Massachusetts police officer allegedly killed pregnant woman he accused of sexual abuse

A former Massachusetts police officer is suspected of killing a pregnant woman who accused him of sexual abuse and staging her death as a suicide.

Sandra Birchmore, 23, died in 2021, PEOPLE previously reported. Stoughton, Massachusetts, police had previously alleged that three former officers in the department had engaged in inappropriate relationships with Birchmore, beginning when she was 15 years old.

Now the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts has filed charges against one of the officers, 38-year-old Matthew Farwell, on suspicion of killing a witness or victim. Farwell was arrested on Wednesday, August 28, the Justice Department said.

It is not immediately clear whether Farwell has made a confession or hired a lawyer.

According to a press release, prosecutors allege: “Farwell killed Birchmore with the intent to prevent law enforcement from learning about Farwell's commission or potential commission of federal crimes,” a press release states.

Birchmore's death was initially ruled a suicide, but prosecutors say the federal investigation led to the review of old evidence and uncovered new evidence that led to the charges against Farwell.

Prosecutors allege that Farwell began a relationship with Birchmore when she was 15 years old. The relationship continued after she came of age, and Birchmore became pregnant with a child who is Farwell's mother in December 2020, according to a news release from prosecutors.

When the alleged relationship began, Birchmore was a member of Stoughton's Explorers program, which offers children the opportunity to learn about a career in law enforcement and interact with police officers. Farwell, a former Stoughton police officer, was an instructor in the program.

Federal authorities allege Farwell killed Birchmore on February 1, 2021, in Canton, Massachusetts, nearly two weeks after a friend of Birchmore called Stoughton police and reported the relationship.

If convicted, Farwell would face the death penalty or life imprisonment, according to prosecutors.

The Boston Globe Birchmore's family had previously hired former New York City Medical Examiner Dr. Michael Baden to investigate the cause of death. Baden wrote a letter in June disputing the initial determination that it was a suicide and claiming she was strangled. The globe reported.

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Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara released a statement in June regarding the recent attention Birchmore's death has received.

“Every good and decent police officer should be aware of and angry about the injustices that Sandra Birchmore suffered,” McNamara said. “Sandra idolized police officers and what policing in America stood for, and because of that, she was the victim of abuse.”

Neither of the other two former officers accused by Stoughton police of having an inappropriate relationship with Birchmore are currently facing charges.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.