Lauren Andrews says she was almost like a secondary parent to Sandra Birchmore, who was
by then-police officer Matthew Farwell, and that Birchmore had a difficult upbringing.
asserted
Birchmore → say → upbringing
Andrews told CBS News she spoke with Birchmore just two weeks before her death in February 2021 and never believed the medical examiner's initial conclusion that Birchmore died by suicide.
asserted
Birchmore → tell → suicide
The medical examiner later changed the cause of death to "undetermined."
asserted
examiner → change → death
Andrews said Birchmore shared with her that she was pregnant, and saw no signs Birchmore would hurt herself when she was at her house for the last time.
asserted
she → say → time
"Absolutely not," Andrews told CBS News.
asserted
Andrews → tell → News
"She was excited and thrilled about having a baby.
asserted
She → thrill → baby
She was gonna go to nursing school.
asserted
She → go → school
She was ready to move on and she wanted that baby, she wanted a life for that baby."
Farwell, who was a police officer in Stoughton, Massachusetts, is now on trial for killing Birchmore and her unborn baby.
asserted
who → move → Birchmore
The 23-year-old was found dead in her apartment in neighboring Canton, located in the Boston suburbs, and is believed to have been pregnant with Farwell's child at the time, according to authorities.
uncertain
old → find → authorities
"It was complete, 100% exploitation is what it was," Andrews told CBS News.
asserted
Andrews → tell → News
Federal prosecutors said Farwell met Birchmore when she was 13 years old and a member of the police department's youth program.
asserted
she → say → program
Investigators alleged he groomed Birchmore for years and began having sex with her when she was 15 and he was 27.
asserted
he → allege → her
Andrews, the mother of one of Birchmore's best friends, remembers Birchmore as part of the family.
asserted
Andrews → remember → family
When she first heard Birchmore died by suicide in her apartment, she simply couldn't believe it.
asserted
she → hear → it
"We felt it was a lie," Andrews said.
asserted
Andrews → feel → ?
"We felt injustice had occurred."
asserted
injustice → feel → ?
Andrews said she immediately suspected Farwell was behind the death.
asserted
Farwell → say → death
She said she told Canton police about her suspicions, but they didn't act.
asserted
they → say → suspicions
"We talked to the officer, and you know he just didn't even act like he was taking it seriously," she said.
asserted
she → talk → it
After years of mounting public pressure, federal prosecutors
in 2024.
asserted
prosecutors → mount → 2024
A separate internal affairs investigation by the police department found Farwell had shared hundreds of text messages and explicit exchanges over the course of several years.
asserted
Farwell → find → years
It also found at least two other Stoughton police officers had inappropriate relationships with Birchmore, including Farwell's twin brother, William, who has not been criminally charged.
asserted
who → find → brother
William Farwell admitted to having a sexual relationship with Birchmore for two years while she was an adult when interviewed during the internal police investigation.
asserted
she → admit → investigation
All three resigned from the force after the investigation was released in August 2022.
asserted
investigation → resign → August
Birchmore found out she was pregnant in December 2020 and told Farwell that he was the father, prosecutors said.
asserted
prosecutors → find → Farwell
The following February, prosecutors allege, he strangled Birchmore and made it look like a suicide.
asserted
it → follow → suicide
DNA testing later confirmed Farwell was not the father, but prosecutors allege he believed he could have been at the time.
uncertain
he → confirm → time
Farwell's lawyers say he never believed he was the father.
asserted
he → say → ?
Farwell has pleaded not guilty to charges of killing a witness or victim and failure to protect an unborn child.
asserted
Farwell → plead → child
If convicted, he faces life in prison.
asserted
he → convict → prison
The Aporia
