STOUGHTON, Mass. (WPRI) — A former Stoughton police officer is now accused of killing a woman he sexually exploited while on duty and staging her death as a suicide.

 

Matthew Farwell, 38, has been charged with killing a witness or victim in connection with the suspicious death of Sandra Birchmore back in February 2021.

 

The 23-year-old Canton woman was found dead in her apartment after her employer requested a wellbeing check, having not heard from her for several days.

 

It has since been revealed that Farwell allegedly strangled Birchmore to death with a duffle bag strap following a “nasty argument” in which he called off their relationship, according to prosecutors. Investigators also believe Farwell killed Birchmore to prevent her from revealing the truth about how long the two had been intimate.

 

Farwell then used his police knowledge to stage her apartment and make it look as though she had committed suicide, according to acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy.

 

Read more at wpri.com.