Sep 11

Episode 69 | Justice For Sandra Birchmore, Stoughton, Massachusetts (part one)

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

https://msmagazine.com/2024/06/20/massachusetts-coercive-control

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?