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Police officer found guilty of murdering pregnant woman he groomed and raped as a child
Former police officer Matthew Farwell has been found guilty of murdering 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore, who was pregnant with a baby boy.
Birchmore was 12 when she first met Farwell, who was a police officer at the time.
He spent three years grooming her before beginning to rape her at the age of 15.
Their relationship was ongoing, and Farwell murdered Birchmore, then age 23, after she told him she was pregnant.
He has been found guilty of her murder, as well as causing the death of her preborn baby.
Farwell was charged with Birchmore's murder in 2024, and initially pleaded not guilty.
In 2010, Birchmore joined the Police Explorers program when she was 12 years old; Farwell was 27, and a police officer with the Stoughton Police Department.
Birchmore had dreams of a career in law enforcement, but Farwell seemingly saw her only as a target, as he began grooming her immediately.
When she was 15, he began raping her, and disturbing text messages were found on Farwell’s phone that further indicated how much control her had over her.
In 2019, Farwell told Birchmore it was “a big thing to get to be the first” and asked, “what would you have done if we never used a condom and I never pulled out." She replied that she still would want to finish school.
“Farwell sent a text indicating he would have liked to have sex with Birchmore when she was even younger, saying, ‘You should’ve told me we could’ve [expletive] so much sooner,’” prosecutors said. “After sending that text, Farwell quickly instructed Birchmore, ‘Clear that part out baby,’ and when she confirmed that she did so, he texted ‘Good girl.’”
Farwell's abuse continued until Birchmore's death, and Farwell was also frequently violent. He was controlling, tracking her location on his phone.
“On at least 20 occasions in just the year before her death, Farwell sent Birchmore text messages stating that he would grab her throat, pin her down by her throat, squeeze her throat, or choke her during sexual activity,” prosecutors said. “For example, less than four months before her death, Farwell told Birchmore that during their next sexual encounter, he was going to ‘grab [her] throat.’”
In 2020, Birchmore found out she was pregnant. Farwell was furious at the news.
“I literally have nothing to say right now how could you express that in text when I said I don’t appreciate it,” he texted, and later called her “truly the worst person on the face of the earth.” He also became violent, shoving her and placing her into a chokehold.
When a friend of Birchmore's reported Farwell's abuse to the Stoughton Police Department, he wasn't arrested; instead, a PD employee notified Farwell about the report made against him.
Farwell told the employee to keep quiet, and on February 1, 2021, strangled Birchmore. Afterward, he tied her body to a door handle to make it look like a suicide.
Initially, Farwell was charged only with Birchmore's murder, but in November of 2025, prosecutors announced he would also be charged with causing the death of her baby.
A federal jury found Farwell guilty of one count of killing a witness or victim, and one count of causing the death of an unborn child. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said in a statement:
“Despite Mr. Farwell’s attempt to silence Sandra Birchmore, today her story is told. Through the testimony of friends and experts, through thousands of text messages and photos, what happened to Sandra Birchmore is no longer Mr. Farwell’s secret.
He strangled Sandra, killed her and her unborn son and staged it to look like a suicide by hanging.
The mountain of evidence against Matthew Farwell uncloaked his chilling and diabolical actions and lies. He now faces life in federal prison. Justice has indeed been served.
It is my sincere hope that moving forward, Sandra Birchmore’s legacy is defined not by the tragedies that led to this case, but rather by the memories of a young woman who had a bright future. A young woman who was excited about her impending motherhood and the prospect of becoming a nurse.
I hope everyone recalls a girl full of love, life and hope. That is what Sandra deserves.”
Birchmore was almost robbed of the justice she deserves; the Norfolk District Attorney initially refused to prosecute, and ruled her death a suicide. There are accusations that other men also took part in abusing Birchmore.
It took a nearly year-long investigation from the FBI for charges to be filed.
Pregnant women are at high risk of violence, with homicide a leading cause of death.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
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·Police officer found guilty of murdering pregnant woman he groomed and raped as a child
Former police officer Matthew Farwell has been found guilty of murdering 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore, who was pregnant with a baby boy.
Birchmore was 12 when she first met Farwell, who was a police officer at the time.
He spent three years grooming her before beginning to rape her at the age of 15.
