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Disgraced ex-cop killed Sandra Birchmore to ‘clean up his mess’ after years of abuse, affair: feds
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.
In short
- 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.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Prosecutors argue that Farwell had a motive to silence Birchmore after years of abuse and an affair, and that staging her death as suicide could have concealed the crime. They point to the history they presented to the jury and say the evidence supports finding that he killed her and her unborn child.
The case against
The defence argues that Birchmore died by suicide after Farwell went to end their relationship, and that the prosecution has not proved murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Farwell has pleaded not guilty, and jurors must assess whether the evidence supports the prosecution’s account rather than assuming guilt from the allegations.