The Murder of Martha Moxley (Part 1)
The murder of 15-year-old Martha Moxley in 1975 remains one of the most chilling and socially charged cases in American true crime history. Found dead just 200 feet from her home, beaten with a golf club in a savage attack, Martha’s death was the first murder case ever investigated by the Greenwich, Connecticut police department—whose lack of homicide experience led to catastrophic investigative failures. The prime suspect, Tommy Skakel, the wealthy son of a Kennedy-connected family, was the last person seen with Martha and lied about his alibi, claiming he was doing a nonexistent Abraham Lincoln homework project. Despite finding the missing murder weapon’s golf club set at the Skakel home and knowing Tommy was lying, detectives never obtained a search warrant, seized evidence, or aggressively pursued him—raising serious questions about whether the investigation was compromised by fear of the Skakel family’s power and influence. Over decades, the case was repeatedly reopened, but systemic failures and a culture of silence in elite Greenwich persisted. The turning point came when journalist Dominic Dunn, himself a father of a murdered daughter, began investigating and helped reignite public interest. His work, along with the Sutton Report—a private investigation costing over $1 million—revealed that Tommy lied and that Michael Skakel, long ruled out, may have been involved.
The Greenwich police had never investigated a murder before, and their inexperience led to critical failures, including not obtaining a search warrant despite finding the murder weapon’s golf club set.
Tommy Skakel lied about doing a nonexistent Abraham Lincoln homework project, a lie easily disproven, yet detectives never pressed him or seized evidence.
The missing Tony Penn six iron golf club, used to beat Martha Moxley, was found in the Skakel home’s mudroom, but investigators took no action to collect it as evidence.
The Skakel family’s wealth and connections, especially through Robert F. Kennedy, created a culture of intimidation that prevented cooperation and stonewalled the investigation.
Journalist Dominic Dunn, a father who lost his own daughter to murder, was motivated to investigate due to shared trauma and helped reignite the case decades later.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome to Morbid: A Case of Wealth, Power, and a Missing Girl
The hosts open with a nostalgic tribute to Caleb, a former co-host, and briefly address technical issues with Apple Podcasts playback. They promote their upcoming live show in New York City and set the tone for the episode with playful banter about soda preferences, before diving into the case.
Martha Moxley: The Girl Who Was the Sun in the Room
The hosts introduce Martha Moxley—born in 1960, a bright, athletic, and beloved teenager from California who moved to wealthy Greenwich, Connecticut in 1974. She quickly adapted, made new friends, and was voted most popular at school. Her diary entries reveal a complex, teenage relationship with Tommy Skakel, who she found intrusive and annoying.
The Skakel Family: Wealth, Tragedy, and a Gated World
The episode explores the Skakel family’s immense wealth and influence, rooted in Great Lakes Coal and tied to the Kennedy family through Rushton Skakel’s sister, Ethel. The family’s history is marked by multiple tragedies, including plane crashes and deaths, which may have contributed to the boys’ troubled behavior. The Belhaven neighborhood is described as a secluded, elite enclave where the Skakels lived.
The Night Martha Disappeared: A Timeline of Danger
On October 30, 1975, Martha was last seen with Tommy Skakel and friends in the Skakel driveway. Play-fighting escalated into physical contact, and after Jeff and Helen left, Tommy claimed Martha walked home alone. She was never seen again. Dorothy Moxley reported her missing at 4 a.m., but police treated it as a typical teenage run-away.
The Discovery: A Brutal Murder in Plain Sight
Martha’s body was found 200 feet from her home, lying face down in a pool of blood. She had been beaten with a six iron golf club—eight to nine times—causing her scalp to tear off. The club broke, and the jagged handle was rammed into her throat. No sexual assault was confirmed, but bloody hand marks were found on her inner thighs.
“He later said in 2003, the fact that there was no search warrant is one of the most outrageous things when they knew that the golf club came from the set of golf clubs that belonged to the late mother in the Skakel household.”
“Yeah, Steve Carroll said in a 2003 interview, I think it was a case of circumstances. Did we tread lightly? Probably. Out of respect or fear? I don't know.”
“It's not that we don't have leads, but I don't know when we'll break the case. If I did, I'd tell you.”
Hosts
martha moxley
person
tommy skakel
person
michael skakel
person
dorothy moxley
person
rushton skakel
person
greenwich connecticut
place
steve carroll
person
james lunney
person
belhaven
place
dominic dunn
person
Start discovering podcast insights today
Start with a 7-day trial and explore a growing catalog of popular podcasts. No credit card required.
No credit card required • 7-day trial • Cancel anytime