Matthew Farwell convicted of killing Sandra Birchmore and unborn child

A jury has found former Stoughton, Massachusetts, police officer Matthew Farwell guilty of killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child. The verdict was read in federal court in South Boston on Tuesday afternoon, November 10, 2026.

Farwell was charged with killing a witness or victim and causing the death of an unborn child. He pleaded not guilty. The jury had previously said in a note on Monday that it was "in a deadlock." There were gasps from Birchmore's family as the verdict was read aloud in court.

Farwell faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2027. The Department of Justice could have pursued the death penalty against Farwell, but decided last year it would not.

The Trial

Jurors heard from 50 witnesses over four weeks of testimony. To convict Farwell on the charge of killing a witness or victim, jurors had to find that he not only killed Birchmore, but that he did so to prevent her from reporting his crimes to federal authorities.

Farwell and Birchmore met when she was a 13-year-old cadet in the Stoughton Police Department's youth explorers program. Prosecutors say Farwell began a sexual relationship with her when she was just 15.

The 23-year-old Birchmore was found dead in her Canton apartment with a strap hanging around her neck in February 2021. Her death was initially ruled a suicide. But more than three years later, Farwell was arrested and the medical examiner changed Birchmore's manner of death to "undetermined."

Prosecutors made the case that Farwell strangled Birchmore, who was pregnant with what she believed was his child, and then staged her death to look like a suicide in order to cover up their years-long affair. The defense said Birchmore had a history of mental health problems and committed suicide because Farwell told her he was not the father and the relationship was over.

Deliberations and Verdict

The jury, made up of eight men and four women, deliberated for roughly 14 hours and sent out a note Monday afternoon saying they were deadlocked. They were able to resolve their impasse after a judge told them Tuesday morning to keep at it.

Farwell is now 40. He faces up to life in prison at his sentencing on Feb. 3, 2027.

Why it matters

The conviction ends a nearly monthlong trial in federal court in Boston, partly because local prosecutors never brought criminal charges. The FBI began looking into Birchmore's death in 2023 and concluded the local probe was rushed and compromised. The case centered on whether Farwell killed Birchmore to stop her from reporting his crimes to law enforcement.

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Sources

• nbcboston.com: Matthew Farwell verdict watch: Sandra Birchmore jury deadlocked – NBC Boston
• cbsnews.com: Matthew Farwell convicted of killing Sandra Birchmore and unborn child in Massachusetts murder trial - CBS Boston
• bostonherald.com: Jurors in ex-Mass cop Matthew Farwell's federal murder trial report 'deadlock'
• nypost.com: Disgraced ex-cop Matthew Farwell found guilty of killing pregnant Sandra Birchmore

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.