MA - Sandra Birchmore- 23, Stoughton, 4 Feb 2021 *former police officer arrested* MEDIA ONLY - NO DISCUSSION

DNA Solves
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8/30/24

The case, from a legal perspective, is a surprising federal one, experts say. "It's really unusual for the federal government to swoop in and take over what otherwise would be a [state] murder investigation," said WBZ Legal Analyst Jennifer Roman.

When WBZ's Kristina Rex asked Joshua Levy why his office got involved, he answered, "When someone comes to our office with credible information that a police officer may have been involved in a murder…we're going to investigate that case every time."

[..]

Both Sandra Birchmore's death and John O'Keefe's death were investigated initially by some of the same Canton police officers and state troopers, as well as the Norfolk County District Attorney's office.

[..]

In Birchmore's case, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Massachusetts ruled Birchmore's 2021 death a suicide. Investigators at the state level later discovered tens of thousands of text messages between Farwell and Birchmore, many of which implied an inappropriate relationship, as well as surveillance video showing him entering and exiting her apartment.

The DA's office told WBZ the investigation remains open and active, but no state charges have been filed against Farwell or the other two former Stoughton police officers accused of wrongdoing.
 

8/29/24

After Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her Canton apartment in February 2021, the Massachusetts medical examiner’s office concluded that the 23-year-old died by suicide.

But the FBI thinks she was murdered — and arrested a suspect, former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell, on Wednesday.

Someone got this case spectacularly, grievously wrong.

And if it’s the medical examiner’s office and local authorities who initially investigated Birchmore’s death who erred, there has to be some serious accountability. Farwell, according to the FBI, staged the murder to look like a suicide, drawing on his police training.

If that’s true, then the most charitable explanation is that state investigators fell for a ruse.
But when it’s law enforcement investigations involving other members of law enforcement, more sinister possibilities can never be ruled out.
 

Aug 29, 2024

The arrest of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell in a Revere strip mall caught shoppers and employees by surprise Wednesday morning.
 

Aug 28, 2024

A former Massachusetts police officer pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of killing a woman he is accused of sexually exploiting when she was underage and then trying to stage the death as a suicide after she told him she was pregnant.

Matthew Farwell entered the plea during an initial appearance in federal court in Boston. He was handcuffed and led out of the room. A follow-up court hearing was scheduled for Oct. 17.

Farwell was arrested at a shopping plaza in the city of Revere on Wednesday after he was indicted on charges he strangled Sandra Birchmore in early 2021 after she told him she was pregnant and he was the father.

Birchmore was 23 years old.Farwell killed Birchmore to prevent authorities from finding out details of his sexual offenses, according to allegations in the indictment. Court documents say that Farwell, who was a police explorers volunteer, used his authority and access to groom, sexually exploit and then sexually abuse Birchmore when she was 15 and that he continued to have sex with her when she became an adult.

In late 2020, Birchmore found out she was pregnant and told Farwell, according to the indictment.

Attorney Matt Tympanick joins LiveNOW's Andy Mac to discuss.
 

9/2/24

“Understatement of the century but Massachusetts has a serious problem with murder investigations involving police suspects, witnesses, and leads,” criminal justice journalist Susan Zalkind posted on X on Wednesday. “Poor Sandra Birchmore. Beyond depraved.”

[..]

Federal investigators have been involved in both cases, but officials have not announced any links between the two. However, at the heart of both: allegations of botched investigations and law enforcement misconduct.

'Incompetence or corruption?'

“Given these two cases, I would say it’s not just in Norfolk County, but certainly throughout Massachusetts. The question that arises is, is it incompetence or corruption, or both?” said Tom Nolan, a former Boston police lieutenant and criminal justice professor.

In Massachusetts, detectives with the state police are assigned to district attorneys’ offices, which can lead to the bungling of cases, Nolan said.

An alternative, he said, is the model used in other states, including Florida and Georgia, where there is an independent investigative agency to oversee the cases, rather than relying on an agency that enforces laws on highways.
 

