The Department of Justice has declined to seek the death penalty against former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell, despite his indictment for the alleged murder of 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child. Farwell faces mandatory life imprisonment if convicted of killing a witness under federal law. The decision comes amidst allegations that Farwell groomed and sexually exploited Birchmore from the age of 12 for nearly a decade. The case has also highlighted a significant failure in local oversight, as federal investigators concluded Birchmore was strangled and the scene staged as a suicide, overturning a previous local ruling of suicide. The ongoing legal battle underscores the critical need for federal intervention in cases of police corruption and abuse of power.
Story Highlights
- DOJ declines death penalty for ex-Stoughton officer Matthew Farwell, accused of killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child
- Federal prosecutors allege Farwell groomed Birchmore from age 12 in a police youth program, and began abuse at 15
- Local authorities initially ruled the death a suicide; federal investigation concluded she was strangled, and the scene was staged
- The case highlights the failure of local oversight and the need for federal intervention in police corruption cases
Federal Decision Spares Corrupt Officer From Ultimate Penalty
U.S. Attorney Leah Foley announced in December 2025 that the Attorney General directed federal prosecutors not to seek the death penalty against former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell. The decision came ahead of the January 2026 deadline set by the federal court. Farwell faces two counts of killing a witness under federal law, with mandatory life imprisonment if convicted. The charges stem from the alleged murder of 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore and her 8-to 10-week-old unborn child in February 2021.
Federal prosecutors maintain Farwell killed Birchmore to silence her as a potential witness against his years of sexual exploitation. The case represents a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior by law enforcement officers who abuse their positions of trust and authority. Farwell has pleaded not guilty to all charges, with trial scheduled for October 2026 in federal court.
DOJ decides death-penalty fate of cop accused in murder of teen sex victim Sandra Birchmore https://t.co/1dRmRqcXCN pic.twitter.com/9oFH9xxWKT
— New York Post (@nypost) December 10, 2025
Decade of Alleged Grooming and Exploitation
The federal indictment details how Farwell allegedly began grooming Birchmore when she was just 12 years old in the Stoughton Police Explorers program. Prosecutors say the relationship turned sexual in 2013 when she was 15 and he was 27, continuing for nearly a decade. Farwell married another woman just one month after the alleged first sexual encounter with the minor, while continuing the exploitative relationship. This pattern represents exactly the kind of predatory behavior that destroys trust in law enforcement and victimizes vulnerable youth.
Surveillance footage shows Farwell entering Birchmore’s Canton apartment building on February 1, 2021, staying approximately 30 minutes before leaving. She was found dead three days later after coworkers requested a welfare check when she failed to appear at her job as a teacher’s assistant. The timing coincided with a friend reporting Farwell’s relationship with Birchmore to Stoughton police in January 2021, creating potential exposure for his criminal conduct.
Local Authorities Failed While Federal Investigators Uncovered Truth
The Norfolk County District Attorney’s office initially found “no evidence of foul play” and supported the medical examiner’s suicide ruling in 2022. This determination stood for years until federal investigators stepped in and concluded Birchmore was strangled and the scene staged to look like suicide. The stark contrast between local and federal findings raises serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest and inadequate oversight when investigating law enforcement officers. Federal intervention proved essential to uncovering the truth.
Birchmore’s family challenged the suicide ruling from the beginning, filing a wrongful death lawsuit against Farwell, his twin brother William, supervisor Robert Devine, and the Town of Stoughton. The civil litigation alleges negligent hiring and supervision that enabled the exploitation of a vulnerable minor in a police youth program. This case demonstrates why federal oversight remains crucial when local authorities appear unwilling or unable to hold their own accountable.
Watch the report: Sandra Birchmore: Ex-cop staged pregnant woman’s killing as suicide, feds say | LiveNOW from FOX
Sources:
Killing of Sandra Birchmore – Wikipedia
Prosecutors told not to seek death penalty in Matthew Farwell case – WBZ NewsRadio
Sandra Birchmore case: DOJ won’t seek death penalty for Matthew Farwell – Herald News
