Sandra Birchmore Case Takes Another Turn as Twin Brother of Accused Ex-Police Officer May Testify

The trial surrounding the death of Sandra Birchmore is entering a critical stage, with a potential witness emerging from within the family of the former police officer accused in the case.

Matthew Farwell, a former police officer from Stoughton, Massachusetts, is accused of sexually abusing Birchmore when she was a teenager and later killing her in February 2021. Prosecutors allege that he strangled the 23-year-old, who was pregnant, and staged the scene to make her death appear to be a suicide.

Farwell has pleaded not guilty. His defense maintains that Birchmore died by suicide, a claim disputed by prosecutors.

The case has drawn renewed attention because Farwell’s twin brother, William Farwell, is listed as a potential prosecution witness. According to court records cited by PEOPLE, William previously acknowledged having a sexual relationship with Birchmore. It remains unclear whether he will ultimately testify or whether he is cooperating with prosecutors.

Investigators say Birchmore met Matthew Farwell through a police youth program when she was a teenager. Prosecutors allege that the relationship involved sexual abuse beginning when she was underage and continued into adulthood.

Birchmore’s death was initially ruled a suicide. The case took a major turn after a federal investigation, leading to charges against Matthew Farwell in 2024.

Prosecutors contend that the killing was connected to Birchmore’s pregnancy and the possibility that she might expose their relationship. However, DNA testing later showed that Farwell was not the father of the unborn child, despite the earlier belief that he might be.

The trial is taking place in federal court in Boston and is expected to last several weeks. As testimony begins, jurors will hear evidence from witnesses while the prosecution and defense present competing accounts of what happened.

For Birchmore’s family, the proceedings represent a long-awaited opportunity to examine the circumstances of her death in court. The central question remains whether prosecutors can prove their allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.

Source: PEOPLE

Additional reporting: WBUR