Description:
Sandra Birchmore wasn’t just failed by a few bad officers—she was failed by an entire culture. At 23, Sandra was found dead—alone and pregnant. What the public was told: suicide. What federal prosecutors now allege: murder, cover-up, and years of grooming at the hands of a trusted law enforcement officer.
Matthew Farwell, the former Stoughton cop now indicted for Sandra’s death, first met her when she was just 13. He was her mentor in the department’s Explorer program. But behind that title was a predator, and behind him? A department that protected itself at every turn.
In this episode, we sit down with Robin Dreeke, the former Chief of the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Program, to dissect how this could happen—and why no one stopped it. Robin walks us through the behavioral red flags, the abuse of institutional structure, and the critical leadership failures that enabled this kind of manipulation to thrive unchecked.
We also explore why no one else has been charged—despite multiple officers having ties to Sandra—and what it says about the “silent exits” we’ve seen from others in the department. Robin reveals how abusers test boundaries through secrecy, how grooming flourishes in programs like Explorers, and why a lack of oversight can be just as dangerous as overt misconduct.
This isn’t just about Matthew Farwell. It’s about every department that refuses to see what’s right in front of them. Sandra Birchmore’s case is a warning—and Robin Dreeke is here to tell us what happens when no one listens.
#SandraBirchmore #RobinDreeke #FBIBehavioralAnalysis #PoliceGrooming #InstitutionalFailure #HiddenKillersPodcast #TonyBrueski #ExplorerProgram #LawEnforcementAccountability #PredatorsInPower
Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?
Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod
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
Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Cardiac Cowboys
The heart was always off-limits to surgeons. Cutting into it spelled instant death for the patient. That is, until a ragtag group of doctors scattered across the Midwest and Texas decided to throw out the rule book. Working in makeshift laboratories and home garages, using medical devices made from scavenged machine parts and beer tubes, these men and women invented the field of open heart surgery. Odds are, someone you know is alive because of them. So why has history left them behind? Presented by Chris Pine, CARDIAC COWBOYS tells the gripping true story behind the birth of heart surgery, and the young, Greatest Generation doctors who made it happen. For years, they competed and feuded, racing to be the first, the best, and the most prolific. Some appeared on the cover of Time Magazine, operated on kings and advised presidents. Others ended up disgraced, penniless, and convicted of felonies. Together, they ignited a revolution in medicine, and changed the world.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.