911 Dispatcher Testified Officer Told Him to "Never Talk About This Again" Regarding Affair

A dispatcher testified that he was instructed to "never talk about this again" after relaying a call about an alleged affair between a married Massachusetts police officer and a woman who was a victim in a sexual assault case. The officer, Matthew Farwell, is currently on trial for the murder of Sandra Birchmore.

James Fitton, a dispatcher for the Stoughton Police Department, told jurors that Farwell became visibly angry and used expletives when Fitton contacted him on January 20, 2021, to inform him of the call. According to Fitton's testimony, Farwell's demeanor shifted to anger, and he insisted that Fitton never speak of the matter again. Fitton's supervisor also reportedly told him to "forget about" the report.

Later that evening, Farwell allegedly texted Fitton, describing the tipster and Birchmore as "f–king insane." Fitton testified that he ultimately agreed not to pursue the matter further.

Prosecutors contend that this reported call was a pivotal moment, leading Farwell to decide to kill Birchmore 13 days later to conceal their affair and his alleged sexual assault of her, which began when she was 15. The legal age of consent in Massachusetts is 16.

Farwell, 41, who has since resigned from the Stoughton police force, is accused of strangling Birchmore, 23, in her Canton apartment on February 1, 2021. Prosecutors allege he then staged the scene to appear as a suicide. The alleged murder occurred the day before Farwell's wife gave birth to their third child.

Prosecutors claim Birchmore was jealous of Farwell's wife and had demanded that Farwell have a child with her, or she would reveal their relationship to his wife. Birchmore became pregnant in December 2020, and both believed Farwell was the father. However, DNA testing after Birchmore's death disproved this, according to prosecutors.

Farwell and Birchmore initially met years prior when Birchmore was part of the Stoughton police's "Explorers" program, which Farwell helped manage. Prosecutors allege he groomed her for a year before initiating sexual contact when she was 15.

Farwell has pleaded not guilty to charges including killing a victim or witness and causing the death of an unborn child. His defense attorneys have argued that Birchmore died by suicide, pointing to her alleged struggles with mental health.