When a young, pregnant Massachusetts woman is found dead in 2021, local police write off her death as a suicide. However, the findings of a medical examiner hired by the victim’s family prompt the FBI to step in and perform an expert investigation of their own. Federal authorities charge a disgraced police officer with the premeditated murder of a young woman they say he had abused for years in this episode of Last Seen Alive.
Sandra Birchmore was 23-years-old when she was murdered while 8-10 weeks pregnant with her first child in 2021. Sandra’s lifelong dream had been to become a police officer. Image source: family photo.Federal investigators have charged former Stoughton Police Officer Matthew Farwell–pictured here with a regrettable haircut–with Sandra’s murder. They allege that he sexually abused and exploited Sandra for years (since childhood) before ultimately fatally strangling her. Image source: Stoughton PD.Sandra was incredibly excited about her pregnancy at the time of her death. Pictured: a congratulatory pregnancy announcement she handmade. The recipient of this announcement–Matthew Farwell–allegedly strangled her to death, ending her life, as well as the pregnancy. Image source: family photo.Sandra’s alleged murderer, Matthew Farwell, has a twin brother: William Farwell (pictured). William Farwell also engaged in sexual contact with teenaged Sandra. Here, William Farwell is pictured with teenaged Sandra. Image source: Stoughton PD.Joshua Heal (pictured) was another Stoughton PD officer who allegedly engaged in sexual contact with murder victim Sandra Birchmore. He eventually moved on to working as a police officer at the Abington (Massachusetts) Police Department. Image source: Stoughton PD.Robert Devine–a former Stoughton Police Deputy Chief and the overseer of the Stoughton Police Explorers Program–also allegedly engaged in sexual contact with teenaged Sandra. Image source: Stoughton PD.Sandra was smart and funny, and enjoyed working with children. She hoped to become a mother herself, but was murdered while pregnant with her first child. Image source: family photo.Sandra was only a child (12) when she enrolled in the Stoughton Police Explorers Program. Federal prosecutors allege that she was groomed and sexually abused while still a minor. Image source: Stoughton PD.Pictured: Sandra’s high school yearbook photo / entry. According to federal prosecutors, Sandra was only 15-years-old when her sexual abuse at the hands of a Stoughton Police Department officer began.
LAST SEEN ALIVE 