True Crime Obsessed, Ep. 462

Dateline: "The Betrayal of Sandra Birchmore" (S33E87)

Release Date: October 16, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of True Crime Obsessed recaps the Dateline investigation into the tragic and controversial death of Sandra Birchmore. The hosts, Steve and Jillian Mazavali, blend humor and righteous anger as they delve into a case entwined with small-town police corruption, sexual abuse by officers, systemic failures, and a rare example of true accountability by a female police chief. The episode draws striking connections between Sandra's case and the widely publicized Karen Read trial, exposing an alarming pattern of misconduct within Massachusetts law enforcement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Canton, Stoughton, & Constabulary Corruption

• (00:00–03:12) Steve and Jillian open by drawing connections between Sandra Birchmore’s case and the Karen Read trial, emphasizing the persistent corruption in Canton-area police departments.

  "I'm going to connect all the dots for everyone." – Steve (00:09)

• (02:18–03:53) The Dateline episode sets a grim, wintery Massachusetts backdrop, referencing a major storm as the inciting incident for Sandra’s story.

2. Who Was Sandra Birchmore?

• (05:11–07:16) Sandra, age 23, was a dedicated teacher’s aide, described as energetic, outgoing, and closely bonded with her mother and extended family.

• (15:27–16:10) Raised by a single mother in modest circumstances, Sandra lost her mother and grandmother as a teenager—leaving her particularly vulnerable.

  "Mom Denise was not well for a good portion of Sandra's life, but they're still very close." – Jillian (15:56)

3. Mysterious Disappearance & Discovery

• (06:37–12:50) After a few days away due to the storm, Sandra’s unexplained absence from work and failure to respond to calls lead to a welfare check. Police find her deceased in her apartment—the initial theory: suicide by hanging with a duffel bag strap.

• (12:53–14:01) Both family and therapist reject the suggestion of suicide, highlighting the discrepancy between Sandra’s excitement about her pregnancy and the official narrative of despair.

4. Criminal Justice Programs as a Lure

• (09:34–10:58) The hosts criticize the Explorer Program—nominally a law enforcement mentorship for teens—as a “hotbed for grooming,” noting the total lack of oversight and female leadership.

  "It's run by men. There is no oversight or regulation into this program. It is... a hotbed for fucking grooming. It is disgusting." – Jillian (09:56)

• (17:45–19:03) Sandra’s teenage years were deeply entwined with this program, originally seen as a positive opportunity by her mother but ultimately a channel of predation.

5. Predatory Relationships and Grooming

• (21:31–22:03) Chief Donna McNamara emerges as a pivotal figure—the rare cop to publicly admit law enforcement failures.

• (31:13–31:50) Donna’s internal affairs investigation reveals not just Sandra’s relationship with Officer Matthew Farwell, but a coordinated pattern of exploitation by multiple members of the Stoughton PD.

• (51:22–53:45) Multiple officers, including twins Matthew and William Farwell and their supervisor Robert Devine, used their authority to groom and sexually exploit Sandra from the age of 15.

  "These young girls... have been grooming them this whole time. And the quote 'sharing'..." – Jillian (53:23)

6. Cover-ups, Failures, and Lost Evidence

• (35:15–37:41) Jillian and Steve emphasize how deeply Sandra’s case is entwined with the Karen Read investigation, noting that the same compromised officers and medical examiner handle both cases.

• (67:09–68:57) Official investigators falsely claim there is "not a trace" of communication between Farwell and Sandra, later shown to be a blatant lie as 32,000+ texts are discovered and exposed by Chief McNamara.

  "...in the affidavit...there were no texts between Farwell and Sandra...and then Chief McNamara comes in...actually, there were 32,000." – Steve (68:27)

7. Women as Agents of Change

• (03:12–03:53; 21:16–21:42) The episode spotlights Chief Donna McNamara as a beacon of truth, accountability, and rare leadership—a woman unafraid to call out institutional rot and take courageous action.

  "She did something unprecedented, and it shouldn't be unprecedented...almost every time it's a woman." – Steve (03:53)
  "I think Chief Donna is here to take accountability...she's here to say we fudged up and I love her." – Jillian (21:43)

8. The Path to Justice: New Evidence & Public Pressure

• (59:13–60:17) Chief McNamara releases a redacted but damning 45-page public report exposing the officers’ misconduct, sexual exploitation, and the interconnected failures that led to Sandra’s death.

• (70:06–71:17) The family’s legal team, including renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, provides a new autopsy: finding clear evidence of homicide by strangulation.

• (70:26–70:33) In October 2024, Matthew Farwell is finally arrested and charged for Sandra's murder—a breakthrough only achieved after years of stonewalling.

  "His findings made headlines...concluding what the family had long believed: Sandra's death was a homicide." – Narrator (70:06)
  "October 28, 2024, this Farwell asshole was arrested for the murder..." – Steve (70:26)

9. Systemic Rot & Ongoing Questions

• (62:36–63:11) Despite the report and new evidence, the state police refuse to reopen the case, clinging to the original suicide determination. Only relentless media and podcast attention finally prompt the FBI’s involvement.

• (76:02–76:52) A final shock: DNA reveals Sandra’s baby was not fathered by Farwell—intensifying the suggestion of even deeper layers of abuse and cover-up.

10. Enduring Systemic Critique

• (54:52–55:35) The hosts repeatedly highlight the need to confront institutional protecting of abusers and how rare real accountability is, reiterating the “few bad apples spoil the barrel” adage.

• (77:09–78:09) The episode concludes on a bittersweet note: Justice is long overdue and incomplete, but thanks to the extraordinary actions of a few, especially Chief Donna, there is hope for accountability.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "She did something unprecedented, and it shouldn't be unprecedented almost every time it's a woman." – Steve (03:53)
• "This was a hotbed for grooming illicit, horrifying activity, and it shouldn't be." – Steve (09:50)
• "To find this information about people that are supposed to be protecting others...it's vile." – Chief Donna McNamara (53:47)
• "We are hopefully working towards justice for her." – Chief Donna McNamara (77:59)
• "The rapes and the murders, in my opinion, go hand in hand...that’s very clear to me." – Steve (76:52)
• "Travel down the road back again, girl." (A recurring tongue-in-cheek refrain for dark transitions)

Important Timestamps (MM:SS)

• 03:12 – Jillian on women “doing the work” in justice
• 07:16 – Discovery of Sandra’s body, initial suicide ruling
• 13:25 – Family and therapist skepticism about suicide
• 31:50 – Internal investigation exposes multiple abusers in police department
• 49:50 – Shocking discovery of 32,000+ texts between victim and officer
• 59:13 – Chief McNamara's public condemnation and 45-page report
• 70:06 – Dr. Michael Baden's new autopsy: homicide by strangulation
• 70:26 – Farwell’s arrest for murder
• 77:59 – Chief Donna’s vow to keep fighting for justice

Tone & Style

The hosts balance rage and darkly comic asides; they are unapologetically critical of systemic police corruption and conspiratorial cover-ups, reserving real admiration for the courage of female officials and the tenacity of Sandra’s surviving family. The tone is intimate, passionate, and not above using expletives or gallows humor to underline their horror and frustration.

In summary:
This episode exposes a harrowing web of abuse, betrayal, and cover-up in small-town Massachusetts, underscored by the rare but vital example of a woman demanding justice from within a broken system. The hosts’ energy and perspective make clear that the fight for justice—for Sandra and others—is far from over, and that systemic rot will only end when more leaders are willing to act like Chief Donna McNamara.