Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell was arraigned Friday on new charges connected to the death of Sandra Birchmore's unborn child.
Farwell's arraignment lasted only a few minutes. He waived his appearance and a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.
Farwell previously pleaded not guilty to charges that he fatally strangled the then-23-year-old Birchmore in her Canton apartment in 2021 and staged the scene to look like a suicide. She was three months pregnant at the time of her death.
Prosecutors allege Farwell started a sexual relationship with Birchmore when she was 15 and he was 27.
Shortly after Birchmore told Farwell she was carrying his child, prosecutors say, Farwell allegedly killed her to keep the relationship from coming to light.
DNA evidence later revealed that Farwell was not the unborn child's father.
Farwell's attorneys argue Birchmore's death was a suicide, as it was initially ruled before a federal investigation led to Farwell's indictment.
The trial is set to begin October 2026. The defense is trying to get the case moved from Massachusetts to Rhode Island, claiming biased media coverage.
A judge has set a January 2026 deadline for prosecutors to determine whether they will seek the death penalty.