Episode 69 | Justice For Sandra Birchmore (part one) with Susanne Cleveland of Justice for Sandra Birchmore advocacy group
Subjects include sexual abuse, coercive control, self harm, suicide, homicide, police misconduct and WAP by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. Sometimes I swear. Listen with care.
*Episode updated to reflect additional information provided by Sandra's family members
Sandra's case has been languishing for 3 and a half years (minus a decade of abuse). In August 2024, Matthew Farwell, a Stoughton, Massachusetts police officer was arrested and charged with her murder - a murder that was first deemed a suicide when she was found on February 4, 2021. Sandra's friends and family never believed she took her own life. They were right.
Justice is coming.
Stoughton is a small town with a few notables like superstar songwriter, Lori McKenna, and Nicola Sacco of the notorious prohibition-era crime duo of Sacco and Vanzetti (or were they?).
What happens when those sworn to serve and protect become the perpetrators of unspeakable crimes? This episode of Crime of the Truest Kind unravels the harrowing story of Sandra Birchmore from Stoughton, Massachusetts, a case stained by misuse of power, child sexual abuse, and systemic failures. Season four begins with expressing our deep gratitude to our supporters and setting the stage for Sandra’s tragic narrative, which has shockingly been overlooked until recently. Special guest Susanne Cleveland, a relentless advocate for Sandra, joins us to bring truth, clarity and respect to her memory.
Tracing Sandra’s heartbreaking journey from her introduction to her abuser, Matthew Farwell, through the Police Explorers program at just 13, to the relentless abuse she endured, culminating in her tragic death and exposing not only Farwell's predatory actions but also the complicity of other officers like Robert C. Devine, who enabled this abuse and was a participant. The systemic failures and the betrayal by those in authority serve as a grim reminder of the broader issues within law enforcement.
We confront the dismissive and misogynistic attitudes that trivialize women's experiences and the historical context of labeling women as "hysterical." The fight for justice in Sandra Birchmore’s case goes on.
If you are experiencing abuse of any kind, coercive control, sexual, financial, physical, or emotional, there is help:
Jane Doe Inc janedoe.org/find_help
National Domestic Violence Hotline thehotline.org
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey Signs Coercive Control Bill Into Law - JUne 2024
A new bill signed into law on Thursday cracks down on coercive control by domestic abusers and bans revenge pornography in Massachusetts
Episode Photos: Sandra Birchmore over the years, Sacco and Vanzetti protests against their execution, headlines, Stoughton's superstar Lori McKenna, documents related to Sandra's case, Sandra is last seen on her building's security footage, Matthew Farwell entering in an attempt to disguise himself, the sign Sandra made to celebrate her pregnancy, Justice for Sandra advocates, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion making the WAP video, what is coercive control?
Sources
William Stoughton, Salem Witch Trials
Wanted for Sexual Abuse in Massachusetts, Dr. Roger Ian HardyÂ
Stoughton, Massachusetts
Department Roster
https://stoughtonpolice.com/department-roster Boston Globe, Stoughton's History of Scandal
Stoughton’s Lori McKenna
WBUR https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/12/24/lori-mckenna-the-balladeer Boston Globe, https://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2012/03/11/lori-mckenna-writing-her-heart-out/zxXbmVKZmSzEK2foxB9hrO/story.html
Sacco and Vanzetti
Anarchism and Libertarianism: Two Sides of the Same Coin
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Sandra Birchmore CaseBoston Globe, As the spotlight shined on Karen Read, some saw opportunity to bring attention to Sandra Birchmore’s death
Boston Globe - Key Players In Sandra Birchmore’s Case
CrimeTimeLines.com - an incredible resource on Sandra’s case
Comprehensive Records in Sandra Birchmore’s Sexual Abuse and Murder
NBC Boston, Sandra’s Wish To Be A Mother
NBC Boston, Farwell Hearing Canceled
Boston 25 News, Farwell Detention Hearing Canceled
Matthew G. FarwellÂ
William Farwell
The Marshall Project
Grace McKain obituary, 2001Â
Sandra Birchmore's mother, Denise McKain Birchmore obituary, 2016 https://www.farleyfh.com/obituaries/denise-birchmore
Sandra Birchmore's Aunt, Claire Gaudet obituary, 2016 https://www.farleyfh.com/obituaries/claire-gaudet Sandra Birchmore's Aunt, Alice McKain obituary, 2019 https://www.farleyfh.com/obituaries/alice-mckain
Nor'easter in Massachusetts Feb 1, 2021
How much snow fell in Canton on Feb 1-2, 2021