The Murder of Martha Moxley (Part 1)

Episode of Morbid · June 1, 2026 · 55 min

Morbid hosts Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley recount the 1975 murder of 15-year-old Martha Moxley in Greenwich, Connecticut, and the botched early investigation into the Skakel family.

Summary

In the first of a two-part episode, Alaina Urquhart narrated for Ash Kelley the case of Martha Moxley, a 15-year-old who moved with her family from California to the wealthy Belle Haven enclave of Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1974. Urquhart described Moxley's popularity, her diary entries about uncomfortable encounters with Tommy and Michael Skakel, sons of wealthy Rushton Skakel, whose sister Ethel was married to Robert F. Kennedy, and the Skakel family's history of tragedy.

Urquhart recounted the events of October 30, 1975 (Mischief Night), when Moxley was last seen with Tommy Skakel in the Skakel driveway, and the discovery of her beaten body beneath pine trees about 200 feet from her home the next day, alongside a broken six iron. She detailed the Greenwich Police Department's inexperience with homicide, the failure to obtain a search warrant or seize the Skakel golf clubs despite a missing six iron, Tommy's false homework alibi, and the family's later refusal to cooperate. The hosts argued that either incompetence or deference to wealth and power explained the failures.

The episode then covered the investigation's wider net, including tutor Ken Littleton, neighbor Edward Hammond and an unidentified hitchhiker, the 1991 William Kennedy Smith case that revived rumors, and journalist Dominick Dunn's involvement, which led to the novel A Season in Purgatory and the case's reopening by State's Attorney John Solomon. It ended with Rushton Skakel commissioning the Sutton Report, which indicated Tommy had lied to police and hinted at revelations about Michael Skakel, to be covered in Part 2.

Chapters

0:00
Intro and show business
The hosts open the show, address an Apple Podcasts playback glitch, and promote their Radio City Music Hall live show.
4:09
Case overview
Urquhart previews the case as the Greenwich police's first murder investigation, hampered by wealthy and powerful families.
5:56
Martha Moxley's early life and move to Greenwich
Moxley's family background, personality, and the family's move to the exclusive Belle Haven enclave are described.
15:25
The Skakel family
Urquhart introduces Rushton Skakel, his Kennedy connection, and the family's string of tragedies.
17:59
Martha's diary entries
Diary passages describe Moxley's uneasy interactions with Tommy and Michael Skakel weeks before her death.
22:12
Mischief Night 1975
Moxley goes out with friends, ends up in the Skakel driveway with Tommy, and is last seen with him.
25:09
Disappearance and discovery of the body
Dorothy Moxley reports her daughter missing and Martha's body is found near her home with a broken six iron.
29:49
Early investigation and critical mistakes
Detectives focus on Tommy Skakel but fail to get a search warrant or collect the golf clubs despite his false alibi.
37:50
Stonewalling and a widening suspect pool
The Skakels stop cooperating, and police pursue Ken Littleton, Edward Hammond, and a phantom hitchhiker.
43:02
Aristocratic scandal and William Kennedy Smith
The hosts discuss public disdain for wealthy families and rumors linking William Kennedy Smith to the case.
46:13
Dominick Dunn and the reopening
Dunn's interest leads to A Season in Purgatory and the state's attorney reopening the case.
50:41
The Sutton Report
Rushton Skakel's private investigation reveals Tommy lied and teases revelations about Michael for Part 2.
Linked moment · 52:31Skip to 52:31 using a listen link in the info box.
52:31
Fun facts and sign-off
Kelley shares fun facts about the longest wedding veil and cats allergic to people before the hosts sign off.

People

In the conversation

Alaina UrquhartCo-host of Morbid, autopsy technician and author of the Butcher novels
Ash KelleyCo-host of the true crime podcast Morbid

Discussed

Martha Moxley15-year-old murdered in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1975
Michael SkakelSon of Rushton Skakel and nephew of Ethel Kennedy, linked to the Moxley case
Thomas SkakelSon of Rushton Skakel and early prime suspect in the Moxley murder
Rushton SkakelWealthy Greenwich resident and Great Lakes Carbon heir, brother of Ethel Kennedy
Dorothy MoxleyMartha Moxley's mother and victims' advocate
Steve CarrollGreenwich police detective and co-lead investigator on the Moxley case
James LunneyGreenwich police detective and co-lead investigator on the Moxley case
Ken LittletonSkakel children's tutor investigated as a suspect
Dominick DunneWriter and Vanity Fair crime journalist, father of Dominique Dunne
William Kennedy SmithKennedy family member acquitted of sexual assault in 1991, rumored in connection with the case
Ethel KennedyRushton Skakel's sister and widow of Robert F. Kennedy
Thomas BrownConnecticut state's attorney who accused the Skakels of stonewalling

Topics

The Murder of Martha Moxley (Part 2)
Morbid · Jun 4, 2026 · 56 min
Morbid hosts Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley conclude the Martha Moxley case, covering Michael Skakel's changed alibi, Mark Fuhrman's book, conviction, appeals, and dropped charges.

From the publisher

(Part 1 of 2) On October 30, 1975, fifteen-year-old Martha Moxley failed to return home after a night out with friends in Belle Haven, an exclusive wealthy enclave in Greenwich, CT. The following morning, Moxley’s badly beaten body was discovered underneath a tree, just a few hundred feet from her house, triggering one of the most notorious murder mysteries in the state’s history.

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 28, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: True Crime·History