‘Touch’ DNA may reveal killer of Martha Moxley

In a stunning reversal of its 2016 decision, the Connecticut Supreme Court recently concluded, as a habeas court did in 2013, that Michael Skakel is entitled to a new trial for the murder of Martha Moxley because his attorney, Michael Sherman, rendered ineffective assistance by failing to present testimony from a credible witness that supported his alibi.

The state now must decide whether to try Skakel again or ask that the charges against him be dismissed. There was and is no forensic evidence pointing to him — no DNA, no fingerprints, no bloodstains on his clothing. There were no eyewitnesses.

Before deciding whether to retry him, the state should reexamine all of the evidence in the case – and consider whether that evidence points to Skakel or to someone else.

Who killed Martha Moxley? Given the amount of time that has passed since Oct. 30, 1975, the fact that some individuals involved in the events that evening have died, that the memories of some have faded or changed over the years, and that important evidence — most notably, the handle of the golf club used to beat her — disappeared

Whoever killed her undoubtedly left his “touch DNA” on her clothing where he grasped her as he dragged her to the pine tree where she was found.

in the early stages of the investigation, it may be difficult to answer that question.

Difficult but not impossible, thanks to recent developments in the analysis of DNA. Over the past decade, forensic scientists have developed the ability to collect and analyze “touch DNA” – the DNA in skin cells left on an object when a person touches it.

Martha weighed about 115 pounds. Whoever killed her undoubtedly left his “touch DNA” on her clothing where he grasped her as he dragged her to the pine tree. where she was found.

Is the “touch DNA” of the killer still on the clothing Martha wore that evening? We don’t know. But if it is, we may yet find out who killed Martha Moxley.