Crime House Daily: Night Watch – Sandra Birchmore Part 3

Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Katie Ring

Overview:

This gripping episode is Part 3 of a five-part deep-dive into the tragic death of Sandra Birchmore. While her death was initially ruled a suicide, host Katie Ring investigates ongoing questions, focusing this episode on the bombshell Internal Affairs and federal investigations that unraveled patterns of misconduct, abuse, and corruption at the Stoughton Police Department—specifically involving Matthew Farwell and other officers. The narrative explores how Sandra’s family’s relentless search for answers exposed long-standing problems extending beyond Sandra’s case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sandra Birchmore’s Death: Questions of Suicide vs. Foul Play

[03:37]

• Sandra was found dead in her apartment on February 4, 2021. The method was a rare partial suspension hanging, which her family deems implausible given Sandra’s excitement about her pregnancy and future plans.
• Evidence at the scene, such as a broken necklace with Sandra’s hair, led the family to suspect a struggle had occurred.
• Her family and therapist underscore no previous signs of suicidal ideation.

Notable Quote:

“For someone who was over the moon about her pregnancy, this just doesn’t make sense to Sandra’s family... She was making plans for the future.”
(Katie Ring, [04:27])

• Surveillance footage revealed a man (identified as Matthew Farwell) entering Sandra’s building the night of her death, staying 28 minutes, and leaving hurriedly.

2. Officer Matthew Farwell: Suspicion and Initial Investigation

[07:10]

• Sandra had confided in her family about her relationship with married police officer Matthew Farwell and felt threatened after informing him she was pregnant.
• Matthew admitted to being the man on surveillance footage but claimed he was just breaking up with Sandra that night.
• Despite inconsistencies and missing communications reported by Trooper Nicholas Guarino, the case was closed as a suicide by the DA after the medical examiner’s ruling.

3. Stoughton Police Department’s Troubled History

[09:43]

• The department was historically notorious for corruption, with misconduct cases spanning back to the 1970s, including former chiefs convicted of crimes and other egregious scandals.
• Stoughton’s reputation for scandal set the stage for skepticism about official findings in Sandra’s case.

Notable Quote:

“There was even a running joke that if you told the chief you were going on vacation, your house would get robbed while you were away.”
(Katie Ring, [09:59])

4. The Internal Affairs Investigation: Chief Donna McNamara Steps In

[11:53]

• New Chief McNamara, determined to eradicate corruption, initiated an internal probe after Sandra’s death.
• Deputy Chief Brian Holmes led the investigation, employing retired state troopers for the digital review of Sandra and Matthew’s devices. Despite initial reports of missing communications, over 32,000 messages between Sandra and Matthew were discovered.

[13:29]

• These messages revealed extensive grooming, statutory rape (starting when Sandra was 15), emotional and sexual abuse, and involvement from Matthew Farwell’s twin brother, William, and fellow officer Robert Devine.
• Extraction of data amounted to 50,000 pages, further proving a pattern of predatory conduct by all three officers.

5. The Officers’ Response and Fallout

[17:23]

• Matthew Farwell resigned days before his interview, after a year on paid leave totaling $89,000, seeking a career in trucking.
• William Farwell and Robert Devine soon followed, resigning or retiring to avoid departmental discipline.

[18:41]

• Robert Devine, leveraging his new legal credentials, tried to shield himself during questioning but was eventually linked to explicit communications with Sandra via a Facebook alias (“Marty Riggs”).
• Holmes’ final report, released after all resignations, exposed the culture of exploitation and misconduct perpetrated and tolerated within the department.

Notable Quotes:

“Holmes says he doesn’t think Robert Devine is a credible person and that he violated the public’s trust.”
(Katie Ring, [21:25])
“Through a sustained and deliberate combination of lies, deceit, and treachery, they violated the policies and core values of the Stoughton Police Department, not to mention human decency.”
(Chief McNamara, [23:48])

6. Consequences and Family Advocacy

[28:15]

• The damning internal report gave Sandra’s family new momentum in their fight for justice.
• In December 2022, they filed a wrongful death suit against the Farwell brothers, Robert Devine, and the Stoughton Police Department.
• The state revoked Matthew and William’s police certifications, banning them from law enforcement; Robert opposed the action, but his certification expired.

