Dorothy Moxley, the mother who spent decades advocating for justice in the murder of her teenage daughter, Martha, has died at the age of 92, The Associated Press reports.
Moxley’s relentless pursuit of justice in the highly publicized Connecticut case captivated the nation for years.
Moxley died Tuesday at her home in Summit, New Jersey, from complications related to the flu and possibly pneumonia, according to her son, John Moxley. She had been living in New Jersey for more than 20 years, following the tragic murder of her 15-year-old daughter.
Martha Moxley was brutally beaten to death with a golf club on October 30, 1975. Her body was discovered the next day under a tree on her family’s property in the affluent Belle Haven neighborhood of Greenwich, Connecticut, located across the street from the Skakel family’s residence.
The shocking crime, which remained unsolved for decades, garnered national attention and became the subject of several books, a film, and a documentary series. Michael Skakel, a Kennedy cousin and a prime suspect in the case, was eventually arrested in 2000 and convicted of the murder in 2002. He was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
Moxley endured a series of legal twists and turns as Skakel’s conviction was repeatedly appealed. After serving more than 11 years, Skakel was freed in 2013 after a lower court judge overturned his conviction citing inadequate representation by his trial lawyer. However, the state Supreme Court reinstated the conviction in 2016, only to have it overturned again in a highly unusual 4-3 opinion in 2018. The US Supreme Court declined to hear the state’s appeal in 2019.
Despite the rollercoaster of legal proceedings, Dorothy Moxley remained steadfast in her pursuit of justice for her daughter. Her son, John, described her as a “crusader” who was “never vindictive.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a staunch defender of his cousin, released a book in 2016 arguing that Skakel had been framed. Despite the legal setbacks and public debate, Dorothy Moxley and her son maintained their belief that Skakel was responsible for Martha’s death.
Although a second trial was not pursued due to the deaths of potential witnesses and insufficient evidence, John Moxley said that they were ultimately at peace with the decision and felt that justice for his sister had ultimately been served.
