Both cases involve allegations of law enforcement misconduct and have raised questions about the integrity of the investigations conducted by local authorities.
Raised only by her mother and grandmother (who both died when she was a teenager), Birchmore became involved with the Stoughton Police Explorers program, at age 12, a program for youths interested in law enforcement careers.
[3][7] At the time of her death, Birchmore lived in Canton and worked as a teacher’s assistant at an elementary school in Sharon,[8] and was taking nursing courses at Massasoit Community College.
[9] On February 4, 2021, Birchmore's colleagues at Sharon Public Schools alerted the police after she missed days of work.
They believe all three men were involved in sexually assaulting her when she was in the explorer program, and accused the Town of Stoughton and its Police Department of negligent hiring and supervision, which caused Birchmore emotional distress, leading to her supposed suicide.