United States of Kennedy

Episode: The Murder of Martha Moxley

Hosts: George Civeris and Julia Claire
Date: November 10, 2025

Overview

This episode takes a deep dive into the Martha Moxley case—a notorious 1975 murder from Greenwich, Connecticut, which entangled the Kennedy dynasty by association. Hosts George Civeris and new co-host Julia Claire unravel why this unsolved mystery continues to capture attention, breaking down the key facts, the investigation's missteps, the Kennedy family connections, shifting witness accounts, and how this story is once again in the media spotlight due to a new podcast and the ongoing attempts to exonerate Michael Skakel.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Context

• Julia is officially introduced as George's co-host, joking about her and her husband's “obsession” with Kennedy memorabilia (04:16–05:17).
• The tone quickly shifts as they acknowledge the seriousness and complexity of the Moxley case, marking the 50th anniversary of Martha’s funeral (05:34–08:51).
• The episode coincides with the release of an NBC News podcast featuring Michael Skakel breaking his silence, adding a “live” news angle (07:10–07:55).

2. Who Was Martha Moxley? The Belhaven Enclave & The Skakel Connection

• Martha Moxley was a 15-year-old who moved with her family from California to Belhaven, a wealthy area of Greenwich, CT (09:13).
• Lived across the street from the Skakels, an even wealthier family closely related to the Kennedys (09:35–10:18).
• The Skakel Kennedy connection: Ethel Skakel, Bobby Kennedy’s wife, was Rush Skakel’s sister (10:18).
• The Skakels had seven children, including Tommy (17) and Michael (15), both critical to the story (11:52).

3. The Night of the Murder: Halloween Eve, 1975

• On October 30, 1975, Martha was last seen alive with Tommy and Michael Skakel around 9:30pm (12:10–12:35).
• The proximity: Martha lived directly across the street from the Skakels; her walk home should have taken two minutes (13:15).
• Martha never returned home; her mother’s frantic search led to the tragic discovery of Martha’s bludgeoned body in their backyard (13:51–14:12).
• She was killed with a six-iron golf club from a set owned by Anne Skakel (14:12–15:16).
• The crime scene was shockingly violent—the club broke in three, one piece was stabbed in her neck, and her body dragged 80 feet (14:12–15:16).

“Martha's body is found bludgeoned to death with a golf club. Like, very psychotically violent... The golf club itself had been broken into three pieces. One of the pieces had been stabbed into the back of her neck.”
—George Civeris (14:12)

4. The Botched Investigation & Early Suspects

• Greenwich police were unprepared: only three murders in 25 years, lacking crime scene tape, failed to search the Skakel home though the murder weapon was theirs (15:16–16:11).
• No arrests or public suspects for decades, despite interviewing 500 people (16:59).
• Early focus:
  • Tommy Skakel: Diary entries from Martha described romantic and possibly unwanted attention from Tommy (16:59).
  • Michael Skakel: Known drinking problems starting at age 13; shown to have temper issues (17:55–18:43).
  • Kenneth Littleton: The family’s new live-in tutor, who arrived the very night of the murder and later displayed criminal behavior, becoming a person of interest but never charged (24:52–26:44).

5. Changing Stories and the Sutton Report

• Original alibis: Michael claimed he’d left at 9:30; Tommy said Martha left around the same time.
• Both changed their accounts in the Sutton Report, a private investigation commissioned by Rush Skakel in the early 1990s (27:38–28:47).
  • Tommy later admitted to sexual contact with Martha.
  • Michael added a bizarre story about climbing a tree to masturbate outside Martha’s window—officers disputed such a tree existed (28:47).
• These shifting stories further muddied the case, but didn’t directly incriminate either (28:47–29:33).

“It doesn't actually incriminate either of them, but it does, does at least prove they lied to the police at some point, whether it was their first alibi or their second...”
—George Civeris (28:47)

6. Media, True Crime Craze & Michael Skakel’s Conviction

• The cold case gained new attention in the 1990s and 2000s via books and TV:
  • A Season in Purgatory by Dominick Dunne (fictionalized account)
  • Murder in Greenwich by Mark Fuhrman (disgraced ex-LAPD officer from the O.J. Simpson case, concluded Michael was the likely killer) (30:29–31:47).
• Michael Skakel was charged in January 2000—based almost entirely on circumstantial evidence (32:48–34:13).
  • No new physical evidence; tried as an adult and convicted in 2002.
  • Sentenced to 20 years to life.

“There is no new physical evidence connecting Michael to the murder. This is just the evidence that we had before... the judge is clearly out for Michael. He even specifically instructs the jurors that they are allowed to convict on the basis of circumstantial evidence.”
—George Civeris (33:00)

7. Appeal, Retrial, and Michael’s Release

• After serving 11.5 years, Michael was released in 2013 when a judge found his original defense lawyer had been grossly incompetent (34:13–36:23).
  • Key defense witnesses not called; testimonies from reform school classmates questioned due to their own credibility issues.
  • Eventually, the Connecticut Supreme Court declined to retry him, and in 2020, Michael was declared a free man (36:23).

