Former Stoughton officer asks judge to delay hearing in Sandra Birchmore case

STOUGHTON, Mass. (WWLP) – The former Stoughton Police officer accused in connection to the death of Sandra Birchmore is asking a judge to give his lawyer more time to review the case.

Former Stoughton Police officer Matthew Farwell of North Easton wants the court to delay a hearing scheduled for October. Farwell is facing federal charges for allegedly murdering 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore , then staging her death as a suicide. She was pregnant with his child when she died.

Farwell is one of the three former officers accused of having inappropriate sexual relationships with Birchmore, dating back to when she was just 15 years old.

Birchmore joined the Stoughton Explorers Program in 2010 when she was 12 years old where she met Farwell who served as an instructor. It is alleged that Farwell used his authority and access to groom, sexually exploit, and ultimately sexually abuse Birchmore when she was 15 years old and continued to have sex with her when she became an adult.

Birchmore was killed back in 2022, her death was then ruled as a suicide but has been re-investigated after Birchmore’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

Local News Headlines

Gas prices drop below $3 per gallon

Springfield students’ art shines in new city mural unveiling

Elderly veterans in Hampshire County get access to resources as they age

Valley Green Energy will be Amherst’ new electricity program starting November 2024

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.