12/29/2022

The 14-page complaint filed in Norfolk Superior Court blames the three former officers for the death of Sandra Birchmore, 23, and alleges all three sexually assaulted her after she enrolled in a youth explorers program run by the Stoughton Police Department when she was 13 years old.

One of the officers, Matthew G. Farwell, met Birchmore when she started in the explorers program and began having sex with her when she was 15 and he was 27, according to the lawsuit. If true, those actions would be statutory rape, as the age of consent in Massachusetts is 16.
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12/29/22

But Birchmore’s family did name the Town of Stoughton and its Police Department as defendants in the complaint, accusing them of negligent hiring and supervision and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara said Thursday she couldn’t comment.

Birchmore’s estate is represented by her aunt, Darlene Smith, the twin sister of Birchmore’s mother, who died in 2016. Smith’s lawyer, Steven J. Marullo, declined to comment on Thursday.

The complaint describes Birchmore as facing adversity from an early age as a result of “significant mental and emotional problems.” As a teenager, she faced grief over the deaths of her grandmother and mother, who raised her in Stoughton.

But from early adolescence, Birchmore “deeply respected authority figures, most notably police officers,” and joined Stoughton’s police explorers program, the lawsuit said. It was there that she met Devine, the program leader, and the Farwell brothers, who were instructors and Devine’s protegees, the complaint said.

Police found Birchmore’s body in her apartment in Canton on Feb. 4, 2021, while conducting a well-being check sought by her employer, Sharon Public Schools, which had alerted authorities after she missed a few days of work.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner concluded Birchmore died by suicide and confirmed she was pregnant at the time of her death, according to her death certificate. Records do not indicate the father’s identity. Her family’s complaint refers to her death as an “alleged suicide.”

Three days before Birchmore’s body was found, surveillance footage from her apartment complex showed Matthew Farwell entering her building and then exiting 28 minutes later, State Police records show.

In an interview with investigators, Matthew Farwell said during that visit on Feb. 1, 2021, he told Birchmore he wasn’t the baby’s father, ended a relationship with her, and then blocked her on all communication platforms, records show.
 

Aug 29, 2024

Relatives of Sandra Birchmore say there has been a sense of relief since charges were brought against a former police detective in Stoughton, Massachusetts.

[..]

Birchmore died after telling Farwell she was pregnant with his child. Nee's wife, Kellie, said Birchmore told her about the pregnancy, identifying Farwell as the father — adding that it wasn't the first time.

"We just all knew he was the father," Kellie Nee said. "She's talked about him for years."

Nee said Birchmore was first pregnant in 2019 with Farwell's baby, but lost the child.

"She had told me she had a miscarriage, and the father was a police officer," Nee recalled.
 
  • 2282CV01197 Darlene Smith as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Sandra Birchmore vs. Farwell, Matthew et al

