THE MURDER OF SANDRA BIRCHMORE

THE MURDER OF SANDRA BIRCHMORE

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Introduction

    On February 4, 2021, 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore was\

found dead in her Canton, Massachusetts apartment. Her death

was initially ruled a suicide by asphyxia. However, federal\

investigators later determined that her death was a homicide;

and that a local police officer had killed her.

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BACKGROUND

     Birchmore was from Stoughton, Massachusetts. She was

raised by both her mother and grandmother; both of whom

passed away while she was still a teenager. When she was 12,

she became involved with the Stoughton Police Department's

Explorer Program. A program designed for youths that are

interested in a future law enforcement careers. In the program,

she met Matthew Falwell, an instructor to the program. When she

was 15-years-old, and Falwell was 27, the two began a sexual

relationship. He began grooming her. He continued to have casual

sex, WHILE ON DUTY, with Birchmore over the years; leading up

to pregnancy; and Matthew Falwell's want to eliminate the threat

to his marriage and reputation.

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INVESTIGATION

   On February 4, 2021, Birchmore's work colleague altered police

that Sandra had been a no-call. no- show at work for a number 

of days. On the same day, as reported by co-worker, a welfare

check was conducted at Birchmore's residence; wherein she was

found deceased.

  Her death was originally ruled a suicide by asphyxia. Authorities

later determined that the death was instead a homicide. It was

determined that Fallwall strangled her to death and staged the

event as a suicide. Fallwell was indicted on murder charge in 2024.

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FURTHER EVIDENCE UNCOVERED IN CASE

  Investigators have uncovered text messages between Falwell,

as well as Falwell's twin brother; who was also having sex with

Sandra in the weeks leading up to her pregnancy. 

  It would take 4 years and a federal investigation for Birchmore's

family to learn how she really died. Prosecutors now allege

Matthew Fallwell killed Sandra to in a decade-long scheme of

grooming and abuse. Fallwell is also accused of statutory rape

after text messages were discovered between the two.