Their relationship was ongoing, and Farwell murdered Birchmore, then age 23, after she told him she was pregnant.
He has been found guilty of her murder, as well as causing the death of her preborn baby.
Farwell was charged with Birchmore's murder in 2024, and initially pleaded not guilty.
In 2010, Birchmore joined the Police Explorers program when she was 12 years old; Farwell was 27, and a police officer with the Stoughton Police Department.
Birchmore had dreams of a career in law enforcement, but Farwell seemingly saw her only as a target, as he began grooming her immediately.
When she was 15, he began raping her, and disturbing text messages were found on Farwell’s phone that further indicated how much control her had over her.
In 2019, Farwell told Birchmore it was “a big thing to get to be the first” and asked, “what would you have done if we never used a condom and I never pulled out." She replied that she still would want to finish school.
“Farwell sent a text indicating he would have liked to have sex with Birchmore when she was even younger, saying, ‘You should’ve told me we could’ve [expletive] so much sooner,’” prosecutors said. “After sending that text, Farwell quickly instructed Birchmore, ‘Clear that part out baby,’ and when she confirmed that she did so, he texted ‘Good girl.’”
Farwell's abuse continued until Birchmore's death, and Farwell was also frequently violent. He was controlling, tracking her location on his phone.
“On at least 20 occasions in just the year before her death, Farwell sent Birchmore text messages stating that he would grab her throat, pin her down by her throat, squeeze her throat, or choke her during sexual activity,” prosecutors said. “For example, less than four months before her death, Farwell told Birchmore that during their next sexual encounter, he was going to ‘grab [her] throat.’”
In 2020, Birchmore found out she was pregnant. Farwell was furious at the news.
“I literally have nothing to say right now how could you express that in text when I said I don’t appreciate it,” he texted, and later called her “truly the worst person on the face of the earth.” He also became violent, shoving her and placing her into a chokehold.
When a friend of Birchmore's reported Farwell's abuse to the Stoughton Police Department, he wasn't arrested; instead, a PD employee notified Farwell about the report made against him.
Farwell told the employee to keep quiet, and on February 1, 2021, strangled Birchmore. Afterward, he tied her body to a door handle to make it look like a suicide.
Initially, Farwell was charged only with Birchmore's murder, but in November of 2025, prosecutors announced he would also be charged with causing the death of her baby.
A federal jury found Farwell guilty of one count of killing a witness or victim, and one count of causing the death of an unborn child. He is scheduled to be sentenced in February.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said in a statement:
“Despite Mr. Farwell’s attempt to silence Sandra Birchmore, today her story is told. Through the testimony of friends and experts, through thousands of text messages and photos, what happened to Sandra Birchmore is no longer Mr. Farwell’s secret.
He strangled Sandra, killed her and her unborn son and staged it to look like a suicide by hanging.
The mountain of evidence against Matthew Farwell uncloaked his chilling and diabolical actions and lies. He now faces life in federal prison. Justice has indeed been served.
It is my sincere hope that moving forward, Sandra Birchmore’s legacy is defined not by the tragedies that led to this case, but rather by the memories of a young woman who had a bright future. A young woman who was excited about her impending motherhood and the prospect of becoming a nurse.
I hope everyone recalls a girl full of love, life and hope. That is what Sandra deserves.”
Birchmore was almost robbed of the justice she deserves; the Norfolk District Attorney initially refused to prosecute, and ruled her death a suicide. There are accusations that other men also took part in abusing Birchmore.
It took a nearly year-long investigation from the FBI for charges to be filed.
Pregnant women are at high risk of violence, with homicide a leading cause of death.
Live Action News is pro-life news and commentary from a pro-life perspective.
Our work is possible because of our donors. Please consider giving to further our work of changing hearts and minds on issues of life and human dignity.
Contact editor@liveaction.org for questions, corrections, or if you are seeking permission to reprint any Live Action News content.
Guest Articles: To submit a guest article to Live Action News, email editor@liveaction.org with an attached Word document of 800-1000 words. Please also attach any photos relevant to your submission if applicable. If your submission is accepted for publication, you will be notified within three weeks. Guest articles are not compensated (see our Open License Agreement). Thank you for your interest in Live Action News!
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