AI Summary
5 min readA Suicide Note, a Sonogram, and a Duffel Bag Strap: Inside the Trial of Ex-Cop Matthew Farwell
The most damning piece of evidence might not be the deep-tissue hemorrhages in Sandra Birchmore's neck or the duffel bag strap found around it. It could be a single text exchange between the 23-year-old and the ex-police officer now on trial for her murder. "Had butterflies so bad the day you took my virginity," Sandra wrote. Matthew Farwell replied: "Me too, it was such a big day." She was 15. He was 27.
That exchange is part of nearly 40,000 texts federal prosecutors have introduced in the trial of Farwell, a former Stoughton, Massachusetts police officer charged with killing Sandra and her unborn child. For years, Massachusetts officials ruled Sandra's February 2021 death a suicide. But a civil lawsuit, an uproar from her family, and a re-examination by renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden led federal prosecutors to change the cause of death to undetermined and charge Farwell. He has pleaded not guilty.
The Woman Behind the Case
Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.
Read Full Summary →Free • No credit card required
Never miss an episode of Scandal with Sierra Gillespie
Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
What you'll learn
- 1 (00:00) **Case Introduction & Background** - Sierra introduces the trial of ex-cop Matthew Farwell for the murder of his pregnant lover, Sandra Birchmore.
- 2 (01:32) **The Core Relationship & Grooming Allegations** - Sierra provides the backstory of how Farwell met Birchmore through the Explorers program when she was a child.
- 3 (03:16) **The Charges & Defense Theory** - Farwell is on trial in federal court, and the defense argues Sandra died by suicide after he told her he wasn't the baby's father.
- 4 (04:19) **Evidence of Sandra's Excitement for Her Pregnancy** - New photos and evidence show Sandra was planning for her baby's future, contradicting the suicide theory.
- 5 (06:03) **The Mental Health Evidence** - The defense points to Sandra's Zoloft prescription and a 2017 suicide note as proof she struggled with mental health.
- 6 (08:10) **Crime Scene Photos & The Murder Method** - Graphic crime scene photos show the staged scene, including the duffel bag strap used to kill Sandra.
- 7 (10:03) **Explaining the Forensics: Hanging vs. Strangulation** - Sierra explains the key forensic difference: a hanging leaves a diagonal mark, while strangulation leaves a straight-across mark.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Newly revealed evidence in ex-cop Matthew Farwell’s trial includes disturbing autopsy photos, chilling documents, and a suicide note tied to the death of pregnant Sandra Birchmore. Prosecutors say the evidence points to murder, while Farwell has pleaded not guilty and the defense maintains Birchmore died by suicide. Law&Crime’s Sierra Gillespie has the Scandal.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from this podcast
Scandal with Sierra Gillespie →