12/22/2023Endorsement on Motion to dismiss all counts After a hearing, this motion to dismiss is (#35.0): ALLOWEDin Part. Count XI of defendant Joshua Heal's ("Mr Heal") cross-claims against Town of Stoughton (the "Town") is dismissed because Mr. Heal no longer can be found "jointly liable in tort" with the Town for purposes of G.L.c 231B, §1(a). Counts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, and X of Mr. Heal's cross-claims are dismissed because they are barred under the "discretionary function" exception to the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act, G.L.c258, §10(b). Counts VII,VIII, and IX of Mr. Heal's cross-claims are dismissed because they are barred under the "Intentional tort" exception to the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act, G.L. c 258, §10(c). Count XII of Mr. Heal's cross-claims for common-law indemnification survives (Davis, J)(dated; 12/20/23) ns plJudge: Davis, Hon. Brian AImage
01/23/2024Endorsement on Motion to dismiss After hearing; Motion is (#25.0): ALLOWEDas to Count IV and VII of Plaintiff's Amended Complaint. The Town's Motion to dismiss is DENIED as to all remaining Counts of the Amended Complaint. See Decision and Order. (dated 1/23/2024) ns niImage
01/23/2024Endorsement on Motion to dismiss After hearing; Motion is (#28.0): ALLOWED(filed by William Farwell) as to Count VII of Plaintiff's Amended Complaint and as to Heal's Cross-Claims for indemnification and contribution. Motion is DENIED as to all remaining Counts of the Amended Complaint. See Decision and Order. (dated 1/23/2024) ns niImage
01/23/2024Endorsement on Motion to dismiss all claims and counts against him. (filed by Robert Devine)---After hearing; Motion is (#18.0): ALLOWEDas to Count VII of the Plaintiff's Amended Complaint. Motion is DENIED as to all remaining Counts of the Amended Complaint. See Decision and Order. (dated 1/23/2024) ns niImage
01/23/2024Endorsement on Motion to dismiss Counts I, II, IV, VII, VIII, IX and X of the Plaintiff's Complaint. (filed by Joshua Heal)---- After hearing; Motion is (#32.0): ALLOWEDas to all Counts of Plaintiff's Amended Complaint. See Decision and Order. (dated 1/23/2024) ns niImage
01/23/2024ORDER: DECISION AND ORDER REGARDING DEFENDANTS' MOTIONS TO DISMISS (Docket Entry Nos. 18.0, 25.0, 28.0, and 32.0)Please not that in page 18 of this Decision the Court ALLOWS sua sponte of Count VII of the Amended Complaint as to defendant, M. Farwell. (dated 1/23/2024) certified copies sent ni43Image
01/25/2024Attorney notice of appearance of John W. Gillies on behalf of Defendant, William Farwell electronically filed 1/24/24 mcImage
01/25/2024Attorney appearanceOn this date John W Gillies, Esq. added as Private Counsel for Defendant William Farwell
02/01/2024Answer of Defendant William Farwell to the Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint. (e-Filed) dg44Image
02/15/2024ORDER: FINDING AND ORDER IMPOSNG SANCTION.(dated 2/14/2024) certified copies sent ni45Image
02/15/2024General correspondence regarding ORIGINAL P#45.0FINDING AND ORDER IMPOSING SANCTIONS. (dated 2/14/2024)Judge: Davis, Hon. Brian A46Image
02/16/2024Defendant Town of Stoughton's Answer and Jury Demand to the Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint (e-Filed 2/12/2024) dg47Image
02/16/2024AMENDED ORDER: - Amended Decision and Order Regarding Defendants' Motions to Dismiss (Docket Entry Nos. 18.0, 25.0, 28.0 and 32.0)(cs)48Image
02/21/2024Plaintiff Darlene Smith as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Sandra Birchmore's Joint Motion for court order to inspect and copy the records of the Office f the Chief Medical examiner (Rec'd 2/14/24)49Image
02/21/2024Docket Note: Received check for Steven J Marullo, Esq in the amount of $2000 RE: Sanctions
03/26/2024Event Result:: Motion Hearing scheduled on: 03/26/2024 02:00 PMHas been: Held via Video/PhoneComments: Hybrid FTR room 10 - start time of 2;10:45Hon. Joseph Leighton, Presiding
03/29/2024Endorsement on motion for (#49.0): Order to inspect and copy the records of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. ALLOWEDAfter hearing. (dated 3/26/2024) ns niImage
