Michael Skakel

[SaraSidle]

Originally Posted by RedDogBeer

One thing.. I do have several theories and they differ somewhat from Fuhrman's book. I disagree with Fuhrman's timeline that the murder happened later than the police originally believed. I happen to believe the police were correct in their timeline. I believe Michael Skakel never went to the Terrien's home that night. I believe he changed his mind at the last minute and stayed behind to see what was going to happen with Tommy and Martha. Martha was grounded that night. She was also scheduled to have a party on the very next night. I just don't think she would have stayed out late and took a chance of not being able to host her party. She would have headed home earlier than what Fuhrman seems to believe.

Mrs. Moxley heard a disturbance and loud voices in her yard. All the neighborhood dogs went crazy around the same time. I believe Michael had spied on Martha and Tommy horseplaying and it drove him into a rage. He went inside and got the golf club. I think Tommy may have even walked with Martha, as she started home for the night. Michael comes upon them as they near the Moxley property and starts a confrontation (which is the disturbance Mrs. Moxley heard and what all the neighborhood dogs were barking at). I think at that time, Martha and Tommy are not taking Michael seriously. I think he goes after Tommy with the golf club and Tommy books it, running off into the darkness, as if it were a game.

That leaves Michael with Martha. I think she tries to run a short distance (I believe Dr. Henry Lee also makes that assumption in his book), still believing it's a game and not believing she was in any mortal danger, when she is overtaken and is knocked down from behind. He drags her across the driveway facedown and then delivers several more crushing blows. He leaves her to either go and find Tommy or Tommy comes back, sees what he's done and Michael goes after him again, leaving Martha there for some time, with those oozing head wounds (which left the large pool of blood that was found).

Later Michael comes back and discovers that Martha is still alive, so he drives the golf club shaft through her neck and drags her to the final resting place, under the tree, where he pulls her underwear down. All the while, Tommy knows what Michael did. That is why Tommy seemed genuinely upset at the funeral. Eventually all the Skakels learn what happened and do everything in their power to make sure one of their own is not prosecuted for the crime. That's just one of my theories as to what could have happened that night.

I actually find your theory very plausible. Makes perfect sense
to me. I feel so bad about Martha's family to have to keep going through this. I am so tired of people with money cheating the law. very frustrating IMO sara

[RedDogBeer]

Thanks Sara! I have a few other theories to, but this one seemed to be one that just stuck out in my mind the most.

[AMS80]

Originally Posted by RedDogBeer

Thanks Sara! I have a few other theories to, but this one seemed to be one that just stuck out in my mind the most.

I agree with Sara - good theory. I agree Thomas knew what happened soon after the fact. I never even thought about him maybe being there. About Michael's trip to the Terrian's...did they interview everyone that went? I need to go back and look at this stuff again, but IIRC they said Michael just came back early. Do you think they all covered up for him if he never went, or do you think they were just never questioned?

[RedDogBeer]

In the beginning, Michael was never a suspect or even looked at, so I don't think they put much emphasis on whether or not he was with the other's at the Terrien's. Later, there appears to have been much confusion amongst everyone, as to whether or not Michael actually went. I believe it may have been Julie Skakel's friend who was visiting that night, who told detectives years later that she was certain that Michael did not go. I'm also thinking I remember Julie may have testified at his trial that she may have saw him "run by" or something like that. I'm just going off memory here though and mine is certainly not what it used to be

That's a great question though, and I'd like to see if I can find more on that. If he did go to the Terrien's and is the murderer, then it would have definitely had to have happened later that night, as opposed to earlier. My thinking was simply that because she had been grounded and was having a party the next night, she wouldn't have wanted to risk getting into trouble again. She wouldn't have stayed out as late as what Fuhrman was thinking. The earlier event also coincides better with the loud disturbance Mrs. Moxley heard and the barking of all the neighborhood dogs, although I don't think Fuhrman ever put much emphasis on either of those two things and I may be putting too much where it shouldn't be.

[SaraSidle]

Originally Posted by RedDogBeer

In the beginning, Michael was never a suspect or even looked at, so I don't think they put much emphasis on whether or not he was with the other's at the Terrien's. Later, there appears to have been much confusion amongst everyone, as to whether or not Michael actually went. I believe it may have been Julie Skakel's friend who was visiting that night, who told detectives years later that she was certain that Michael did not go. I'm also thinking I remember Julie may have testified at his trial that she may have saw him "run by" or something like that. I'm just going off memory here though and mine is certainly not what it used to be

That's a great question though, and I'd like to see if I can find more on that. If he did go to the Terrien's and is the murderer, then it would have definitely had to have happened later that night, as opposed to earlier. My thinking was simply that because she had been grounded and was having a party the next night, she wouldn't have wanted to risk getting into trouble again. She wouldn't have stayed out as late as what Fuhrman was thinking. The earlier event also coincides better with the loud disturbance Mrs. Moxley heard and the barking of all the neighborhood dogs, although I don't think Fuhrman ever put much emphasis on either of those two things and I may be putting too much where it shouldn't be.

You know that point got to me Red Dog about her being grounded and any of us would have known to be good so she could have that party. I would have been a perfect child up till then. IMO sara

[RedDogBeer]

Yup, she was having a Halloween party and from my understanding, they had already been decorating and getting everything ready for it. She was supposed to have been grounded the night she was murdered, so I just got to thinking she wouldn't have stayed out late. Like you, I know I wouldn't have wanted to press the issue with my parents and risk not being able to host my party, esp if I was supposed to have already been grounded anyway.

