Former Stoughton Police Officer Matthew Farwell Found Guilty of Killing Sandra Birchmore

A long-awaited verdict for the family of Sandra Birchmore

“I’ve been holding my breath for six years,” Barbara Wright told the Boston Herald.

The cousin of Sandra Birchmore spoke those words following a federal jury’s decision on Tuesday to find former Stoughton Police officer Matthew Farwell guilty of killing Birchmore and causing the death of her unborn child, the Boston Herald reported.

The verdict arrived on the third day of deliberations by a jury composed of eight men and four women. When the first guilty verdict was read for the charge of killing a witness, several people in the courtroom gasped. A second gasp followed once the jury foreperson announced the conviction regarding the death of Birchmore’s unborn child, prompting Judge Denise Casper to remind those present to remain silent.

Sandra Birchmore's family reacts to Matthew Farwell guilty verdict

The history of the investigation

Federal prosecutors argued that Farwell murdered Birchmore in her Canton apartment in February 2021. They contended he staged her body to resemble a suicide to conceal other crimes, including a sexual relationship with Birchmore that began when she was 15 years old and he was 27.

State and federal authorities clashed over procedures leading up to this federal trial. The case did not reach federal investigators until October 2023, after the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute Farwell. At that time, the state cited a Mass State Police investigation and a ruling from the state medical examiner that classified the death as a suicide.

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Following the federal guilty verdict, Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey’s office released a statement expressing hope that the decision would bring closure to the family. The office acknowledged the criticism regarding its initial handling of the case, noting that its ability to prosecute was limited by the medical examiner’s original findings.

Dr. Maria Capó Martínez, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, changed the manner of death to “undetermined” earlier this year after federal investigators provided new information.

U.S. Attorney Leah Foley addressed the implications of the case at a press conference, describing Farwell’s actions as “absolutely diabolical.” She noted that Farwell killed Birchmore just 12 hours before he went to the hospital with his wife to deliver their own child.

Matthew Farwell trial ends with ex-detective being found guilty in death of Sandra Birchmore

Accountability and systemic scrutiny

The trial shed light on the complex relationships between the victim and members of the Stoughton Police Department. While Farwell was a central figure, internal investigations found that two other former officers, Robert Devine and William Farwell—the defendant’s twin brother—had also engaged in “inappropriate” relationships with Birchmore.

“Matthew Farwell was supposed to be a trusted figure in Sandra’s life,” U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said at a press conference after the verdict. “Evidence introduced at trial exposed the real Farwell: the former police officer who exploited and abused teenaged Sandra.”

The legal proceedings also touched on the breakdown of trust in local institutions. Ray Cosgrove, Birchmore’s first cousin, spoke on behalf of the family, emphasizing that while the verdict does not return Sandra or her baby, “truth matters, accountability matters.”

The fallout from the case has impacted local leadership. Michael Morrissey did not seek reelection in the last cycle and will be succeeded by DA-elect Djuna Perkins.

Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara, who testified during the trial, is currently on leave due to a conflict with the town. In a statement, McNamara said the verdict represented justice served but added, “Rest assured there are still more questions unanswered than are answered, even after today.”

The jury’s decision followed a month-long trial that included 17 days of technical and graphic testimony. The deliberation process was not without tension; less than 24 hours before the verdict, jurors had informed Judge Casper they were in a “deadlock,” though Foley suggested they simply required more time to deliberate.