Jury Deadlocked in Farwell Murder Trial
Jurors told the court they cannot reach a verdict in the trial of a former Stoughton police officer charged in the death of Sandra Birchmore.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Law Enforcement
A jury in the murder trial of former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell told the court it is deadlocked. Farwell is charged with killing 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child and staging her death to look like a suicide in February 2021.
Why it matters
Prosecutors allege Farwell killed Birchmore to stop her from exposing federal crimes, including sexual exploitation of a child, which places the case at the intersection of state homicide charges and federal allegations. For Massachusetts residents, a deadlock in a high-profile case involving a former local police officer raises questions about how the state's courts resolve complex trials.
The jury has reported a deadlock and will resume deliberations Tuesday morning after the judge considers instructions. Farwell faces charges of murder and staging a death, and the trial remains unresolved.
The players
Matthew Farwell
A former Stoughton police officer on trial for the murder of Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child, as well as for staging her death to look like a suicide.
Sandra Birchmore
A 23-year-old woman who was part of the Stoughton Police Explorers mentoring program and whose death prosecutors allege was orchestrated by Farwell.
The details
Birchmore's body was found seated in her Canton apartment with a strap around her neck tied to a doorknob, and her death was initially ruled a suicide by local investigators and the state medical examiner. Federal prosecutors said they uncovered evidence that Farwell strangled Birchmore, and a prosecution expert testified that a fractured bone in her neck could only have resulted from strangulation. Birchmore was part of the Stoughton Police Explorers mentoring program, and prosecutors allege Farwell had been grooming her for sex since she was 15.
Timeline
February 2021: Birchmore's body is found in her Canton apartment and her death is staged to look like a suicide.
Monday afternoon: The jury sends two notes to the judge, including one reporting a deadlock.
Tuesday morning: The judge is expected to give the jury instructions and deliberations resume.
Legal Context
The case shows how an initial suicide finding by local investigators and the state medical examiner can be reversed once federal prosecutors present evidence of strangulation. A jury deadlock now leaves that reversal in the hands of Massachusetts jurors, whose decision will determine how the state's courts resolve the contested cause of death.
Residents of Massachusetts who follow local law enforcement may watch how a case involving a former Stoughton officer is resolved, particularly given the federal evidence presented. The outcome could affect public confidence in how police misconduct and suspicious deaths are investigated in the state.
The takeaway
Deadlocked juries can extend trials and delay final resolution, so readers following high-profile cases should expect the process to take additional time. Initial official rulings, such as the 2021 suicide finding, can be revisited as new evidence emerges.
What happens next
The judge will consider jury instructions Tuesday morning, and deliberations will resume after that decision.
Further reading
Explore more Law Enforcement coverage from across Massachusetts.
