024 — 1 developments

  1. Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell was arrested on August 29, 2024, on federal charges …

    Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell was arrested on August 29, 2024, on federal charges of killing Sandra Birchmore to prevent her from disclosing his sexual exploitation. He is accused of strangulation and staging her apartment to appear as a suicide.

February 2021 — 2 developments

  1. Canton Police Department officers conducted a wellness check at Birchmore's apartment and found her deceased.

    Canton Police Department officers conducted a wellness check at Birchmore's apartment and found her deceased.

  2. Sandra Birchmore, who was 8-10 weeks pregnant, was found dead in her Canton apartment.

    Sandra Birchmore, who was 8-10 weeks pregnant, was found dead in her Canton apartment. Her death was initially ruled a suicide by a medical examiner in May 2021.