The Martha Moxley Murder: A Half-Century Old Mystery

A Shocking Crime in a Quiet Town

Fifty years ago, the peaceful town of Belle Haven, Greenwich, Connecticut, was shaken by a brutal crime. Fifteen-year-old Martha Moxley was found dead under a pine tree in her backyard. She had been attacked with a golf club, and a piece of it was left at the scene. Her pants and underwear were pulled down, but there was no sign of sexual assault. This crime was rare in such a wealthy and serene area.

A Long Road to Justice

The case took 27 years to solve. In 2002, Michael Skakel, a neighbor and relative of the Kennedy family, was convicted. However, in 2018, his conviction was overturned, leaving the case unsolved and full of unanswered questions.

A New Investigation: The Podcast

Now, a new podcast from NBC News Studios and Highly Replaceable Productions is revisiting the case. Titled "Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder", it is hosted by journalist Andrew Goldman, who has access to case materials and interviews with people close to the Moxley and Skakel families, including Michael Skakel himself.

Andrew Goldman's Decade-Long Investigation

Goldman's investigation took over a decade. He had to navigate faded memories, the loss of key figures, and the challenge of earning Michael Skakel's trust. Skakel had been portrayed negatively in the media, but Goldman found him to be funny, damaged, and honest.

The Complexities of the Case

The podcast explores how the investigation was difficult from the start. Police had many theories but no solid suspects. The Skakel brothers, Thomas and Michael, became suspects because the golf club used in the murder belonged to their family. The case went cold until the 1990s, when two books and a new investigation revived it. Michael Skakel was charged in 2000 and convicted in 2002.

He was released on bond in 2013 after his conviction was overturned, and the state decided not to retry him in 2020.

New Insights and Humanizing Skakel

Goldman had access to Skakel's entire case file, giving him more information than other commentators. He found the case to be complex and full of twists. The podcast challenges the usual narrative and humanizes Skakel, showing him as someone who faced a tough upbringing, addiction, and institutional abuse.

Premiere and What to Expect

The podcast premieres on Nov. 4, with new episodes available weekly. It promises to be a gripping tale that will challenge listeners' impressions of the case and its main suspect.