The homicide that haunts the Kennedys: Martha Moxley’s family members reveal their reality within the FREE The Crime Desk e-newsletter… as accused cousin cleared in killing breaks cowl

It was the night before Halloween 1975, and what began as a night of mischief and harmless pranks in the tony gated community of Belle Haven, Connecticut, would end in tragedy when the body of a teenage girl was found bludgeoned beneath a tree.

Martha Moxley, 15, was last seen by her family heading out into the cold October night to join friends carousing in the neighborhood. When Martha missed her 10 pm curfew, her family grew anxious and police were called. But night bled into morning, and there was still no sign of the teenager.

The following morning came the discovery in the Moxley backyard. Martha had been beaten with a golf club and left beneath a pine. She was stripped from the waist down. There were no signs of sexual assault.

The bloodied six-iron pointed investigators across the street to the Skakel household, relatives by marriage to the Kennedys. Detectives focused on brothers Tommy, 17, and Michael, 15, but leads fizzled and the case went cold.

Then, decades later, Michael Skakel was convicted of Martha’s murder in 2002, accused of killing her in a drunken, jealous rage.

Years of appeals followed. A judge overturned the verdict and granted a new trial in 2013, citing ineffective counsel. In 2018, the conviction was vacated. Prosecutors ultimately declined to retry him, citing the passage of time and lost witnesses. He walked free.

Skakel receded from public view until 2024, when he filed a lawsuit against Connecticut authorities, accusing them of framing him – claims that have not yet been responded to. He is also set to appear in a new NBC podcast, speaking in depth for the first time to echo his claims of innocence.

For the 50th anniversary of Moxley’s death, Daily Mail Senior Reporter Luke Kenton spoke with loved ones of Moxley about the case, the Skakels, and their now five-decade hunt for justice.

Martha Moxley (pictured) had only moved to Greenwich, Connecticut, a year before her death. She was already considered the most popular girl in school and had a long list of admirers 

Tommy Skakel, 17, and his younger brother Michael, 15, were both interviewed by police. Michael was charged decades later. However, his conviction was overturned

Christine Watson, who grew up with Martha in California, shares warm, vivid memories of a bright, charismatic friend – and her fury over Skakel’s latest moves and the high-profile Kennedy who became his staunchest defender.

Martha’s brother, John Moxley, recounts painful scenes from 1975 and the relentless campaign to keep her name alive.

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