A detective from Massachusetts is facing charges connected to the strangulation death of a pregnant woman, initially ruled a suicide.

Matthew Farwell, formerly a detective with the Stoughton police department near Boston, appeared in court on Wednesday following his arrest linked to the 2021 death of 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore. Farwell, age 38, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with killing a victim or witness, and is also accused of manipulating the crime scene to make it appear as if it was a suicide.

Authorities allege that Farwell murdered Birchmore in her Canton apartment around February 1, 2021, to stop her from revealing details about his long-term sexual exploitation of her, which reportedly began when Birchmore was just 15.

Farwell’s lawyer, Sandra Gant, did not immediately reply to YSL News’s inquiries for comment.

“Despite Birchmore’s death being initially classified as a suicide, ongoing federal inquiries examined old evidence and uncovered significant new clues that led to the charges against Farwell,” said prosecutors in a public statement.

Here are the details we have so far.

An Alleged History of Abuse Spanning Nearly a Decade

Farwell worked with the Stoughton Police Department for around 10 years and was also an instructor for their Explorer’s Program, which introduces youth to careers in law enforcement.

Birchmore became part of the program in 2010 when she was just 12 years old. Allegedly, Farwell misused his position to groom and sexually exploit her starting at age 15 and continued to have sexual relations with her into adulthood, according to federal prosecutors.

Furthermore, prosecutors claim that Farwell engaged in sexual acts with Birchmore while on duty, disguising these encounters by allegedly misrepresenting his work hours. His sexual involvement with her persisted until her death in 2021, according to prosecutors.

Birchmore Was Pregnant When She Died

Birchmore found out she was pregnant in December 2020. Court documents state that she was thrilled about the pregnancy.

After informing Farwell that he was the father and expressing hopes for him to participate in their child’s life, she confided to friends that he had begun to exhibit violent behavior toward her.

Court documents also allege that at one point during her pregnancy, Farwell placed her in a headlock and stated he wished she were dead.

The court records indicate that Farwell murdered Birchmore on February 1, 2021, to silence her.

“He strangled her to death fully aware that she was several weeks pregnant,” prosecutors stated in court documentation. “He took measures to cover up the murder by rearranging Birchmore’s body and staging her apartment and lying to Massachusetts State Police detectives who were first assigned to investigate Birchmore’s death.”

If found guilty, Farwell faces the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment.