48 Hours – "The Ghosts of Greenwich"
Host: CBS News
Episode Date: October 30, 2025
Episode Overview
This gripping episode of “48 Hours” revisits the notorious 1975 murder of Martha Moxley in Greenwich, Connecticut, and charts the decades-long quest for justice that followed. Through meticulous reporting, interviews with key family members and legal figures, and a review of controversial evidence, the episode explores the conviction and ultimate release of Michael Skakel, a Kennedy cousin, once found guilty of the crime. Listeners are immersed in the tangled web of privilege, suspicion, and the enduring pain of two families forever changed by a single night.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Crime and Initial Investigation
- [01:44–12:37] The show describes Martha Moxley as a popular and well-liked teenager whose violent death shocked the affluent Greenwich community. She was found brutally beaten under a tree near her home, killed with a golf club later traced to the Skakel family. The crime’s brutality led police to initially suspect an outsider.
- Quote: “Martha was an extremely popular, attractive girl… typical teenager in probably the best sense of the term.” – Steven Skakel [01:39]
- Quote: “The instrument used in the striking of the Moxley girl was a golf club.” – Steven Skakel [02:05]
The Skakel Family: Wealth, Tragedy, and Suspicion
- [09:31–13:11] The Skakels are portrayed as once-wealthy, powerful, and related to the Kennedy family. The family lost their mother to cancer a year before the murder, and later, their live-in tutor, Ken Littleton, became a person of interest.
- [15:08–16:07] Tommy Skakel, Michael’s older brother, was an early suspect. Suspicion grew when his alibi was challenged, but ultimately he wasn't charged.
Michael Skakel Moves from Witness to Suspect
- [17:02–19:11] Years after the murder, Michael became a focus due to inconsistencies in his statements revealed by the family’s own “Sutton Report.” Michael’s revised account included explicit details, placing himself near the crime scene and leading to new suspicion.
- Quote: “He's feeling horny around midnight… he goes out and he climbs a tree outside Martha's window… I ran home and I remember thinking, oh, my God, I hope God nobody saw me jerking off.” – Steven Skakel summarizing Michael’s story [17:14]
The Prosecution and Conviction
- [18:24–20:21] Evidence mounted from Michael’s former schoolmates, who testified he’d confessed at the Elan School to "getting away with murder" because of his Kennedy connection.
- Quote: “The first words he ever said to me was, ‘I'm going to get away with murder. I'm a Kennedy.’” – Greg Coleman [18:40]
Family and Public Reaction
- [04:15–05:12, 20:54–21:36] The conviction devastated the Skakel family but gave some closure to the Moxleys. The episode features both families' perspectives, illustrating enduring pain and the persistence of doubt.
- Quote: “For our family, grieving has coincided with accusation. Michael is innocent. There is no way on earth he could have done this. And I will fight till the last breath in me to get him free.” – Steven Skakel [05:12]
Bobby Kennedy Jr.'s Advocacy and the Quest for Exoneration
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[05:45–06:24, 22:04–24:38] Bobby Kennedy Jr., a lawyer and Michael’s cousin, launched his own investigation, publishing findings in The Atlantic Monthly. He believed other suspects—especially friends of Tony Bryant, a classmate—were ignored.
- Quote: “The evidence is much stronger in suggesting that other people may have committed the crime.” – Bobby Kennedy Jr. [02:26]
- Quote: “I treat all of these things with a lot of skepticism.” – Bobby Kennedy Jr. [06:30]
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[23:16–25:49] Tony Bryant alleged that two friends, not Michael, may have killed Martha, recounting their “caveman style” threats. Bryant’s credibility and the racial dynamics of the case are explored.
- Quote: “They picked up these clubs and they said that they were going to go out and get a girl, caveman style.” – Bobby Kennedy Jr. [24:01]
Legal Battles, New Evidence, and Appeal
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[33:15–36:43] The prosecution worked to discredit Michael’s alibi and leveraged suggestive out-of-context statements in closing arguments, which many felt swayed the jury.
- Quote: “A skillful prosecutor can often put people in jail who are not guilty of a crime.” – Bobby Kennedy Jr. [38:07]
- Context on closing arguments: Michael’s masturbation account was edited to sound like a murder confession, a tactic debated by both sides.
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[39:32–41:59] Michael’s legal team would eventually argue that his attorney, Mickey Sherman, provided ineffective counsel by failing to challenge evidence, examine alternate suspects, or highlight reasonable doubt.
- Quote: “It’s dumbfounded us as to the amount of information that Mickey did not follow up on.” – Steven Skakel [39:55]
Dramatic Turn: New Trial and Release
- [42:13–43:13] In a dramatic legal reversal, a judge granted Michael Skakel a new trial, citing poor representation.
- Quote: “Judge Thomas Bishop granted Skakel a new trial and in the 136-page decision, skewered Sherman for failing to adequately represent his client…” – Troy Roberts [42:13]
- Michael was released after more than a decade in prison; by 2020, prosecutors announced there would be no retrial.
Enduring Impact on Both Families
- [43:37–44:03] The Moxley family’s pain endures, with Martha’s mother expressing the lifelong impact of being a victim. The Skakels, having suffered years of stigma and loss, still seek closure and public vindication.
- Quote: “Once you're a victim, being a victim is just part of you forever.” – Dorothy Moxley [43:01]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------| | 01:48 | “She liked everybody and everyone liked her.” | Narrator/Reporter | | 05:12 | “For our family, grieving has coincided with accusation. Michael is innocent…” | Steven Skakel | | 06:11 | “I am utterly convinced that he did not do the crime.” | Bobby Kennedy Jr. | | 18:40 | “I’m going to get away with murder. I’m a Kennedy.” | Greg Coleman (via Skakel) | | 24:01 | “They picked up these clubs and they said they were going to go out and get a girl…” | Bobby Kennedy Jr. | | 38:07 | “A skillful prosecutor can often put people in jail who are not guilty of a crime.” | Bobby Kennedy Jr. | | 43:01 | “Being a victim is just part of you forever.” | Dorothy Moxley |
Important Timestamps & Segments
- [01:14–02:34] Crime introduction, the conviction, and family voices
- [09:31–13:05] Skakel family background and the crime's immediate aftermath
- [15:08–17:02] Early suspects and shifting suspicion within the family
- [18:24–19:11] Elan School testimony and Michael’s indictment
- [19:11–20:21] The trial, verdict, and aftermath
- [23:16–25:49] Tony Bryant revelations and the alternative suspect theory
- [33:15–36:43] Prosecutorial strategy and closing arguments
- [39:32–41:59] Attorney Mickey Sherman cross-examined for ineffective defense
- [42:13–43:13] Judge’s decision for a new trial and Michael’s release
- [43:37–44:03] Closing reflections from both families; announcement of no retrial
Tone and Style
The episode maintains a measured, investigative tone, carefully balancing empathy for the Moxleys’ loss with scrutiny of the prosecution’s case and defense failings. Direct quotes from family and key figures, as well as frank comments from Bobby Kennedy Jr., add urgency and passion to the narration—often pained, sometimes outraged, but always deeply personal.
Conclusion
“The Ghosts of Greenwich” offers a comprehensive, emotionally charged examination of a case that has haunted two families and riveted the nation for over four decades. The episode explores the collision of privilege, suspicion, and the relentless search for the truth—leaving listeners with as many questions as answers about what truly happened to Martha Moxley.
For listeners wanting a deep dive into the complexities of criminal investigations, wrongful convictions, and enduring family trauma, this is an essential episode.