STOUGHTON — A former Stoughton police detective is at the center of a scandal that has rocked the local community after pleading not guilty to allegations he murdered Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child.

Matthew Farwell, 40, faces serious charges following a federal grand jury indictment, which claims he strangled the 23-year-old Birchmore in her Canton apartment on February 1, 2021, before attempting to stage the scene as a suicide. In a shocking twist, Farwell's pleas of not guilty extend to the new charge of causing the death of a child in utero.

Reports indicate that Farwell allegedly groomed Birchmore from the age of 15 when he served as an instructor in the Stoughton Police Department's youth mentor program. Prosecutors allege that this relationship escalated to statutory rape, with Birchmore revealing her pregnancy to him in late 2020. Despite the relationship, DNA testing conducted in June revealed that Farwell was not the father of Birchmore's unborn child, leaving many questions surrounding paternity and the true circumstances of her death.

In a chilling development, the state medical examiner initially ruled Birchmore's death a suicide, leading to no charges being brought forth by the Norfolk District Attorney. However, the FBI arrested Farwell on August 28, 2024, following the federal indictment. If convicted of these heinous crimes, he could face life in prison or even a potential death sentence.

The Stoughton community is now left grappling with the implications of this case, as questions about law enforcement accountability and public safety linger in the air.