Matthew Farwell’s conviction may not be the last prosecution to come out of Sandra Birchmore’s death. Incoming Norfolk County District Attorney Djuna Perkins said Wednesday, November 11, 2026, that she will open a grand jury investigation into the Stoughton Police Explorers program, where Farwell first met Birchmore, 7News (WHDH) reported. Boston 25 News reported she also wants an investigation into the program and an audit of the entire district attorney’s office.
“I will follow the evidence where it leads, and if that leads to prosecuting, to evidence that I can prove beyond a reasonable doubt, there definitely will be other prosecutions,” Perkins told 7News. “I’m not afraid of prosecuting people, you know, even public employers, even police officers, who have committed crimes.”
Nobody else has been charged, and Perkins did not name anyone. Here is what she said she is looking at, the crimes she mentioned, and the Massachusetts deadline that applies to most of them.
What Perkins said
- A grand jury. Perkins said she will open a grand jury investigation into the Explorers program, 7News reported.
- Public answers. “I want to know what went wrong here and why. And to the extent possible, I want to disclose those results to the public,” she told Boston 25. “Certainly if there is evidence I will prosecute. Even if there isn’t, I think the community needs to know what happened here.”
- Possible charges. “If the conduct is bad enough, the most logical crime to be charged would be obstruction of justice, but there could also be failure to report child abuse. There could also be aiding and abetting,” Perkins told 7News, adding that “we’re a long time before we get anywhere with that.”
- The State Police units. Perkins also wants to review accountability in the State Police detective units assigned to district attorneys’ offices and may limit how long a trooper works in one office, NBC10 Boston reported.
- Trust. “My number one priority is to restore the community’s trust,” Perkins told Boston 25.
Perkins takes office in January, NBC10 reported. She replaces Michael Morrissey, who did not seek reelection. Morrissey’s office said after the verdict that its ability to prosecute had been “constrained” by the medical examiner’s original finding that Birchmore’s death was a suicide.
Who else is calling for a review
- Gov. Maura Healey. Healey expressed confidence Wednesday that new State Police leadership will look back at how the case was handled, 7News reported. “Whoever was involved in perpetrating that, enabling that, complicit in that, should be held accountable,” she said.
- U.S. Attorney Leah Foley. Foley said she has “all the confidence” in State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble, NBC10 reported, and 7News reported she is confident he will review troopers’ actions. At her news conference she declined to comment on errors in other investigations, as we reported.
- Birchmore’s family. The family is demanding further investigation into state and local police, 7News reported.
The crimes Perkins named, in Massachusetts law
We read each statute at malegislature.gov. These describe the law in general; Perkins has not said who, if anyone, might be charged with what.
| What Perkins said | Massachusetts law | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Obstruction of justice | G.L. c. 268, § 13B covers misleading, intimidating or harassing witnesses, police officers, investigators and others, with intent to or reckless disregard that it may “impede, obstruct, delay, prevent or otherwise interfere with” a criminal investigation, grand jury or trial. | 10 years in state prison. Up to 20 years if the underlying crime is punishable by life. |
| Failure to report child abuse | G.L. c. 119, § 51A requires mandated reporters to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child. | A fine of up to $1,000. If the abuse resulted in serious bodily injury or death of a child, a mandated reporter who willfully fails to report faces up to $5,000 and 2½ years in the house of correction. |
| Aiding and abetting | G.L. c. 274, § 2: whoever “aids in the commission of a felony” is punished like the principal. | Same as the underlying felony. |
The six-year clock
Massachusetts limits how long prosecutors have to bring most charges. Under G.L. c. 277, § 63:
- Six years for most crimes. “An indictment for any other crime shall be found and filed within 6 years after such crime has been committed.”
- No limit for murder. “An indictment for murder may be found at any time after the death.”
- No limit for some child sex crimes. Several offenses, including rape of a child under G.L. c. 265, § 23, may be charged “at any time,” though an indictment more than 27 years later needs independent corroborating evidence.
- Time out of state does not count. “Any period during which the defendant is not usually and publicly a resident within the commonwealth shall be excluded.”
Birchmore died on February 1, 2021. Six years after that is February 2027, a month after Perkins takes office. The deadline runs from when each crime was committed, so it would depend on when any particular act happened. For something done in early 2021, the window to indict would be closing within weeks of her taking office. For acts after that, it would run later.
Federal prosecutors are not limited by Massachusetts law. Foley said her office brought every charge it felt it could prosecute, NBC10 reported.
What happens next
- Farwell. Sentencing is February 3, 2027, Boston 25 and WCVB reported. Family and friends may address the court, Boston 25 reported.
- Perkins. She said she will review all of the testimony from the federal trial, 7News reported.
- Stoughton. Police Chief Donna McNamara, on paid leave since July over a dispute with the town manager, told WCVB the tip about Farwell and Birchmore never reached her. Her internal investigation found two other Stoughton officers also had sex with Birchmore while on duty, WCVB reported.
Frequently asked questions
Will anyone else be charged in the Sandra Birchmore case?
No one else has been charged. Incoming Norfolk DA Djuna Perkins said she will open a grand jury investigation and that “there definitely will be other prosecutions” if the evidence supports charges beyond a reasonable doubt, 7News reported.
What is the statute of limitations in Massachusetts?
Six years for most crimes under G.L. c. 277, § 63. Murder and several child sex offenses have no limit. Time a defendant lives outside Massachusetts does not count.
When does Djuna Perkins take office?
In January 2027, NBC10 Boston reported.
Why didn’t the Norfolk DA prosecute Farwell?
Outgoing DA Michael Morrissey’s office said it was constrained by the medical examiner’s original finding that Birchmore’s death was a suicide.
Sources: 7News (WHDH), Boston 25 News, WCVB and NBC10 Boston, November 11, 2026; NBC10 Boston, November 10, 2026. G.L. c. 277, § 63; c. 268, § 13B; c. 119, § 51A; and c. 274, § 2, read at malegislature.gov. General information, not legal advice.