Birchmore’s Police Supervisor Approved WHAT Interview?!

When investigators interviewed Matthew Farwell about Sandra Birchmore's death, they did it in a school parking lot without taking notes or making a recording. Trooper Matthew Dunne testified that Sgt. John Fanning, his supervisor, made those tactical decisions. The aim, Dunne explained, was to prevent Farwell from ending the conversation and asking for an attorney. So what was gained by the approach, and what was lost?

Tony Brueski and Bob Motta examine the judgment call that sat above the initial investigation. Dunne later told jurors that Farwell had been untruthful about his relationship with Birchmore. The trooper...