Sandra Birchmore's death reclassified as 'undetermined' amid murder trial of ex-cop Matthew Farwell

The death of Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old woman found in her Canton apartment in 2021, has been reclassified as 'undetermined' rather than suicide. The change follows an investigation into her relationship with former Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell, who now faces murder charges in connection with her death.

Birchmore’s cause of death has also been updated from 'asphyxia by hanging' to 'asphyxia', raising further questions about the circumstances of her passing.

Sandra Birchmore was discovered dead in her home in February 2021. Initially, authorities ruled her death a suicide by hanging. However, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Massachusetts recently amended her death certificate, removing the reference to hanging and changing the manner of death to 'undetermined'.

Matthew Farwell, a former Stoughton police officer, is now accused of killing Birchmore and her unborn child. Prosecutors allege he strangled her and staged the scene to resemble a suicide. Farwell, 35, is being held without bail and is set to stand trial in October. Birchmore and Farwell had a sexual relationship when she was just 15 and he was 27. Investigations later revealed that Farwell’s twin brother and a former deputy chief also had inappropriate relationships with her. The case has drawn widespread attention due to the involvement of multiple law enforcement officers. Barbara Wright, Birchmore’s cousin, has spoken out about the amended death certificate. She hopes the change will help bring justice for her late relative, whose death has remained a point of contention for years.

The updated death certificate removes previous assumptions about Birchmore’s passing and aligns with the ongoing criminal case against Farwell. With the trial scheduled for October, the legal proceedings will determine whether he is responsible for her death. The case continues to highlight concerns about accountability within law enforcement.