Sandra Birchmore’s story is one of betrayal at every level. A bright young woman who entered the Canton, MA police explorer program at 14, she was groomed for years by officer Matthew Farwell — a man twice her age and sworn to protect the community. By 23, she was pregnant and hopeful about her future. Weeks later, she was found dead.
Initially ruled a suicide, her death is now the centerpiece of a federal murder case. Farwell faces charges not only for Sandra’s exploitation but for strangling her and staging the scene. Even worse, he wasn’t the only one. Other officers have since been forced out, stripped of certification, or implicated in the pattern of abuse.
This segment examines how grooming works, how predators exploit positions of authority, and why parents and communities often miss the red flags. It’s an entry point into a larger story of power abused, trust betrayed, and a system that looked the other way for too long.
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