First the Karen Read Trial, Now the Sandra Birchmore Case Adds Scrutiny to DA, Medical Examiner

Federal prosecutors have charged a former police detective with the death of 23-year old pregnant woman months after the medical examiner’s office ruled she died by suicide. The indictment raises questions over whether the FBI had evidence that prosecutors did not use or consider. McCarter partner and former federal prosecutor Glenn MacKinlay spoke with The Boston Globe and noted that medical examiners work independently of prosecutors, and it could have been challenging to bring murder charges when the medical examiner ruled it a suicide. Investigators still would “have had the opportunity to provide evidence to the medical examiner” to inform their ruling, Glenn said.