ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Sandra Birchmore's investigators chose an interview that left no recording and no notes. Trooper Matthew Dunne told a federal jury his supervisor, Sgt. John Fanning, made the tactical call to question Matthew Farwell in a school parking lot so the officer would keep talking. Days later, the investigation still had no recorded version of what Farwell said in that conversation.
Federal prosecutors pressed Dunne about the consequences. He testified that he subsequently learned Farwell had misrepresented when his relationship with Birchmore began and how often they met. He acknowledged not speaking with Farwell's Stoughton police colleagues. Prosecutors also highlighted the surveillance footage placing Farwell at her building. The defense maintains Birchmore died by suicide, while prosecutors allege Farwell killed her and staged the death. Farwell has pleaded not guilty.
Bob Motta examines the difference between an interview that helps police establish facts and one that protects a possible suspect from uncomfortable questions. An unrecorded conversation can become a dispute about what was said. A supervisor who approves the plan shares responsibility for explaining why that risk was taken.
Eric Faddis also looks at evidence that received very different treatment after federal investigators became involved. Nicholas Guarino testified that his search of Farwell's phone revealed no messages with Birchmore and that the phone was returned. FBI examiners later recovered thousands of communications from Birchmore's own devices. Testimony about police leaders learning of the lobby video also raises a question of information flow inside the department.
The point of the investigation was to determine how Sandra died. The jury must evaluate the evidence, while the public can ask why so many investigative choices now need explaining.
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This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
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