Can you imagine how Mrs. Moxley felt and probably still feels to this day, blaming herself for letting Martha go out that night, when she was supposed to have been home. I hope she knows there wouldn't have been anything she could have done though. I think Michael was just a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. With all the drugs, mayhem and volatile lifestyle those Skakels lived, if it didn't happen like it did, it would have probably just been another time and another place. There would have been no way she could have protected Martha outside of locking her up 24/7.

[SaraSidle]

Originally Posted by RedDogBeer

Yup, she was having a Halloween party and from my understanding, they had already been decorating and getting everything ready for it. She was supposed to have been grounded the night she was murdered, so I just got to thinking she wouldn't have stayed out late. Like you, I know I wouldn't have wanted to press the issue with my parents and risk not being able to host my party, esp if I was supposed to have already been grounded anyway.

Can you imagine how Mrs. Moxley felt and probably still feels to this day, blaming herself for letting Martha go out that night, when she was supposed to have been home. I hope she knows there wouldn't have been anything she could have done though. I think Michael was just a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. With all the drugs, mayhem and volatile lifestyle those Skakels lived, if it didn't happen like it did, it would have probably just been another time and another place. There would have been no way she could have protected Martha outside of locking her up 24/7.

I felt so bad for her when it happened. I think she is now okay about it with all the support she has had from family and friends. She is been pretty persistent about him getting his justice due. But she must have felt very guilty after it happened. I think any parent would. I wonder if she still lives there or moved cause she could not bear having to look at the tree?
sara

[RedDogBeer]

Now I'm going on my dreadful memory again, but thinking they sold the house a couple of yrs after the murder and moved away. I believe they lived in New York, Annapolis and even back to California part of the time, but last I heard, she had moved back to be near where her son and his family now live. Not even sure which state it is, but believe it to be somewhere in the NorthEast. Just don't think it's Connecticut though.

The actual tree where it happened was supposedly blown down in a storm or something a few yrs after the murder. The Moxley property was sold and thought to have changed hands a few times. Ultimately the house itself ended up being torn down, not so long ago and the lot subdivided with two new homes built on it. Neither of which kept the old Moxley address/house number. Can't say as I blame them for that, but it does seem a shame that the beautiful, old crumbling mansion had to go. I guess you could say I'm a fan of old architecture, but I can certainly understand the stigma would probably be too much for most folks. From what I've heard and read, a lot of the older mansions in the area already have or are being torn down to make way for the new money people. Well, at least all that was before the housing bubble burst LOL.

Also, Walsh Avenue was supposedly closed to through-traffic, probably to try and discourage curiosity seekers.

[SaraSidle]

Originally Posted by RedDogBeer

Now I'm going on my dreadful memory again, but thinking they sold the house a couple of yrs after the murder and moved away. I believe they lived in New York, Annapolis and even back to California part of the time, but last I heard, she had moved back to be near where her son and his family now live. Not even sure which state it is, but believe it to be somewhere in the NorthEast. Just don't think it's Connecticut though.

The actual tree where it happened was supposedly blown down in a storm or something a few yrs after the murder. The Moxley property was sold and thought to have changed hands a few times. Ultimately the house itself ended up being torn down, not so long ago and the lot subdivided with two new homes built on it. Neither of which kept the old Moxley address/house number. Can't say as I blame them for that, but it does seem a shame that the beautiful, old crumbling mansion had to go. I guess you could say I'm a fan of old architecture, but I can certainly understand the stigma would probably be too much for most folks. From what I've heard and read, a lot of the older mansions in the area already have or are being torn down to make way for the new money people. Well, at least all that was before the housing bubble burst LOL.

Also, Walsh Avenue was supposedly closed to through-traffic, probably to try and discourage curiosity seekers.

Kind of strange about the tree blowing over and the street being closed.

I know it is so sad to see those big houses be torn down but if it is too late???? and who needs all that room except the very rich..........sara

[AMS80]

Originally Posted by RedDogBeer

In the beginning, Michael was never a suspect or even looked at, so I don't think they put much emphasis on whether or not he was with the other's at the Terrien's. Later, there appears to have been much confusion amongst everyone, as to whether or not Michael actually went. I believe it may have been Julie Skakel's friend who was visiting that night, who told detectives years later that she was certain that Michael did not go. I'm also thinking I remember Julie may have testified at his trial that she may have saw him "run by" or something like that. I'm just going off memory here though and mine is certainly not what it used to be

That's a great question though, and I'd like to see if I can find more on that. If he did go to the Terrien's and is the murderer, then it would have definitely had to have happened later that night, as opposed to earlier. My thinking was simply that because she had been grounded and was having a party the next night, she wouldn't have wanted to risk getting into trouble again. She wouldn't have stayed out as late as what Fuhrman was thinking. The earlier event also coincides better with the loud disturbance Mrs. Moxley heard and the barking of all the neighborhood dogs, although I don't think Fuhrman ever put much emphasis on either of those two things and I may be putting too much where it shouldn't be.

Ha! I know what you mean about the memory...I feel like I'm still pretty young and have a hard time remembering...Heaven help me when I get old LOL.

Gosh, to me it seems like a cut and dry question...did he go or not? Did he go and then leave earlier than the rest to come home? That just seems to me like one of the many questions in this case that should be able to be answered without doubt. He went or he didn't, ya know??? Also, his ridiculous story about having a little fun in the tree beside Martha's room. Wonder why he made that up? They didn't find his DNA on Martha did they? He had to have thought they would. Thomas's DNA could be explained by witnesses but not his. Weird.

IMO.

[taylor69]

He's GUILTY! And I hope the few years he will be in prison will be especially
hard on him, he deserves it.
I've always liked Martha's mother, she always handles her self with such grace dignity and class.