Gov. Maura Healey said she was “horrified” and “disgusted” when she learned of the alleged murder of Sandra Birchmore in 2021 by a former Stoughton police detective.
Matthew G. Farwell was indicted last month on a federal charge that he killed 23-year-old Birchmore after she claimed she was pregnant with his unborn baby. Farwell allegedly groomed and sexually exploited Birchmore when she was a teenager, then continued to have sex with her as an adult. The indictment alleges that Farwell used his police knowledge to stage Birchmore’s death so it would appear that she killed herself. Her death was originally ruled a suicide.
“Anything like that has got to be fully investigated and perpetrators have got to be held accountable,” Healey told Boston Public Radio on Friday.
The U.S. attorney’s office is investigating the case, and Healey said she expects the medical examiner’s office and other entities to cooperate. She said it’s essential to learn what happened in this case.
“I want justice done for Sandra Birchmore and for her family,” Healey said.
Also on the topic of law and order, Healey addressed questions on whether the CEO of embattled Steward Healthcare, Ralph de la Torre, has committed crimes.
“What I’ve said is there needs to be accountability here. I’m glad he’s a subject of investigation right now. He should be held accountable. He should go to jail. And anybody else who worked along with him should pay the price,” she said.
De la Torre is still CEO of Steward, but Healey said the company is now controlled by the transformation committee in bankruptcy court.
“It’s out of Ralph de la Torre’s hands. And he’s got to be focused on lawyering up, because he is going to be investigated and prosecuted,” she said.
Healey’s comments differ from what Sen. Elizabeth Warren had previously told GBH News, saying that de la Torre should be removed from CEO because he still had influence. “He’s got access to all of the information. He’s the one negotiating the deals on which hospitals are closed,” Warren said on Boston Public Radio on Thursday.
Healey said the state secured six “responsible, new operators” for Steward hospitals in Massachusetts, but were unable to find two more for Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer.
“We did not have, unfortunately, any hospital willing to come in and help take over operations there,” Healey said. Those two hospitals are expected to close. However, doctor’s offices on those campuses remain open and there is 24/7 ambulance service with advanced care. Healey said they will evaluate the healthcare needs for Dorchester and Ayer to determine how best to provide care moving forward.
