DOJ decides death-penalty fate of cop accused in murder of teen sex victim Sandra Birchmore
The Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that former Massachusetts police officer Matthew Farwell will not be charged with capital punishment, even though the case involves the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Sandra Birchmore.
Federal prosecutors were directed by US Attorney General Pam Bondi not to pursue the death penalty, according to a report by NBC Boston. Farwell, 38, who once worked for the Stoughton Police Department, is now facing a life‑sentence if found guilty.
In 2021, the 38‑year‑old is accused of strangling Birchmore in her Canton apartment and then staging the scene to appear as suicide. The death, which was initially ruled a suicide, was later reversed and a murder charge was filed in August. An additional charge of killing an unborn child was added in October. Farwell has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Birchmore was three months pregnant at the time of her death and had told Farwell that the baby was his. Farwell’s alleged sexual relationship began when Birchmore was a 15‑year‑old volunteer with the police department and he was 26. He later admitted that the sex occurred after she turned 16 – the age of consent in Massachusetts – and that she had pressured him to impregnate her in order to expose their affair.
She had reportedly been desperate for a child and had threatened to reveal their relationship if he did not conceive. While she was pregnant, Birchmore reportedly shared the excitement of upcoming appointments and ultrasound results with Farwell, even booking prenatal care after her death.
The case also highlights a troubling pattern of sexual abuse within the department. Birchmore was said to have been molested by not one but two other officers during her time as a volunteer. Farwell, herself, claimed to have started sexual encounters only after Birchmore reached the legal age of consent. The investigation points to a broader problem of grooming and exploitation that extends beyond this single incident.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
