In a tense federal court hearing in Boston on Thursday, former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell, wearing a tan jail jumpsuit and shackles, asked a judge to throw out the two-count federal indictment that accuses him of killing 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child. His attorneys argued the charges are legally defective and lack the specificity they say is required for a federal prosecution.
Judge weighs defense motion
US District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper listened to roughly 45 minutes of argument before saying she would take the defense motion under advisement and issue a ruling at a later date. As reported by The Boston Globe, prosecutors urged the court to keep the case on track for a trial scheduled in October 2026, while the defense described the indictment as “defective in both form and substance.”
What prosecutors allege
Federal prosecutors say Farwell strangled Birchmore in her Canton apartment on or about Feb. 1, 2021, then staged the scene to make it look like a suicide. A superseding indictment also alleges he caused the death of her unborn child. According to a U.S. Department of Justice press release, prosecutors allege Farwell groomed and sexually exploited Birchmore beginning when she was 15 and that by fall 2020 he had agreed to attempt to impregnate her.
Family in court
Birchmore’s relatives and supporters filled the courtroom and gathered outside, pressing the judge not to dismiss the charges. “Please don’t dismiss it. Let the jury of his peers decide his fate,” said Mizzy Berry of the Justice for Birchmore group, while cousin Barbara Wright called Farwell a “monster, selfish, dangerous…killer,” according to WHDH.
Evidence and motive under scrutiny
Farwell’s attorneys argued that the indictment does not properly allege the “reasonable likelihood” that he intended to prevent anyone from providing information to federal authorities, which they say is a required element of the witness killing charge. The Boston Globe reports that DNA testing has excluded Farwell as the father of Birchmore’s unborn baby. Prosecutors counter that this does not erase other evidence, including thousands of text messages and investigative findings.
Penalties and prosecution choices
If convicted, Farwell faces a possible life sentence. The federal count alleging he caused the death of an in utero child carries a mandatory life term, prosecutors note in the DOJ press release. Federal prosecutors have also told the court they will not seek the death penalty, a decision reported by NBC Boston.
Where this stands locally
The federal case and renewed scrutiny around Birchmore’s death have sparked protests and ongoing coverage since mid-2024, including reporting that first highlighted new findings suggesting homicide in June 2024. An earlier report on new findings suggesting homicide chronicled early challenges to the initial suicide ruling and the community’s response.
Chief Judge Casper said she would issue a written ruling on the dismissal request at a later date, and the parties are expected to reconvene as the case moves toward the October trial. For now, Farwell remains in federal custody as the pretrial calendar unfolds, according to WHDH.