03/29/2024Defendant William Farwell's Motion to Join defendant Robert Devine's motion to release unredacted internal affairsefiled 03/26/202452Image
03/29/2024ORDER: ORDR FOR INSPECTION AND COPIES OF RECORDS.(dated 3/26/2024) certified copies sent niJudge: Leighton, Hon. Joseph51
03/29/2024Affidavit of Compliance with Rule 9A with no Opposition Rec'd 3/29/24Applies To: Farwell, William (Defendant)52.1Image
03/29/2024Certificate of Compliance Superior Court Rule 9Aefiled 3/26/24Applies To: Farwell, William (Defendant)52.2Image
03/29/2024Certificate of Compliance Superior Court Rule 9Cefiled 3/26/2452.3Image
03/29/2024Rule 9A list of documents filed.efiled 3/26/2452.4Image
04/02/2024Defendant Robert Devine's Motion to Release unredacted internal affairs report (rec'd 4/1/24)53Image
04/02/2024Robert Devine's Memorandum in support ofof his motion to release unredacted internal affairs report (Rec'd4/1/24)53.1Image
04/02/2024Affidavit of compliance with Superior Court Rule 9C(rec'd 4/1/24)Applies To: Stowe, Esq., Robert W (Attorney) on behalf of Devine, Robert (Defendant)53.2Image
04/02/2024Affidavit of compliance with Superior Court Rule 9A(rec'd 4/1/24)Applies To: Stowe, Esq., Robert W (Attorney) on behalf of Devine, Robert (Defendant)53.3Image
04/02/2024Rule 9A list of documents filed.(rec'd 4/1/24)53.4Image
04/02/2024Certificate of service of attorney or Pro Se:Robert W Stowe, Esq.(rec'd 4/1/24)53.5Image
04/29/2024Plaintiff, Defendant Darlene Smith as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Sandra Birchmore, The Town of Stoughton, Matthew Farwell, William Farwell's Joint Motion for Protective Order (e-Filed 4/23/2024) dg55Image
04/30/2024Endorsement on motion for protective order (#55.0): Other action takenAfter review, hearing on this Motion shall be held on 5/7/2024 at 3:00pm in person. (dated 4/30/2024) ns niJudge: Leighton, Hon. Joseph
05/07/2024Event Result:: Motion Hearing scheduled on: 05/07/2024 03:00 PMHas been: Canceled For the following reason: By Court prior to dateComments: P 52 & 53 Withdrawn and 55 is allowedHon. Joseph Leighton, Presiding
05/07/2024Endorsement on motion for protective order (#55.0): ALLOWED(dated 5/7/2024) ns niImage
05/07/2024ORDER: PROTECTIVE ORDER AND CLAW BACK PROVISION REGARDING EXHIBITS 1 TO 34 FROM STOUGHTON'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION 21-1-IA.(dated 5/7/2024) ns niJudge: Leighton, Hon. Joseph56Image
06/03/2024Defendant William Farwell's Assented to Motion to (Partially) compel the production of document from Attorney Generals Office ( Partially Assented Motion)efiled 05/22/202457Image
06/03/2024William Farwell's Memorandum in support ofpartially assented to motion to compel the attorney generals produce to produce documentsefiled 5/22/2457.1Image
06/03/2024Affidavit of compliance with Superior Court Rule 9Aefiled 5/22/24Applies To: Raven, Esq., William A (Attorney) on behalf of Farwell, William (Defendant); Gillies, Esq., John W (Attorney) on behalf of Farwell, William (Defendant)57.2Image
06/03/2024Certificate of Compliance Superior Court Rule 9Cefiled 5/22/2457.3Image
06/03/2024Rule 9A notice of filingefiled 5/22/24Applies To: Farwell, William (Defendant)57.4Image
06/03/2024Rule 9A list of documents filed.Efiled 5/22/24Applies To: Farwell, Matthew (Defendant)57.5Image
06/05/2024Attorney appearanceOn this date Lisa Skehill Maki, Esq. added as Attorney for the Commonwealth for Other interested party Office of the Attoreny GeneralImage
06/05/2024Non-Party / Case Participant Office of the Attoreny General's Assented to Motion for an enlargement of time to respond to defendant William Farwell's partially assented to motion to compel the Attorney Generals office to produce documents58Image
06/05/2024Affidavit of compliance with Superior Court Rule 9AApplies To: Maki, Esq., Lisa Skehill (Attorney) on behalf of Office of the Attoreny General (Other interested party)58.1Image
06/05/2024Rule 9A notice of filingApplies To: Maki, Esq., Lisa Skehill (Attorney) on behalf of Office of the Attoreny General (Other interested party)58.2Image
06/05/2024Rule 9A list of documents filed.Applies To: Maki, Esq., Lisa Skehill (Attorney) on behalf of Office of the Attoreny General (Other interested party)58.3Image
