Overview of Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder
This NBC News podcast (promo) introduces Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder, an investigative series hosted and reported by Andrew Goldman that re-examines the 1975 killing of 15‑year‑old Martha Moxley in Greenwich, Connecticut. The series revisits the original investigation, the decades-long cold case, the 2000 arrest of Michael Skakel (a Kennedy cousin who was 15 at the time of the crime), and new reporting that challenges widely held assumptions about what happened. The promo promises interviews with dozens of people connected to the case — including legal and forensic experts and, reportedly, Michael Skakel speaking publicly for the first time — and a deeper, darker look at the story than the familiar headline narrative.
Key points and main takeaways
- Martha Moxley, age 15, was murdered the night before Halloween 1975 in Greenwich, CT.
- Initial police work produced many interviews and a thorough search but no arrests; the case eventually went cold.
- In 2000, Michael Skakel — then a 15‑year‑old neighbor and Kennedy relative — was arrested in connection with the murder; that Kennedy connection made the case nationally famous.
- Host Andrew Goldman spent years investigating the case (since 2015), interviewing dozens of people directly involved and re-evaluating the accepted narrative.
- The series promises to surface new details, challenge assumptions about privilege and justice, and includes voices from legal and forensic experts as well as people close to the case.
- The podcast premiere date given in the promo is Tuesday, November 4; listeners are encouraged to follow/subscribe.
Background and timeline (as presented in the promo)
- 1975: Martha Moxley, 15, murdered in the Tony Belhaven neighborhood of Greenwich the night before Halloween.
- 1975–late 1990s: Investigation produced many interviews and suspects, but no prosecution; police work described as inexperienced and leads ultimately did not stick.
- 2000: Michael Skakel — who was 15 at the time of the killing and who has family ties to the Kennedys — was arrested.
- 2015–present: Andrew Goldman investigates the case in depth, interviewing dozens of sources and re-examining evidence and narrative.
Major voices and contributors named in the promo
- Andrew Goldman — reporter/host and primary investigator for the series.
- Several high-profile legal and forensic voices are named or suggested, including Jeffrey Toobin, Mark Fuhrman, and Dr. Henry Lee.
- Linda Kenney-Boddie (a figure associated with the Moxley family and public commentary about the case) is mentioned.
- The promo highlights that Michael Skakel will speak — described as someone “who never before spoken to the media” in this context.
- Note: the promo transcript contains a name (Amanda Knox) that seems out of place for this subject; the series primarily emphasizes legal/forensic experts and people directly connected to the Moxley case.
Themes and questions the series aims to explore
- How a small-town murder investigation could go decades without resolution.
- The role of privilege, power, and public perception in criminal cases (the Kennedy connection is central to public interest).
- Whether the commonly accepted narrative about who killed Martha Moxley and why is accurate.
- The limits and failures of police work at the time, and how new reporting can reshape our understanding.
- The human stories behind headlines — victims’ families, suspects, investigators, and experts.
Notable quotes/lines from the promo
- “It was a decades story about the powerful and the privileged seemingly getting away with murder.”
- Dramatic audio fragments appearing in the promo: repeated questioning (“Did you kill her?”) and a chilling line, “I just had to stab her to death.” (These appear as part of the trailer’s audio dramatic elements and indicate the tone of the series.)
Why listen / Who should listen
- Listeners interested in true crime, cold cases, investigative journalism, legal drama, and the intersection of wealth/power and criminal justice.
- Anyone wanting a detailed, reporter-driven reexamination of a famous unsolved/contested case and its media and legal fallout.
- Those curious about forensic and legal perspectives from prominent experts and people who were directly involved.
Practical info
- Series: Dead Certain: The Martha Moxley Murder (NBC News)
- Host/Lead reporter: Andrew Goldman
- Premiere (promo): Tuesday, November 4 — follow/subscribe wherever you get podcasts.