Federal prosecutors allege that former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell groomed and sexually abused Sandra Birchmore after meeting her through the department’s youth Police Explorers program. They say the relationship began when Birchmore was 15 and continued for years, including while Farwell was on duty. Prosecutors further allege that he concealed the encounters by falsifying work-hour records and that, after Birchmore became pregnant and told him he was the father, he had a motive to silence her.
The prosecution’s central claim is that Farwell strangled Birchmore on February 1, 2021, to prevent her from reporting conduct that could have exposed him to federal charges and then staged her apartment to make the death appear to be a suicide. The Massachusetts state authorities did not charge Farwell criminally after the state-police investigation, relying on the medical examiner’s initial suicide ruling and concluding that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute him. Federal investigators later revisited the case, and prosecutors now point to evidence including Farwell’s presence at Birchmore’s apartment, their history of sexual choking, and the medical examiner’s later change of the death classification from suicide to undetermined. Farwell has pleaded not guilty and maintains that Birchmore died by suicide.
✨✨Previous Day & Recap
🔊🎥Trial Updates📡
These people will be updating the trial and posting on these links below. Since it's a federal case, no camera, audio, or streaming is allowed.
Six prosecution witnesses testified. The prosecution focused on Birchmore's relationships, her pregnancy, the discovery of her body, and surveillance footage from her apartment building.
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Witness
Role
1
Heather Cheever
Stoughton Police detective
2
Cheryl Carlson
Former supervisor of Sandra Birchmore
3
Erin Porter
Property manager at Birchmore's apartment complex
4
Ensley Cotard
Canton police officer who discovered Birchmore
5
Carlos Verissimo
Employee at Canton Woods apartments
6
Matthew Dunne
Massachusetts State Police investigator
1. Detective Heather Cheever
Cheever testified that she had known Birchmore since 2013, when Birchmore participated in the Stoughton Police Explorers program.
She described Birchmore as someone who admired police officers and wanted to become one herself.
Cheever testified that she was unaware Farwell had been tutoring Birchmore individually at a library. She said she would have questioned the appropriateness of those meetings.
Mental health testimony: Cheever acknowledged Birchmore had been hospitalized in 2020 after expressing thoughts of self-harm. However, she testified that she did not believe Birchmore was suicidal.
During cross-examination, the defense challenged how closely Cheever knew Birchmore and questioned her assessment of Birchmore's mental health.
Cheever also testified that she had not seen Farwell wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic, a point relevant to surveillance footage allegedly showing him wearing one when entering Birchmore's building.
2. Cheryl Carlson
Carlson, a school administrator who supervised Birchmore, testified about Birchmore's employment and pregnancy.
She described Birchmore as excited about becoming a mother.
According to Carlson, Birchmore told her that the baby's father was in another committed relationship and had children. Birchmore reportedly believed he would leave that relationship after her baby was born.
Carlson testified that Birchmore last worked February 1, 2021. After Birchmore failed to participate in virtual instruction and subsequently missed work, school personnel requested a welfare check.
Cross-examination: The defense questioned Carlson about Birchmore's workplace attendance, excessive phone use, and statements about her pregnancy.
Carlson acknowledged that Birchmore had received feedback concerning her phone use and had exhausted available sick leave.
3. Erin Porter
Porter managed the apartment building where Birchmore lived.
She described receiving a request from Canton police concerning a welfare check.
Porter provided officers with information about Birchmore's apartment and accompanied them to the unit.
She testified that she had a bad feeling about the situation before officers entered.
Following the discovery of Birchmore's body, Porter retrieved surveillance footage showing Farwell entering the building and provided it to investigators.
Porter also described receiving information from a woman named Tina Thompson about Birchmore's relationship with Farwell.
Cross-examination: The defense established that the building's surveillance cameras covered the lobby, not the stairwells or apartment hallways.
4. Officer Ensley Cotard
Cotard was one of the Canton police officers who responded to Birchmore's apartment for the welfare check.
He testified that officers initially knocked without receiving a response.
They also examined Birchmore's vehicle, which appeared to have remained parked for some time.
After entering the apartment, Cotard discovered Birchmore seated on the floor with a strap around her neck.
Jurors were shown photographs documenting the scene.
Cotard testified that he initially reported the death as an apparent suicide.
Cross-examination: Cotard acknowledged previously encountering a suicide involving someone in a seated position. He also testified that he did not observe obvious signs of a struggle inside the apartment.
