Three months after former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell's arrest in connection with the alleged murder of Sandra Birchmore, newly uncovered documents shed light on his relationship with the 23-year-old and the events leading to her death. The revelations come from a Freedom of Information Act request that granted access to email records and an FBI affidavit by State Police Lieutenant John Fanning, a lead investigator in the case.
The affidavit, dated November 28, 2023, alleges that Farwell engaged in sexual encounters with Birchmore while on duty, raising questions about potential larceny charges for using taxpayer-funded patrol hours for personal purposes. "There were numerous text messages back and forth between the two that showed M. Farwell and Birchmore coordinated different clandestine places to meet," wrote Fanning. Locations included a Costco, hotels, Birchmore’s family home in Stoughton, and her Canton apartment. "Many of the exchanges would include follow-up text messages indicating that they had completed their sexual encounter."
These allegations coincide with Birchmore’s death in February 2021, initially ruled a suicide by officials based on "physical evidence, personal notes, and the medical examiner’s findings." However, Fanning’s affidavit suggests otherwise, detailing a potential struggle at the scene and linking Farwell’s actions to her untimely death.
The affidavit also highlights a troubling pattern of behavior. Between October 2020 and January 2021, Fanning documented 17 alleged meetings between Farwell and Birchmore during his shifts. Evidence of these encounters surfaced in December 2022, the same month Birchmore’s aunt, Darlene Smith, filed a civil lawsuit against the Stoughton Police Department. The lawsuit accuses three officers, including Farwell, of grooming and sexually exploiting Birchmore, a former Police Explorers trainee. An internal investigation by the department corroborated that many of these interactions occurred while officers were on duty.
On December 19, 2023, Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey requested that Stoughton District Court seal a search warrant for Farwell’s Verizon phone records. Morrissey cited an ongoing investigation into "false written reports, fraudulent claims for payment or benefit, larceny, and misleading police." The documents were unsealed in March 2024, revealing further details about Farwell’s alleged misuse of authority and its connection to Birchmore’s case.
Birchmore’s death and the subsequent investigation have prompted widespread scrutiny of the Stoughton Police Department. Her aunt's lawsuit aims to hold the officers accountable for their alleged exploitation of Birchmore, whose life was marked by her involvement with the Police Explorers program. "Sandra trusted these men, and they abused their power," said Smith. "We want answers, and we want justice."
Although Farwell has not yet been charged with larceny, the ongoing investigations into his conduct, both personal and professional, may lead to additional charges. Federal prosecutors allege that Farwell killed Birchmore and staged her death as a suicide, a theory supported by evidence of their relationship and its troubling dynamics.
As the case unfolds, it continues to highlight systemic failures and raises questions about the oversight of law enforcement personnel. Birchmore’s family and the community at large await further developments in the pursuit of justice for her tragic death.
#StoughtonPolice #SandraBirchmore #MatthewFarwell #JusticeForSandra #PoliceMisconduct
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