NewsWPLG Local 10October 30, 2026Miami-Dade County
FBI alleges former police detective Matthew Farwell murdered pregnant woman Sandra Birchmore and staged a suicide
Photo: WPLG Local 10
Federal prosecutors charged former police detective Matthew Farwell with murdering 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore in 2021 and staging the crime scene to look like a suicide. The trial focuses both on Farwell's alleged actions and on the initial local police investigation that quickly ruled out foul play. Defense attorneys acknowledged an affair but insisted Farwell did not kill Birchmore.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10Why It Matters
The federal trial places scrutiny on police accountability standards and the handling of internal abuse investigations by local law enforcement agencies when a fellow officer is implicated.
Key Facts
Each fact below is taken from the article. Click one to see the exact passage.
Who's Mentioned
PersonJason Pickard“Army recruiter who testified about his relationship with Birchmore and paternity”PersonLeslie Davis“Friend of Sandra Birchmore who testified about arguments between Birchmore and F”PersonBilly Farwell“Twin brother of Matthew Farwell who testified about interactions with the lead i”OrganizationFBI“Federal agency that took up the case in 2023 following concerns raised about the”OrganizationStoughton Police Department“Police department where Matthew Farwell worked and where Brian Holmes led an int”PersonBrian Holmes“Former deputy chief at the Stoughton Police Department who urged the FBI to inve”PersonSandra Birchmore“A 23-year-old woman found dead in her Massachusetts home whose death was initial”PersonDr. William Smock“Expert brought in by federal authorities who concluded Birchmore was strangled w”PersonKimberly Stevens“Attorney representing Matthew Farwell who argued that Birchmore was suicidal and”locationBoston“City where the legal proceedings and trial are taking place.”PersonTorey Cummings“Federal prosecutor presenting arguments to jurors regarding the police investiga”PersonMatthew Farwell“A 40-year-old former police detective on trial in federal court charged with kil”