BOSTON — Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell is expected to face a judge for the first time Monday in Federal court after he was arrested six months ago for the murder of Sandra Birchmore.
“We’re kind of excited that we get to see him finally in front of a judge,” said Melissa Berry, who created the group ‘Justice for Sandra Birchmore.’ “Public pressure does matter in these types of cases that you know, when they go dormant, I mean from 2021, it was considered a suicide.”
Last weekend Berry helped organize a memorial for Sandra on the four-year anniversary of her death followed by a standout at the Canton Police Department.
“Because they’re the ones who kicked off the narrative of it being a suicide,” said Berry.
Sandra’s death was originally ruled a suicide when she was found hanging in her Canton apartment in February 2021.
But last year, police announced there was evidence Sandra was killed.
According to court documents, Farwell was one of three Stoughton officers who had an inappropriate relationship with Sandra when she was a young teen in the Stoughton Police Department’s Explorers Program.
Investigators believe Farwell killed Sandra when she was 23 years old after learning she was pregnant with his baby.
He was also a married father of three at the time.
Berry and many others plan to rally outside Farwell’s court hearing in Boston on Monday morning, and they hope to keep bringing attention to this case.
“We want to let the public know about grooming and what happens when a child is groomed,” said Berry. “So we can, you know, help inform parents and the public on the situations that happen that brought Sandra Birchmore’s life to an end.”
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