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Above, screen capture of Sandra Birchmore images from CrimeJunkie.com
On Thursday, family members of Sandra Birchmore, the young woman whose "suicide" was later reclassified as a homicide, along with Adam Deitch, candidate for Norfolk County District Attorney, released the following statements.
Statement from family members of Sandra Birchmore:
“Our family continues to live with the devastating loss of Sandra – a young woman whose life should never have been taken. We continue to grieve her loss and seek justice for her murder.
“From the beginning, the truth about Sandra’s death was ignored. Despite clear warning signs and mounting evidence, state authorities ruled her death a suicide. To this day, Sandra’s death certificate still states that she died by suicide, despite overwhelming evidence that she was targeted, groomed, abused, and ultimately killed by someone she should have been able to trust.
“Nothing we can say or do can bring Sandra back. Beyond justice for Sandra, we share the goal of ensuring that nothing like this ever happens again to another young vulnerable person.
“The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office failed to properly investigate and prosecute Sandra’s death and failed to deliver justice when it mattered most. Without the investigation by the Stoughton Police Department, the intervention of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI, we have no faith that the truth about Sandra’s murder would ever have been acknowledged. No family should have to fight this hard simply to have a loved one’s death taken seriously.
“Sandra’s case exposed deep failures that demand meaningful change in the District Attorney’s Office. We believe that former Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Deitch is uniquely prepared to deliver the fundamental change the office requires. Adam Deitch understands what went wrong, and he has the experience and independence to rebuild a DA’s office the public can count on. For Sandra, and for every family that depends on a fair and competent justice system, we are proud to support Adam Deitch for Norfolk County District Attorney.”
*The following members of Sandra Birchmore’s family have signed onto the statement: Angelique Pirozzi (cousin) and Justina Danick (cousin).
Statement from Adam Deitch, candidate for Norfolk County District Attorney:
“What happened to Sandra Birchmore was an unspeakable tragedy, a profound miscarriage of justice at the state level, and a glaring example of why we need fundamental change in the DA’s Office. A young woman’s innocence – and ultimately her life – were taken by someone in a position of power and trust. The investigation that followed should have been relentless in the pursuit of truth, but instead it raised serious questions about whether the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office was willing or able to follow the evidence.
“I decided to run for District Attorney because Norfolk County deserves a DA's Office that is accountable, fearless, and focused on the facts and evidence, wherever they lead. The conduct of the DA’s Office in Sandra Birchmore’s case was one of the most important factors in my decision to leave the U.S. Attorney’s office to run for District Attorney. Our community has a right to expect the DA’s Office to pursue the truth without fear or favor, protect the vulnerable, and earn the public’s trust through professionalism and integrity. Norfolk County also deserves a DA’s Office where no one is above the law, ever.
“I am deeply honored to have the support of members of Sandra’s family and share in their determination to ensure that the failures in her case are never repeated. As District Attorney, I will work tirelessly to build an office that delivers fairness, justice, and accountability for every community in Norfolk County.”
ED note, other Declared Norfolk DA Candidates include:
- Greg Connor – longtime Norfolk prosecutor and chief trial counsel
- Jim Barakat – criminal defense attorney
- Craig MacLellan – former prosecutor and Cohasset School Committee member
- Djuna Perkins – former Suffolk County prosecutor