06/24/2024Endorsement on Motion for an enlargement of time to respond to defendant William Farwull's partially assented to Motion to compel the Attorney General's Office to produce documents. (#58.0): ALLOWED(dated 6/21/2024) ns niImage
06/24/2024Opposition to defendant's Motion to compel---OPPOSITION filed by Office of the Attoreny General60Image
06/24/2024Affidavit of Michele Granda61Image
06/26/2024Attorney appearance electronically filed.Image
07/02/2024Attorney appearanceOn this date William A Raven, Esq. dismissed/withdrawn as Private Counsel for Defendant William Farwell
07/11/2024Event Result:: Motion Hearing to Compel scheduled on: 07/11/2024 02:30 PMHas been: Held via Video/PhoneComments: Zoom; FTR Room 10 - 1st call at 2:45:43 and second call at 3:12:07Atty General did not appear - -continued to FridayHon. Claudine Cloutier, Presiding
07/12/2024Event Result:: Motion Hearing to Compel scheduled on: 07/12/2024 11:30 AMHas been: Held as ScheduledComments: Zoom; FTR Room 10 -start time of 11:32:01 30 days for the AG to produce the documents for in camera reviewHon. Claudine Cloutier, Presiding
07/31/2024Defendant Robert Devine's Motion for trial court Rule IX order rec'd 7/30/2462Image
07/31/2024Opposition to defendants Robert Devine's motion for a Trial Court Rule Order filed by Darlene Smith as the Personal Representative of the Estate of Sandra Birchmorerec'd 7/30/2462.1Image
07/31/2024Affidavit of compliance with Superior Court Rule 9Arec'd 7/31/24Applies To: Devine, Robert (Defendant)62.2Image
07/31/2024Affidavit of compliance with Superior Court Rule 9Crec'd 7/30/24Applies To: Devine, Robert (Defendant)62.3Image
07/31/2024Rule 9A list of documents filed.rec'd 7/30/2462.4Image
08/05/2024Endorsement on Motion for a Trial Court Rule IX Order. (#62.0): ALLOWEDwithout substantive opposition. The Office of the Commission of Probation shall not, however, disclose information deemed to be confidential pursuant to G.L. c. 209A §8 or G.L. c. 258E §10, except for information pertaining only to Birchmore, without further order of the Court. Further, should the parties receive any information that was subject to an order of impoundment, they may not disclose such information to any persons or entities without further order of the Court. (dated 8/1/2024) ns niJudge: Cloutier, Hon. ClaudineImage
08/15/2024General correspondence regarding CONFIDENTIAL DOCUMENT RECEIVED from Commissioner of Probation (filed in the IMPOUNDED ROOM)63
08/22/2024Non-Party / Case Participant Office of the Attoreny General's Submission of Submission statement (E-filed 8/22/2024)64Image
08/26/2024Defendant William Farwell's Notice of Appearance of Robert William Connelly, Esq. on his behalf (e-Filed 8/23/2024) dgImage
08/27/2024Endorsement on motion to compel Production of Documents (#57.0): After hearing, Motion is ALLOWEDin part. The Office of the Attorney General is ORDERED to respond to the subpoena at issue by producing the digital forensic evidence obtained from the MSP, including but not limited to extraction reports; records obtained by the MSP through search warrants; and records saved as AGO Shared Stoughton PD File/Birchmore reports 1, 6, 8, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, and "Canton PD Reports." The Motion is otherwise DENIED. The Protective Order (Paper #56) shall apply to such materials until further order of the court. See Memorandum of Decision and Order. (Cloutier, J)(dated 8/26/2024) ns vsImage
08/27/2024ORDER: MEMORANDUM OF DECISION AND ORDER ON MOTION TO COMPEL THE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE (Paper 57): See Order. (Cloutier, J)(dated 8/26/2024) ccs vs65Image
08/28/2024Attorney appearanceOn this date David Bae, Esq. dismissed/withdrawn as Private Counsel for Defendant William Farwell
08/28/2024Attorney appearanceOn this date John W Gillies, Esq. dismissed/withdrawn as Private Counsel for Defendant William Farwell
08/28/2024Attorney withdrawal electronically filed of Bae, Esq., David (Attorney) on behalf of Farwell, William (Defendant);(E-Filed 08/27/2024)mkImage
08/28/2024Attorney withdrawal electronically filed of Gillies, Esq., John W (Attorney) on behalf of Farwell, William (Defendant)(E-Filed 08/27/2024)mkImage
 
