Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell was convicted of killing a witness or victim under federal law on Tuesday, November 10, after a federal jury found him guilty in the death of Sandra Birchmore and her unborn baby. Read on to find out more.
A Unanimous Verdict
According to WCVB, the jury deliberated for roughly 15 hours across three days, even reporting a deadlock at one point before delivering a unanimous guilty verdict on Tuesday afternoon.
Matthew Farwell was found guilty of strangling Birchmore to keep his crimes quiet, as well as causing the death of her unborn child. Later, a DNA test revealed that he was not the father of the unborn child.
Previous Coverage
We reported in mid-October that Birchmore was found dead in her apartment in 2021 in what was initially ruled a suicide.
Federal investigators later reopened the case and the prosecution alleged that Farwell groomed and exploited Birchmore starting when she was a teenager. They argued that he murdered her after she became pregnant and threatened to expose him.
Birchmore was just 12 years old when she joined the Stoughton Police Explorers Program in 2010. Prosecutors stated that Farwell took advantage of his authority within the program to groom her, initiating an inappropriate relationship when she turned 15 and he was 27.
What Happens Next?
With the Department of Justice choosing not to pursue the death penalty, Farwell now faces a mandatory sentence of life behind bars without the possibility of parole.
Formal sentencing takes place on February 3, 2027.
Crime Viewers Respond
When Law&Crime Trials reported on the verdict and showed footage of the family of Sandra Birchmore, crime followers were able to discuss the outcome.
One of them wrote, “Let us remember Sandra for her light and love. Let us remember her baby as loved and wanted.”
Another viewer said, “I AM VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT SANDRA BIRCHMORE WILL NOW BE AT PEACE IN PARADISE.”
Others hoped that the victim would “rest in peace.”
The Family Speaks Out
Ray Cosgrove introduced himself as the first cousin of Sandra Birchmore, and he confirmed that she’d been “expecting a baby boy.” He said the family would never get the chance to meet him.
Ray also wanted people to remember Sandra as a young woman of 23 when she died. He also noted that while people who followed the case knew her as a victim, her family knew Sandra as a person.
Ray emphasized that “Sandra mattered before anyone outside her family knew her name.”
He thanked the people who kept looking for answers and those who treated Sandra with dignity, and he also talked about accountability and the responsibility that comes with being in a position of authority.
At the end, he said he wanted people to remember Sandra as a daughter, niece, cousin and friend who was also a young woman preparing for motherhood.
Your thoughts? Are you glad that the jury found Matthew Farwell guilty and that he now faces life in prison without parole? Join the discussion and then come back for all your true crime news and updates. We also have a crime channel on TikTok that you can follow.