Family Member Quote:

“She didn’t know what love was really, and she was just giving these guys whatever they wanted when they wanted, just to get some kind of attention, affection, whatever it is... they got their hands on her, they groomed her, and they’re like, oh, we can get away with this because she’s got no family, she’s got no one to care for her. But that’s not the case. Sandra’s family is ready to fight for her.”
(Cousin of Sandra Birchmore, [28:40])

7. Public Awareness and Media Advocacy

[30:00]

• After season 2 of the podcast “The Case” and Boston Globe coverage, Sandra’s story went national, prompting further scrutiny.
• Melissa “Mizzy” Berry, an advocate and content creator, established a Facebook group “Justice for Sandra Birchmore,” rapidly garnering 14,000+ members.
• Public protests and collaborations with other justice movements strengthened pressure for renewed criminal investigation.

8. Federal Investigation & Ongoing Efforts

• The FBI has opened its own inquiry into Sandra’s death, agreeing with her family that critical details remain unresolved.

Notable Closing Line:

“Because even though Matthew has had his certification stripped and has the civil trial looming over him, he’s still able to live his life as a free man. But along with the public advocacy happening around Sandra’s case, things are moving behind the scenes too. The FBI has been quietly investigating Sandra’s death and they agree with Sandra’s family. There is a lot more to this story.”
(Katie Ring, [32:44])

Noteworthy Quotes & Moments

• “For someone who was over the moon about her pregnancy, this just doesn’t make sense to Sandra’s family.” (Katie Ring, [04:27])
• “There was even a running joke that if you told the chief you were going on vacation, your house would get robbed while you were away.” (Katie Ring, [09:59])
• “He had taken her virginity when she was 15, which in reality was actually just statutory rape.” (Katie Ring, [13:51])
• “Holmes says he doesn’t think Robert Devine is a credible person and that he violated the public’s trust.” (Katie Ring, [21:25])
• “Through a sustained and deliberate combination of lies, deceit, and treachery, they violated the policies and core values of the Stoughton Police Department, not to mention human decency.” (Chief McNamara, [23:48])
• “Sandra was, quote, failed by, manipulated by and used by people of authority that she admired and trusted right up until her final days.” (Chief McNamara, [24:07])
• “They got their hands on her, they groomed her, and they’re like, oh, we can get away with this because she’s got no family, she’s got no one to care for her. But that’s not the case. Sandra’s family is ready to fight for her.” (Sandra’s cousin, [28:40])

Important Timestamps

• [03:37]: Discovery of Sandra’s body and improbable suicide scenario
• [07:10]: Police interview with Matthew Farwell and case closure
• [09:43]: History of corruption at Stoughton PD
• [11:53]: Launch of internal investigation
• [13:29]: Digital evidence and shocking communications found
• [17:23]: Officers’ resignations and avoidance of discipline
• [21:25]: Holmes’ report and accountability findings
• [23:48]: Chief McNamara’s public condemnation at the press conference
• [28:15]: Sandra’s family sues and pushes forward post-report
• [30:00]: Media, public advocacy, and FBI involvement

Tone & Style Notes

• Katie Ring delivers the episode with a combination of empathy for the victim and family, righteous outrage at systemic failings, and a commitment to facts. The style is direct, conversational, and investigative, often punctuated by memorable quotes and careful sourcing.
• Frequent attribution of statements to victims and officials brings emotional depth and urgency to the narrative.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode offers an in-depth look at how Sandra Birchmore’s death—once dismissed as suicide—sparked internal and public investigations that exposed entrenched corruption, sexual abuse, and misconduct within the Stoughton Police Department. Through compelling storytelling, firsthand family accounts, and a parade of investigative developments, Katie Ring paints a picture of injustice, resistance, and the unyielding fight for answers and accountability still underway. The episode ends on a note of unresolved tension and hope as federal authorities continue their probe and Sandra’s supporters refuse to let her story fade.

Stay tuned for Part 4, where the federal investigation comes to the fore, and the quest for justice enters its next, crucial phase.