About This Episode
Sandra Birchmore was 22 years old when she was found hanged in her apartment in Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, on February 6, 2021. Police quickly ruled her death a suicide — but behind that conclusion lay years of sexual abuse, misuse of power, and a coordinated effort to conceal the truth. The podcast True Crime Today now retells the case in an episode that places it within the broader context of institutional failure and corruption in American law enforcement.
From teenager to victim of trusted adults
The abuse began, according to investigators, when Sandra Birchmore was just 15 years old — around 2013. Officers from the Canton Police Department, all connected to a group known as the "Dirty Dozen," allegedly sexually exploited her over a period of years. Among the central figures is Robert J. Bettencourt, a former detective, whom prosecutors say began a sexual relationship with her while she was a minor. Also named are William B. Dever, a former sergeant, and Matthew T. Farwell, a former officer.
Dever and Farwell were indicted on June 28, 2024, on charges of conspiracy to sexually abuse a minor and tampering with evidence. Dever was sentenced to five years in prison; Farwell received three years along with restitution.
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Evidence was manipulated after Birchmore's death
Investigators determined that active attempts were made to tamper with the crime scene following Birchmore's death. A firearm was allegedly removed from the scene to support the suicide narrative. Kevin Albert — brother of the former Boston Police Department commissioner — was investigated specifically for this and admitted to the misconduct. He was stripped of his badge in 2023 but received no prison sentence, though he forfeited his pension.
In February 2022, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins released a report that laid bare the full scope of the failure: "This report reveals a profound systemic failure within the Norfolk County police and the DA's office. Public servants abused a vulnerable teenager and covered it up after her death."
Convictions and legal aftermath
The most concrete legal consequence came on January 18, 2025, when Robert J. Bettencourt was sentenced by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to 30 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. He is permanently barred from serving in law enforcement. U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy stated: "No one is above the law. This case exposes corruption within police ranks and the justice system's failure to protect victims."
Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey emphasized at the same occasion that the case has led to concrete reforms, including the introduction of independent oversight of law enforcement in Norfolk County.
True Crime Today puts the case in perspective
The podcast True Crime Today, available via Podimo, uses the Sandra Birchmore case as a lens to examine how institutions can fail the most vulnerable — and what it takes before the system responds. The episode draws on publicly available material from the DOJ, the FBI, and the offices of both district attorneys, presenting a complex case in an accessible way for listeners interested in systemic crime and the abuse of power.
For true crime followers focused on institutional failure rather than individual perpetrators, this episode is a natural starting point.
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The case that changed Norfolk County
The broader investigation resulted in six Canton Police Department officers being either fired or suspended. The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office underwent an internal audit between 2022 and 2024, the FBI assumed overall control of the investigation, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety published a report on conditions in 2024.
Sandra Birchmore never lived to see justice. But five years after her death, the men who allegedly abused her and attempted to erase the evidence have been held accountable — and the case has left a lasting mark on the law enforcement structure of an entire county.