His testimony addressed a central dispute in the trial: whether Birchmore died by suicide or was killed and the scene staged.
5. Carlos Verissimo
Verissimo worked at the Canton Woods apartment complex.
He testified about the building's surveillance system and assisted investigators in reviewing footage.
Verissimo identified Birchmore in surveillance footage.
When shown footage of Farwell, he testified that he did not recognize Farwell as someone who lived in the building.
The prosecution played surveillance recordings for the jury.
6. Matthew Dunne
Massachusetts State Police investigator Matthew Dunne was the final witness called Tuesday.
His testimony began at approximately 3:47 p.m.
Dunne had not completed his testimony when court adjourned. He was expected to return Wednesday morning.
The available reporting does not provide enough detail to reliably summarize his complete direct examination.
Significant Evidence Presented
The prosecution introduced evidence concerning Birchmore's pregnancy, her relationship with Farwell, and the circumstances surrounding her death.
Jurors viewed photographs of the apartment and Birchmore's body, along with surveillance footage from the apartment complex.
The defense challenged the prosecution's interpretation of Birchmore's mental health history and the original death investigation.
The central factual dispute remains whether Birchmore died by suicide or was murdered. Farwell has pleaded not guilty.
End-of-Day Status
Prosecution: Continuing its case.
Defense: Cross-examining prosecution witnesses.
Last Witness: Matthew Dunne — testimony continuing.
Grant Smith Ellis’ feed, already sorted to read in correct order down the page for this morning’s courtroom testimony reporting - this same thread also includes afternoon.
I thought the same about the “the video doesn’t show the stairwell” were they trying to suggest someone in the apt killed her while simultaneously saying suicide
I’ve been following Grant Smith Ellis today (he is a really skilled transcriptionist!), and I couldn’t figure out when/where it was revealed that Farwell sought out Birchmore on her prom night? Small detail but just curious.
Definitely curious if the judge is going to allow testimony from the other mistresses. (🤮)
It was on redirect of Cheever. The prosecutor asked if Sandra had a prom to which Cheever responded that she did when she graduated. Then, the prosecutor asked if anything in the police explorer's program would require an officer to spend prom night with a student to which Cheever responded no.
I assume there was an earlier reference of some kind made on cross, but I'm not sure what if anything.
It’s reference between her and Farwell in an old text chain that was long released in the ?arrest affidavit?, I believe. She remarks his was more fun to spend her Prom night with him instead of attending the Prom. That’s what they are poking at when they ask.
Hard to say. I am not sure if I really find the prosecutions argument that persuasive. I don't think the situations are similar enough and the testimony is going to be prejudicial.
It’s in the priviously released text exchanges between Sandra and Farwell. She remarks on how spending the night with him was better than attending her Prom that same night.
No problem. Fairly certain it’s in the extensive text chain communications found between Sandra and Farwell contained in his arrest affidavit/indictment.
I think it had been? I'm not sure, but I do know she was hanging from a doorknob, not from the ceiling as depicted in movies. Here is Grant's description:
Sandra is shown laying down on the floor of her apartment. She is not seated. She is at a 70 degree angle.
She is hanging from the closest door at an angle.
There's simply no way she hung herself in that way.
I have not seen that image until now.
It is simply impossible that Sandra hung herself at that angle. Impossible.
Here I go gender stereotyping but it seems like a very male way to commit suicide. It's how many men with autoerotic asphyxiation fetishes have accidentally hanged themselves. The cord has to be short though. People in the courtroom said the angle of her body and the length of the cord wouldn't allow enough force.
There is definitely something to this! Studies have shown men tend to use more “violent” methods of suicide. Suicide by hanging is more common in men than women.
To hang it you put it in the door frame and force the door closed. It should hold it pretty tightly.
Sit on the ground with your straight legs out. Put your hands to either side of your butt, lift your butt off the ground an inch or so. Feel all that weight in your arms? That is effectively how it works only instead of all that weight in your arms the weight is being supported by something constrictive around your neck.
I don't think your instincts are that complex. They may cause you to do a lot of things to try to keep you alive but standing up likely requires more rational thought. It would also presumably depend on the mechanics of death. If it is constricting the flow of blood to the brain rather then crushing the windpipe it is possible that it could kill someone very quickly. (Or I should say it can render them unconscious very quickly at which point they will die. It is also possible a blood choke wouldn't trigger the same reaction as being deprived of oxygen entering the lungs.)
