Sandra Birchmore’s death was officially ruled a suicide for years. On April 30, 2026, the Massachusetts medical examiner changed the manner of death to undetermined and revised the cause from asphyxia by hanging to asphyxia. That change lands just before Matthew Farwell’s federal trial, where his lawyers maintain Sandra took her own life. Judge Denise Casper has ruled that Farwell’s defense may introduce evidence about Sandra’s mental-health struggles and history of suicidal thoughts. Prosecutors argue the jury also needs the full relationship history. They allege Farwell used his position in the Stoughton Police Explorers program to begin an unlawful relationship with Sandra when she was 15 and he was 27, then killed her years later to stop disclosure of his conduct. The institutional history matters because Sandra entered the police youth program at 12. A Stoughton internal investigation later found that Farwell, his twin brother William, and former deputy chief Robert Devine had inappropriate relationships with her. William Farwell and Devine are not charged in the federal case. Matthew Farwell has pleaded not guilty. Federal prosecutors also say the first death investigation closed off possibilities almost immediately. In court papers, they say local investigators told the medical examiner there was “no foul play” within about an hour of Sandra being found. They did not compel Farwell’s DNA or seize his electronic devices during that initial investigation. The federal case now charges Farwell with killing a witness and causing the death of Sandra’s unborn son. Prosecutors say later testing found Farwell was a major DNA contributor on the duffel-bag strap found at the scene. The defense disputes the significance of that testing and continues to argue suicide. Jury selection is scheduled to begin October 5, 2026. Listen Anywhere You Get Podcasts: https://pod.link/1655749292 Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod?sub_confirmation=1 Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice. #SandraBirchmore #MatthewFarwell #HiddenKillers #Birchmore #FarwellTrial #StoughtonPolice #FederalTrial #Massachusetts #TrueCrime #JusticeForSandra