"The Sandra Birchmore case is in the national spotlight Friday as NBC's "Dateline" delves into the story of the pregnant 23-year-old allegedly killed by a Stoughton police officer who had groomed her from childhood. "The Betrayal of Sandra Birchmore" is scheduled to air Friday at 10 p.m., featuring interviews with some of Birchmore's family members, a former coworker, and Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara."
"When Birchmore was found dead in her Canton apartment in February 2021, state authorities initially ruled her death a suicide, despite evidence that Birchmore was excited about her pregnancy and was in the middle of doing laundry when she died. Birchmore's loved ones fought the suicide determination for years, hiring a forensic pathologist to review her injuries and filing a wrongful death lawsuit against three former Stoughton police officers who had allegedly groomed her from a young age."
"Finally, federal authorities came forward last summer with a bombshell claim: One of those former Stoughton officers, Matthew Farwell, had allegedly strangled Birchmore to death and staged the scene to look like a suicide after being informed he was the father of her unborn child. (Later reporting from The Boston Globesuggested a DNA test had shown Farwell was not the baby's father.)"
"Federal prosecutors alleged Farwell had groomed Birchmore when she was enrolled in the Stoughton Police Department's Explorers Program, then began a sexual relationship with her when she was 15 years old and he was 27. They accused Farwell of murdering Birchmore to silence her and keep their sexual relationship a secret. Farwell has pleaded not guilty to one count of killing a witness or victim. He faces a death sentence or life in prison."
Sandra Birchmore, a pregnant 23-year-old, was found dead in her Canton apartment in February 2021; state authorities initially ruled her death a suicide despite evidence she was excited about the pregnancy and doing laundry when she died. Loved ones contested the suicide ruling, hired a forensic pathologist, and filed a wrongful death lawsuit against three former Stoughton police officers alleged to have groomed her. Federal authorities later alleged former officer Matthew Farwell strangled Birchmore and staged the scene after being told he was the father; later reporting suggested a DNA test indicated he was not the father. Farwell has pleaded not guilty and faces life or death penalty.
Read at Boston.com
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