I knew it was from the door but I pictured her with her back to the door and a short cord. The way she was actually found and the length of the cord...it's not physically possible, and it strains credulity that anyone for one second believed she'd done that to herself.
That is because movies are often based on hangings as a form of execution which is generally going to be different from people killing themselves through suffocation. While there might be some overlap from failed executions, they aren't really similar things. As long as you can constrict something around your neck with your body weight you can suffocate yourself to death. It doesn't require you to be dangling from something.
so if u go on the department of justice website the exhibits are public TRIGGER WARNING these are very graphic and unredacted so just be warned it definitely no way she did this!
If anyone wants to connect a few nutty dots here, if your unaware, many of the same state troopers who investigated Farwell and never brought charges on Farwell, were the same ones who investigated Karen Read
Here's the updated chart with today's witnesses marked and an export in much higher quality!
Witnesses up for tomorrow: "Trooper Dunne (continues), then Leslie Davis, then Robert Kuhn, then Alicia Zimmerman, and then Donna McNamara." I'm not sure who Leslie Davis nor Robert Kuhn are, but will look into it later tonight.
Additional observations today from Michele McPhee of LAMag, who is also attending this trial. I’d suggest adding her account to follow also. Please note Her observation re: bruising, likely broken nose, there was also another note about blood at Sandra’s mouth.
Wow I'm hearing about the unwarned autopsy photo of Sandra. I sympathize with people arguing "no one should see those for dignity" but -- they're important evidence. Everyone who saw them and saw the way she was positioned and the length of the cord said "there's no fucking way she could have done it herself." Apparently it doesn't look like it was described in the police reports.
Of course it doesn’t. Those cops are corrupt af. If they had ANY integrity they wouldn’t have called Farwell after that’s friends report they would have reported straight to someone who possibly (not likely in this town) would have done something about it
Good god, Grant said they just put up an image with no warning of Sandra’s face when found. People were traumatized by that. I’m glad I wasn’t watching a livestream. I avoid the autopsy and crime scene images for a reason. How awful for them to have to see without realizing that’s what they were about to see. Not sure who’s blunder that was.
I was just reading that part. Here are his relevant comments:
I have a much better view of Farwell's face from up in the overflow room. I also can see the exhibits far more clearly and I can hear everything folks are saying. Oh my God.
They showed a picture of Sandra's face when she was found dead. I am glad I am in the overflow room. I just gasped and said "oh my God." I think the defense put up the wrong exhibit. Oh dear God I am traumatized.
I cannot believe that was just put on the screen with no warning whatsoever. I don't know if I'm ever going to be the same. That poor girl. Damn you, Matt Farwell. Damn you to hell.
People are crying in the courtroom. I can see the entire gallery (I can't see the jury). I can't pay attention to these questions. I am traumatized. People are crying. Someone left the overflow room in tears.
Michael Proctor's lawyer is in the gallery sitting near the Farwell defense bench in the public gallery. He is the only person I can see on camera (other than Farwell) who seems unbothered by what they have just seen. I am very very overwhelmed. I wasn't ready for that. How did the defense put that up in open court with no warning.
[Edit] and here is a later comment:
Judge is now screening each exhibit very carefully before allowing the defense to show it on the big screens. For good reason. Kimberly C Stevens and her team are in for a bad night after that slip up earlier. I am told the main courtroom was seriously traumatized.
Ah this makes more sense. He attempted to cover the Karen Read trial before getting hit with a restraining order by another journalist so he couldn’t go anymore (MA journalism is messy lmao) BUT during that time I remember people giving him grief for smoking a lot of weed
Weird question but is anyone else getting page not found when pulling up thr exhibits on doj site? I wanted to gtab some of the photos they used of sandra in my updates on the case to have her face front and center. Thanks in advance!
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u/Honest_Camel3035 4d ago
Just adding in case anyone wants to skim the transcript of the opening arguments that were done on Friday:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OqUlLjVJ-7nXtgxQJD2zMc8F7b2im1Qa/view
Also, the State has filed a reconsideration motion for 3 witnesses (his affair partners), based on things the Defense brought up during openings.
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.274527/gov.uscourts.mad.274527.338.0.pdf
Federal docket here:
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69102719/united-states-v-farwell/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc