Blake Full of life’s Brother-in-Legislation, Bart Johnson, Defends Her Amid ‘It Ends With Us’ Drama

Matthew Farwell, 38, of North Easton, MA, labored as a police officer in Stoughton, MA from March 27, 2012 till roughly April 1, 2022, per the DA’s workplace press launch. He was arrested Wednesday morning in relation to Birchmore’s 2021 demise at 23 years previous.

The allegations towards him, per the DA, are that Farwell killed Birchmore by strangulation in her condominium after which staged the scene to make it seem that she had dedicated suicide. Per the press launch, it’s believed he did so to forestall regulation enforcement from discovering his legal sexual relationship with the sufferer.

In response to the indictment, as shared by HuffPost, Birchmore and Farwell allegedly met via her involvement with the native “Police Explorers” program, which she joined in March 2010 when she was 12 years previous. At the moment, Farwell was a volunteer for this system, in the end becoming a member of the police division in 2012 and turning into a Police Explorers teacher.

When he was 26 12 months previous and Birchmore was 15 years previous, Farwell is accused of speaking together with her on-line, per the court docket submitting, which claims he would “sexually groom her underneath the guise of offering educational tutoring” on the Stoughton Public Library.

Prosecutors imagine the connection turned sexual in 2013, however {that a} textual content message cited within the indictment confirmed that he expressed to Birchmore he would have appreciated to have had intercourse together with her even sooner.

As soon as Birchmore reached authorized maturity, authorities state that Farwell started what the DA described as a “controlling and generally abusive relationship” together with her. The DA’s workplace additional alleges that some sexual encounters occurred whereas Farwell was on responsibility, which might make them violations of a number of federal legal guidelines, together with coercion, enticement, deprivation of rights underneath coloration of regulation, and wire fraud.

The pair entered into an settlement in October 2020, per the court docket paperwork, with Farwell allegedly agreeing to have a baby with Birchmore in trade for her holding quiet about their legal sexual encounters.

When she turned pregnant, nonetheless, prosecutors imagine Farwell “responded poorly,” turning into “bodily violent” together with her. The indictment studies that she described to associates being “pushed and shoved” by Farwell.

At one level whereas pregnant, per the indictment, “Farwell allegedly held Birchmore in a headlock and advised her that he wished she have been useless.”

It was a good friend of Birchmore who in the end contacted police in January 2021 concerning the alleged bodily abuse, per the DA’s workplace. When Farwell was knowledgeable concerning the name by an worker of the division, prosecutors say he “angrily demanded the worker by no means inform anybody concerning the data.”

He then allegedly texted Birchmore, per the court docket submitting, “What else do I’ve to fret about now? Which different good friend will do one thing tomorrow.” Prosecutors imagine that is when Farwell started plotting her demise.

On February 1, 2021, Birchmore was discovered useless in her condominium “in a seated place with a strap round her neck and door knob,” per the court docket submitting. The state health worker’s workplace dominated her demise a suicide the next month, however her household wasn’t totally happy.

They launched a Fb web page about her demise, which gained 1000’s of supporters, and adopted that up with a wrongful demise lawsuit (accessible right here, courtesy of HuffPost) in December 2022. Therein, they accused Farwell and two extra officers of pushing Birchmore to suicide.

It was their perception, per the swimsuit, that every one three males engaged in sexual acts with Birchmore whereas she was nonetheless a minor and a part of the Police Explorers program.

All three males both denied the declare or claimed to not have sufficient information to verify or deny any duty in her demise. All three voluntarily left their positions with the division. Neither of the opposite two males are dealing with costs in relation to this case.

As reported by The Boston Globe in June, a forensic pathologist employed by the sufferer’s household decided that her demise was a murder. The indictment of Farwell is applauded by the household, however they imagine the work stays undone.

A message posted to the “Justice for Sandra Birchmore” web site reads, “This isn’t the tip. It’s only the start to getting Sandra and her unborn youngster the justice they deserve.”

After Farwell’s arrest, Stoughton police chief Donna McNamara launched a assertion that there was an ongoing inner affairs investigation since “the day after Sandra Birchmore was discovered useless in her Canton condominium.”

“The alleged homicide of Sandra is a horiffic injustice,” McNamara stated in her assertion. “The allegations towards the suspect, a former Stoughton Police Officer, signify the one worst act of not simply skilled misconduct however certainly human indecency that I’ve noticed in a virtually three-decade profession in regulation enforcement.”

She went on to say that her “life’s work” has been to “make sure that justice was served” on this case, as “Sandra Birchmore acquired no justice throughout her life. It’s crucial that justice be served in her demise, and at this time’s actions seem to convey our society one step nearer to justice.”

In response to the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, “the cost of killing a witness or sufferer carries a compulsory sentence of demise or life in jail.” It’s not but recognized if Farwell has entered a plea.

The Nationwide Sexual Assault Phone Hotline — 800.656.HOPE (4673) — gives free, 24/7 assist for these in want.