# Disgraced ex-cop killed Sandra Birchmore to ‘clean up his mess’ after years of abuse, affair: feds

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/disgraced-ex-cop-killed-sandra-birchmore-to-clean-up-his-mess-after-years-of-abuse-affair-feds/
- Published: 2026-11-06T21:57:47+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T22:34:42+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/06/us-news/disgraced-ex-cop-killed-sandra-birchmore-to-clean-up-his-mess/
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Prosecutors say Farwell killed Birchmore to conceal years of abuse.
- His defence says she died by suicide.
- Farwell denies charges and could face life in prison.

## Summary

Federal prosecutors have accused former police officer Matthew Farwell of killing pregnant Sandra Birchmore to prevent her from revealing years of sexual abuse and an affair. In closing arguments, they said he staged her death as a suicide; the case centres on whether Birchmore was murdered or died by suicide.

Farwell’s defence argued that Birchmore died by suicide after he went to end their relationship. Prosecutors said he had met her when she was 12 in a police youth programme and began sexually abusing her at 15; Birchmore became pregnant in December 2020, though DNA testing later showed Farwell was not the father. He has pleaded not guilty to charges involving the deaths of Birchmore and her unborn child, and could face life in prison if convicted; jurors began deliberating on Friday.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.