Was Sandra Birchmore’s Death Staged? The Matthew Farwell Trial

Sandra Birchmore’s death was first treated as suicide. Five years later, former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farwell is on trial in federal court, accused of strangling her, staging the scene and killing her to prevent exposure of a sexual relationship prosecutors say began when Sandra was 15. This documentary examines the competing trial theories, the Stoughton Police Explorers program, Sandra’s pregnancy, the later paternity result, the apartment timeline, the duffel strap and disputed DNA evidence, and the medical examiner’s amended finding. Prosecutors say Farwell killed Sandra and staged her Canton apartment. The defense says he ended the relationship, left the apartment and Sandra died by suicide. Farwell is charged with killing a witness or victim and causing the death of Sandra’s unborn child. He has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial evidence is still being presented. This video reflects public information available through October 9, 2026. CHAPTERS 00:00 Suicide or Staged? 01:36 The Federal Charges 02:14 The Police Explorers Program 02:52 A Relationship Prosecutors Call Grooming 04:26 The Pregnancy 05:51 What the DNA Changed 06:48 Threatened Exposure 07:21 The Spare Key 08:22 February 1, 2021 09:35 The Two Trial Theories 09:54 The Strap and DNA 11:37 The Medical Dispute 13:22 Sandra’s Mental State 14:53 The Timeline and Digital Evidence 16:13 Why This Is a Federal Case 17:22 The Unborn Child Count 18:42 What the Jury Must Decide 23:10 The Final Question #SandraBirchmore #MatthewFarwell #TrueCrime #CourtTrial #TrueCrimeDocumentary