Jury Resumes Deliberations in Matthew Farwell Murder Trial
WHO:
CBS News - U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Leah Foley said, “Today, justice was served for Ms. Sandra Birchmore and her unborn son,” and described Farwell’s actions as “absolutely diabolical behavior.”
CBS News - Birchmore’s cousin Barbara Wright said, “We finally got justice,” adding that the family had fought for her and that she deserved justice.
CBS News - Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said he hoped the verdict would bring closure to Birchmore’s family and friends. His office said its ability to prosecute was constrained by the medical examiner’s initial suicide finding, and that it referred the case to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office for further review.
CBS News - Acting Stoughton Police Chief James O’Connor said Farwell’s conduct was “a profound betrayal of the trust every police officer is sworn to uphold.”
CBS News - Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara said, “There are those who wanted to forget Sandra Birchmore. But enough people would not remain silent.”
Boston.com News - Matthew Farwell, a former Massachusetts police officer, was accused of killing Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old woman.
CBS News US - Farwell was accused of strangling Birchmore and staging her death to look like a suicide.
CBS News - A jury found Farwell guilty of killing Birchmore and her unborn child. Farwell pleaded not guilty.
CBS News - Birchmore’s family gasped as the verdict was read aloud.
Boston.com News - Chief U.S. District Judge Denise Casper instructed jurors to “take the time [they] need.”
WHAT:
CBS News - Norfolk District Attorney’s Office said it made its case file and investigative materials public beginning in October 2022 and funded development of additional evidence.
CBS News - McNamara said unanswered questions remained about Birchmore’s case even after the verdict.
Boston.com News - Farwell faced two federal charges: killing a witness or victim and killing a child in utero; he could be sentenced to life in prison.
CBS News - The jury found Farwell guilty of killing Birchmore and her unborn child. He faces mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
CBS News - Jurors heard testimony from 50 witnesses over four weeks.
CBS News - To convict Farwell of killing a witness or victim, jurors had to find that he killed Birchmore to prevent her from reporting his crimes to federal authorities.
Boston.com News - The jury was reported deadlocked and had said in a note that it was “in a deadlock”; deliberations resumed after the judge’s instruction.
WHERE:
CBS News - The verdict was read in federal court in South Boston.
CBS News - Birchmore was found dead in her Canton apartment with a strap around her neck.
CBS News - Farwell and Birchmore met through the Stoughton Police Department’s youth explorers program, where Birchmore was a 13-year-old cadet.
WHEN:
CBS News - Birchmore was found dead in February 2021.
CBS News - Farwell’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 3, 2027.
WHY:
CBS News - Prosecutors said Farwell strangled Birchmore while she was pregnant with what she believed was his child, then staged the death as a suicide to conceal their years-long affair.
CBS News - The defense argued Birchmore died by suicide after Farwell told her he was not the father and their relationship was over; it also cited her history of mental health problems.
HOW:
CBS News - Birchmore’s death was initially ruled a suicide; more than three years later, Farwell was arrested and the medical examiner changed the manner of death to “undetermined.”
CBS News - The Department of Justice decided not to pursue the death penalty against Farwell.
(UPDATED November 10, 2026 22:03 UTC)
A federal jury convicted former Massachusetts officer Matthew Farwell of killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child. Prosecutors said Farwell strangled Birchmore and staged her death as suicide; he faces life without parole. Birchmore’s family welcomed the verdict, while Farwell’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb.
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(UPDATED November 10, 2026 21:01 UTC)
A federal jury found former officer Matthew Farwell guilty of killing Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child. Prosecutors said he staged her death as suicide; the defense disputed the accusation. Farwell faces mandatory life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for February 3, 2027.