8. RFK Jr.’s Role and Alternate Theories

• RFK Jr., Michael’s first cousin, published multiple pieces and a 2016 book, Framed, steadfastly claiming Michael’s innocence, offering alternate suspects, and casting doubt (41:01–44:16).
  • RFK Jr. promoted a theory involving Tony Bryant (cousin of Kobe Bryant), claiming Bryant’s friends killed Martha—a theory widely dismissed for racist undertones and lack of evidence (41:45–43:31).
  • The Connecticut criminal justice division outright rejected RFK Jr.’s theories.

“...he wanted to help his cousin. And it’s had the opposite effect. I mean, it was widely discredited. The Connecticut State Division of Criminal justice... [called] his claims inflammatory and accusing the book of presenting no valid or new information. That’s a direct quote.”
—George Civeris (45:02–45:15)

• RFK Jr.’s habit of making grandiose, often questionable, pronouncements noted:

“He will sound like he is the smartest person in the room. He sounds very authoritative when he speaks. But he just makes stuff up.”
—Julia Claire (45:14)

9. The New Podcast & The Present Day

• NBC News’s new podcast, Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder, launched the same day this episode was recorded, promising new evidence and featuring Michael Skakel’s first in-depth interview (48:33–48:34).
  • Hosted by Andrew Goldman, who previously ghostwrote RFK Jr.’s book on the case, raising questions about impartiality (47:48).
• New potential evidence alluded to: e.g., blood found in a different house, a possible secret boyfriend—but hosts express skepticism, noting prior reporting focused on Tommy and Michael (50:56–52:07).

10. Why This Case Endures

• The case remains unsolved, with no clear answers after 50 years.
• The brutality of the crime stands out, as does the “feral, chaotic” wealth of the Skakel household (53:33).
• Hosts agree that, unless new credible forensic evidence is produced, the case might remain forever cold.

“This is one of those cases that I think will be cold forever until all parties involved are dead.”
—Julia Claire (54:51)

• The spectacle, privilege, and cultural power surrounding the Kennedy name help explain the lasting fascination, as do the ever-shifting stories and media lenses that have shaped public perception (55:04–55:55).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Kennedy obsession:

  “In some medical textbooks, being Catholic and from Boston actually counts as an illness.”
  —George Civeris (03:32)

• On the insularity and wealth of Greenwich:

  “Greenwich is like where the wealthy people from New York City moved when they had had kids in the 70s.”
  —George Civeris (09:35)

• On suspects and privilege:

  “They're essentially feral. And they're also the popular kids...who know at any given point their parents are going to bail them out.”
  —Julia Claire (29:20–29:22; 29:33)

• On the RFK Jr. book’s reception:

  “I believe that RFK Jr. published the book because he wanted to help his cousin. And it's had the opposite effect. I mean, it was widely discredited...”
  —George Civeris (44:16)

• On the limitations of memory in cold cases:

  “Even when the case was going on in the early 2000s, how credible are everyone's memories then? My memory is barely credible for things I did last week.”
  —Julia Claire (54:51)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• New co-host/JFK memorabilia banter: 03:32–05:24
• Case overview and anniversary: 05:34–08:59
• Victim & Skakel family intro: 09:13–12:10
• The murder—facts & initial investigation: 12:10–16:59
• Suspects & early investigation failures: 16:59–26:44
• Sutton Report & changed stories: 27:38–29:33
• Rise of true crime/Skakel conviction: 30:29–34:13
• Retrial & Skakel’s eventual release: 34:13–37:05
• RFK Jr. involvement & alternate theories: 41:01–47:48
• New NBC podcast & present developments: 47:48–53:33
• Discussion on brutality of murder & enduring mystery: 53:33–56:36

Tone and Approach

Julia and George blend wry humor (“clinical obsession with the Kennedys”), skepticism, and empathy for the victim. The episode maintains a conversational, searching tone: they're honest about what remains unresolved, their own shifting feelings, and the ways narratives around the Kennedys and privilege tend to muddy already murky waters.

Conclusion

50 years on, the Martha Moxley case stands as a microcosm of privilege, power, and perennial fascination with the Kennedy clan. Despite numerous investigations, trials, and media productions—including a new podcast drawing renewed attention—no firm answers have emerged. The hosts encourage listeners to investigate the available materials, especially the new podcast and 48 Hours special, while cautioning that closure remains elusive, and that narratives—both in court and in the media—have often raised more questions than answers.

For further discussion:

• 48 Hours special on YouTube
• NBC’s Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder podcast
• Listeners with information or insights encouraged to write in (56:36)

End of summary.