Matthew Farwell, the former Stoughton police detective accused of grooming Sandra Birchmoreas a teen and then killing her when she became pregnant with his child as an adult, has requested the cancellation of an upcoming hearing so his attorney can have more time to review his case.

...


Updated on September 7, 2024at 4:11 pm​

 
Content warning: This story contains details of sexual abuse and suicide.

Matthew Farwell brought ginger ale.

...

08.30.2024
 
Federal authorities indicted former Stoughton Police detective Matthew Farwell today on charges of allegedly murdering Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old woman that the 38-year-old North Easton resident had first met as an instructor of a Stoughton Police Department vocational youth educational program when she was a teenager. According to the Department of Justice, Farwell allegedly killed Birchmore “to prevent her from disclosing information about his longstanding sexual exploitation of her while he was on duty, beginning when she was a minor.”

...


8/28/2024, 5:12 p.m.
 
Defendant allegedly murdered a pregnant young woman and staged her death to look like a suicide to prevent law enforcement from learning about their sexual relationship which began when she was a minor
BOSTON – A former Stoughton, Mass. police officer has been charged in federal court in Boston with allegedly murdering a young woman to prevent her from disclosing information about his longstanding sexual exploitation of her while he was on duty, beginning when she was a minor.

Matthew Farwell, 38, of North Easton, Mass., has been indicted on one count of killing a witness or victim. Farwell was arrested this morning and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at 2:30 p.m. today.


...


Wednesday, August 28, 2024


Attachments
USA v. Matthew Farwell - Indictment [PDF, 225 KB]
USA v. Matthew Farwell - Motion for Detention [PDF, 352 KB]
USA v. Matthew Farwell - Detention Affidavit [PDF, 947 KB]


Updated August 29, 2024
 

Justice is Coming

On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, federal authorities indicted former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell on charges that he murdered Sandra Birchmore when she was just 23 in her Canton, Massachusetts apartment in February 2021. Sandra claimed that Matthew was the father of her unborn baby up to her death. Later, her phone texts proved Matthew initiated sexual relations with her when she was a member of the Stoughton police explorers program.



Our Mission​

Our mission is to raise public awareness surrounding Sandra's tragic story in order to prevent this horrific situation from happening to another young person. Sandra was not alone. Her shocking case is just the tip of the iceberg. Sandra's life, and the life of her unborn child, were ended way too soon. Through our efforts, we hope to do the following:

At link...
 
What consequences do we know of so far for these officers?

Matthew and William Farwell, and Robert Devine resigned from the SPD and are decertified as police. The terms of Matthew’s voluntary agreement to avoid further action can be viewed via mass.gov under the POST commission’s database. William Farwell and Robert Devine’s cases are still in the POST process of adjudication.

All three SPD officers are named in a pending civil lawsuit brought by Birchmore's estate, which also names the town of Stoughton and the Stoughton police, alleging "wrongful death, negligence, negligent supervision, negligent retention, pain and suffering, and emotional distress" over what it described as a years-long grooming scheme.

Was the medical examiner in Sandra’s case the same as Officer John O’Keefe?

No, it was a different medical examiner - her name is Maria Del Mar Capo Martinez, M.D.

Which law enforcement agencies are involved in this case?

The law enforcement agencies involved include the Stoughton Police Department, Canton Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Norfolk County District Attorney, Massachusetts District Attorney, FBI, and U.S. Military Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

From the Justice for Sandra Birchmore website
 

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