Matthew Farwell, 38, of North Easton, MA, labored as a police officer in Stoughton, MA from March 27, 2012 until roughly April 1, 2022, per the DA’s office press launch. He was arrested Wednesday morning in relation to Birchmore’s 2021 demise at 23 years earlier.

The allegations in direction of him, per the DA, are that Farwell killed Birchmore by strangulation in her condominium after which staged the scene to make it appear that she had devoted suicide. Per the press launch, it’s believed he did so to forestall regulation enforcement from discovering his authorized sexual relationship with the sufferer.

In response to the indictment, as shared by HuffPost, Birchmore and Farwell allegedly met through her involvement with the native “Police Explorers” program, which she joined in March 2010 when she was 12 years earlier. In the meanwhile, Farwell was a volunteer for this method, ultimately changing into a member of the police division in 2012 and turning right into a Police Explorers instructor.

When he was 26 12 months earlier and Birchmore was 15 years earlier, Farwell is accused of talking collectively along with her on-line, per the court docket docket submitting, which claims he would “sexually groom her beneath the guise of providing instructional tutoring” on the Stoughton Public Library.

Prosecutors think about the connection turned sexual in 2013, nonetheless {{that a}} textual content material message cited inside the indictment confirmed that he expressed to Birchmore he would have appreciated to have had intercourse collectively along with her even sooner.

As quickly as Birchmore reached approved maturity, authorities state that Farwell began what the DA described as a “controlling and customarily abusive relationship” collectively along with her. The DA’s office extra alleges that some sexual encounters occurred whereas Farwell was on duty, which could make them violations of numerous federal authorized tips, along with coercion, enticement, deprivation of rights beneath coloration of regulation, and wire fraud.

The pair entered into an settlement in October 2020, per the court docket docket paperwork, with Farwell allegedly agreeing to have a child with Birchmore in commerce for her holding quiet about their authorized sexual encounters.

When she turned pregnant, nonetheless, prosecutors think about Farwell “responded poorly,” turning into “bodily violent” collectively along with her. The indictment research that she described to associates being “pushed and shoved” by Farwell.

At one stage whereas pregnant, per the indictment, “Farwell allegedly held Birchmore in a headlock and suggested her that he wished she have been ineffective.”

It was a very good buddy of Birchmore who ultimately contacted police in January 2021 regarding the alleged bodily abuse, per the DA’s office. When Farwell was educated regarding the title by an employee of the division, prosecutors say he “angrily demanded the employee not at all inform anyone regarding the knowledge.”

He then allegedly texted Birchmore, per the court docket docket submitting, “What else do I’ve to stress about now? Which completely different good buddy will do one factor tomorrow.” Prosecutors think about that’s when Farwell began plotting her demise.

On February 1, 2021, Birchmore was found ineffective in her condominium “in a seated place with a strap around her neck and door knob,” per the court docket docket submitting. The state well being employee’s office dominated her demise a suicide the following month, nonetheless her family wasn’t completely pleased.

They launched a Fb net web page about her demise, which gained 1000’s of supporters, and adopted that up with a wrongful demise lawsuit (accessible proper right here, courtesy of HuffPost) in December 2022. Therein, they accused Farwell and two additional officers of pushing Birchmore to suicide.

It was their notion, per the swimsuit, that all three males engaged in sexual acts with Birchmore whereas she was nonetheless a minor and part of the Police Explorers program.

All three males each denied the declare or claimed to not have enough info to confirm or deny any responsibility in her demise. All three voluntarily left their positions with the division. Neither of the other two males are coping with prices in relation to this case.

As reported by The Boston Globe in June, a forensic pathologist employed by the sufferer’s family determined that her demise was a homicide. The indictment of Farwell is applauded by the family, nonetheless they think about the work stays undone.

A message posted to the “Justice for Sandra Birchmore” web page reads, “This isn’t the tip. It’s solely the begin to getting Sandra and her unborn teen the justice they deserve.”

After Farwell’s arrest, Stoughton police chief Donna McNamara launched a assertion that there was an ongoing internal affairs investigation since “the day after Sandra Birchmore was found ineffective in her Canton condominium.”

“The alleged murder of Sandra is a horiffic injustice,” McNamara said in her assertion. “The allegations in direction of the suspect, a former Stoughton Police Officer, signify the one worst act of not merely expert misconduct nonetheless actually human indecency that I’ve seen in a just about three-decade career in regulation enforcement.”

She went on to say that her “life’s work” has been to “ensure that justice was served” on this case, as “Sandra Birchmore acquired no justice all through her life. It’s essential that justice be served in her demise, and at the moment’s actions appear to convey our society one step nearer to justice.”

In response to the U.S. Authorized skilled’s Office, “the price of killing a witness or sufferer carries a obligatory sentence of demise or life in jail.” It’s not however acknowledged if Farwell has entered a plea.

The Nationwide Sexual Assault Cellphone Hotline — 800.656.HOPE (4673) — provides free, 24/7 help for these in need.