Robert the Doll

On the night of October 30, 1975, 15-year-old Martha Moxley disappeared from her family's affluent neighborhood in Greenwich, Connecticut. The following afternoon, her body was discovered on the grounds of her family's estate.What followed was a decades-long investigation involving one of America's most prominent families, a controversial murder conviction, and questions that continue to surround the case more than 50 years later.But before the tragedy, there was a Mediterranean mansion built in the early 20th century. And before the headlines, there was Martha.In this episode, we explore the history of the Moxley family home in Belle Haven, the events surrounding Martha's murder, and the long pursuit of justice.Who killed Martha Moxley?Welcome to Nightmare Houses.PHOTOGRAPHS & ARCHIVAL SOURCESHistorical photographs, newspaper articles, and court exhibits featured in this episode were drawn from or researched through the following sources:The Daily Item - November 1 and November 14, 1975The Day - November 3, 1975The San Francisco Examiner - November 3, 1975Associated Press / AP ImagesGetty Images - Historical photographs and Skakel trial evidenceRockville Superior Court - Skakel trial exhibitsConnecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection - Historical investigative photographsGreenwich High School. The Compass, Volume 38 (1976), p. 104. “In Memory of Martha Moxley.”Additional photographic attributions and original source information will be updated as verification is completed.MUSICIntro: Undertow — Scott Buckleywww.scottbuckley.com.auLicensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)Outro: Impromptu in Quarter — Kevin MacLeodLicensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)ABOUT NIGHTMARE HOUSESNightmare Houses explores the histories of real homes and the people whose lives were forever changed within them. Through archival research, historical records, and documentary storytelling, we uncover the stories that remain long after the people and sometimes the houses themselves are gone.For more, visit https://www.nightmarehouses.comPHOTOGRAPHS & ARCHIVAL SOURCESThis episode incorporates historical photographs, contemporary newspaper reporting, and materials presented during the investigation and legal proceedings concerning Martha Moxley's murder.Identified collections and sources include:Getty Images — Evidence Photos from the Skakel Trial, May 22, 2002, image #1544903.Rockville Superior Court — Skakel trial exhibits, including photographs of the Skakel family and Martha Moxley's diary.Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection — historical crime-scene photography.Associated Press / AP Images — historical portraits and trial-evidence photographs.The Daily Item, November 1, 1975 — contemporary reporting on Martha Moxley's murder.Martha Moxley yearbook memorial — page 104; full publication information to be confirmed.Additional individual image credits and source links will be added as archival identification is completed.Nightmare Houses is an independently researched historical documentary series. Source acknowledgment does not imply affiliation with or endorsement by the organizations listed above.

On the morning of August 4, 1892, a gruesome scene unfolded within the walls of the Borden family’s 1845 Greek Revival style home. 69 year old Andrew Borden, was found brutally bludgeoned in his face and head on the sitting room sofa, while upstairs, his 64 year old wife, Abby Borden met a similar fate in the upstairs guest bedroom.At the time of the murders, only 32 year old Lizzie Borden and 26 year old Irish family maid, Bridget Sullivan, were at home during the attacks.Lizzie was always believed to be the prime suspect, but was ultimately acquitted of their murders. What do you think happened on that fateful day?Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

The Myrtles Plantation, a 1796/1830s Antebellum creole home in St. Francisville, LA claims to be the most haunted home in America, boasting over 12 spirits. Who are these trapped souls and what truth lay behind these claims? Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

In late August, 1826, in the White Mountains of Northern New Hampshire, a 1793 wood cabin was at the precipice of a catastrophic landslide.Tragically, the occupants of cabin would succumb to the forces of nature.How did this humble dwelling remain unscathed, and what happened following the tragedy?Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

Nestled on Plum Island, just off the Massachusetts coast, there stands a 1925 colonial-style cottage, painted an unmistakable shade of pink.Long abandoned, the house has become the center of swirling rumors and local lore.It's often thought to be a spite house—a vengeful monument from a bitter divorce, but was this true?What does the future hold for this enigmatic, ill-fated pink house?Welcome to Nightmare Houses

Nestled on Plum Island, just off the Massachusetts coast, there stands a 1925 colonial-style cottage, painted an unmistakable shade of pink.Long abandoned, the house has become the center of swirling rumors and local lore.It's often thought to be a spite house—a vengeful monument from a bitter divorce, but was this true?What does the future hold for this enigmatic, ill-fated pink house?Welcome to Nightmare Houses: mini-tales

A little boy receives a gift of a life-like doll and the pair become inseparable living in the family’s 1898 Victorian Queen-Anne style home in Key West, FL. Soon, there is unexplained mischief, but the little boy always blamed his doll, Robert.Today, the doll is a popular tourist attraction and paranormal legend, but is there any truth behind this story?Welcome to Nightmare Houses

In November 1974, a family experienced terrifying paranormal activity, witnessed by many, in their 1923 Bungalow in Bridgeport, CT. Soon after, the claims were dismissed as a hoax, but not everyone believed it. What really happened inside that home? Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

In June 2014, just days after purchasing a 1905 Dutch Colonial in Westfield, New Jersey, a family began to receive disturbing and unsettling letters from an anonymous writer, only known as the Watcher.The Watcher sent the new homeowners a total of four letters claiming to have watched their house over time, forcing the family to flee the home in terror. Who is the Watcher?Welcome to Nightmare Houses.

On February 16, 1929, wealthy and prominent oil man, Edward "Ned" Doheny, Jr., was found dead in a guest bedroom along with his long-time employee, T. Hugh Plunkett. Doheny had just built his colossal mansion, named Greystone, in 1928, and had not lived there long. What happened that night? Were these deaths related to an earlier scandal? Welcome to Nightmare Houses.