Matthew Farwell convicted of killing of Sandra Birchmore, unborn child
Summary
A federal jury convicted former Stoughton, Massachusetts, police officer Matthew Farwell of killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child. Prosecutors argued that Farwell killed Birchmore to stop her from reporting his crimes and staged her death as a suicide; the defense argued that she died by suicide.Key Facts
- The verdict was read in federal court in South Boston on Tuesday.
- Farwell was charged with killing a witness or victim and causing the death of an unborn child.
- Birchmore, 23, was found dead in her Canton apartment in February 2021; her death was initially ruled a suicide.
- Prosecutors said Farwell strangled Birchmore and staged her death to cover up their relationship.
- Farwell and Birchmore met when she was 13 and took part in a Stoughton Police Department youth program; prosecutors said their sexual relationship began when she was 15.
- The defense said Birchmore had mental health problems and died by suicide after Farwell said he was not the father and ended their relationship.
- Jurors heard testimony from 50 witnesses over four weeks.
- Farwell faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole; prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
