In November 1981, Hollywood star Natalie Wood drowned in the Pacific Ocean during a weekend boating trip with her husband, Robert Wagner, and her Brainstorm co-star, Christopher Walken. Now, homicide detectives are reopening the case to investigate whether foul play was involved.
The mystery of what happened to Wood has fueled rumors that her husband was involved in her death. Investigators are looking into the possibility that Wagner was lying to them about what happened. Keep reading the article below to learn more about Natalie Wood Death.
The Hollywood actress was found dead in the waters off Southern California on November 29, 1981. The cause of death was determined to be drowning. But now, more than four decades later, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office has reopened the case. Several witnesses have come forward with new information. The lead detective on the case says that actor Robert Wagner is now a person of interest.
The wide-eyed beauty who rose to fame as a star in films like Rebel Without a Cause, West Side Story, and The Deer Hunter was just 43 when she died, her body found floating in the Pacific Ocean wearing a nightgown, socks, and a down jacket. She had gone out partying with husband Robert Wagner and co-star Christopher Walken, who was filming Brainstorm that weekend, on a yacht called Splendour.
Hours before her death, Wood and Wagner had eaten dinner at Doug’s Harbor Reef restaurant in Two Harbors and returned to their yacht where they drank. They then argued, according to an account Wagner wrote in his 2008 memoir. His claims contradict other witnesses’ statements.
According to the new report, there are conflicting statements about when Wood disappeared from the boat. An analysis of her stomach contents suggests she died around midnight. The new autopsy report also notes that the bruising on her body, especially in her upper extremities, could have happened before she entered the water. The report says there is no evidence of head trauma or any signs of sexual assault.
Several of the original coroner’s investigators were reinterviewed, and some items that were seized during the initial investigation have been re-examined. But the new report concludes that the evidence is insufficient to change the previous determination of accidental drowning.
A lawyer who has long been interested in the case says that some of the new evidence is significant. He believes that a book published in 2009 by Dennis Davern was a driving force behind the decision to reopen the investigation. Davern, a former prosecutor who lives in Jacksonville, Florida, told The Record that he met Wood and Wagner after delivering their yacht from Florida to California for the Thanksgiving weekend of her death.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
In life, Natalie Wood was one of Hollywood’s most alluring stars. In death, her disappearance remains one of the industry’s most enduring mysteries. The case has been open for more than four decades, and the varying accounts of her fate told by boat captain Davern, family members, and the media have left the public with many questions.
In 2011, LA County sheriff’s officials reopened the investigation of the actress’s death, and in 2013 the coroner officially changed her cause of death from accidental drowning to undetermined factors. This is a crucial step for the investigation, and sheriff’s officials are hoping that new information will help them close the case once and for all.
A few years ago, sheriff’s investigators found a new witness who says that he heard Wood yell, “He’s going to kill me!” late one night. He also reveals that she ran to a neighbor’s house, looking for help and safety. The sheriff’s department has not released the identity of the witness.
The sheriff’s office is also looking into claims that the initial autopsy of Wood was flawed. The initial autopsy found that she was not intoxicated at the time of her death, but there are now concerns that it may have been tampered with or conducted improperly.
A sheriff’s spokesperson says they will evaluate whether any new information related to the Natalie Wood death is valid and comes from a source that is not trying to profit from the case. The family of Natalie Wood supports the sheriff’s efforts, but they believe that it should be a thorough and objective investigation.
The case of the Academy Award-nominated star, who died in chilly water off the coast of Catalina Island in November 1981, is still one of Hollywood’s most controversial unsolved murders. The book draws on official records, photographs and never-before-seen documents to provide the most far-reaching examination of the case to date. It exposes a glossed-over investigation by local law enforcement and the entrance of powerful Hollywood insiders who helped suppress the truth for more than 40 years. It is a shocking and eye-opening read.
Robert Wagner
Wood was a rising star when she married Wagner at age 18. The couple quickly became the subject of fan magazines, but the marriage was not long-lived. They divorced in 1957, but the couple reunited in 1972 and had a daughter together. After the divorce, she had a series of volatile relationships with directors and co-stars, including Elvis Presley. During her career, she appeared in many classic films, including Rebel Without a Cause and West Side Story. She was a hugely popular movie star and one of the most beloved actresses of her time.
In 1981, she completed shooting for her final film, Brainstorm, a science-fiction thriller starring Christopher Walken. Despite rumors of trouble in her personal life, she and her longtime friend Wagner were still close friends. They decided to take a weekend boating trip on the yacht Splendour off California’s Catalina Island. The trio invited Walken and a few others along for the weekend.
By the morning of November 29, 1981, Wood’s body was found floating about a mile away from the boat. The police concluded that she had accidentally fallen into the water while attempting to board or retie the dinghy.
The police did not suspect foul play in her death, but speculation about what caused it continued to grow in the years afterward. In 2011, the case was reopened and it was revealed that the boat’s captain, Dennis Davern, had falsely told the police what happened on the night of the tragedy. He had also published a book and tried to sell the story to tabloids.
The new documentary, Natalie Wood: The Mysterious Death of a Hollywood Icon, uncovers startling new evidence that suggests she was murdered. It features interviews with on-the-scene witness Paul Wintler, who describes the first hours of the search for Wood’s body in a completely different light than what has been reported in over 42 years of media coverage. It also includes meticulous analysis of the investigative report of Deputy Bill Kroll, who first responded to the call on the morning of her disappearance.
Christopher Walken
One of Hollywood’s enduring mysteries is the mysterious death of Natalie Wood. While the cause of her death remains a mystery, many believe it was foul play. Her first husband, Robert Wagner, has been accused of killing her and has never been charged with a crime. Despite her early success, Wood struggled with drug addiction and depression. She had a tumultuous marriage that ended in divorce and a suicide attempt. However, she was still an immensely popular actress in her later years.
In November 1981, she was working on her final film, Brainstorm, a science fiction thriller with co-star Christopher Walken. On the night of her death, she, Wagner, and Walken had dinner at Doug’s Harbor Reef and then drank on their yacht Splendour. The captain, Dennis Davern, told 48 Hours that the three got very intoxicated and argued. At one point, Wagner smashed a bottle of wine on the deck in anger and chased Walken into the master stateroom, where he locked the door.
When the trio left the restaurant at 10:30 p.m., Davern said that they were so intoxicated that he was afraid they would have trouble getting back to the boat. He also said that the argument between Wagner and Wood was tense. He believes that jealousy played a role in the incident.
After the death of Wood, several theories emerged as to what happened. One theory was that Wagner killed her because he was jealous of his wife’s relationship with Walken. Another was that she fell overboard after they argued and drowned. However, both theories have been discounted.
The yacht’s skipper, Davern, has made multiple statements about what happened that night and has changed his story several times. This has raised suspicions that he is lying and has not been completely honest with investigators. Nevertheless, the case has been reopened.
Walken has spoken very little about his sister’s death. In his few public statements, he has suggested that people couldn’t handle the fact that a beautiful, talented woman could die so tragically. He has also denied that he is responsible for her death.