Natalie Wood Death Investigation: Is Robert Wagner Responsible for Her Drowning? [UPDATED]

Wagner and Wood aboard the Splendour

News that actress Natalie Wood's 1981 drowning death case was being reopened sent a shockwave through the newswires last night. Wood, 43, died in the waters off Catalina after a day of boating--and drinking--with her husband, actor Robert Wagner, and their friend, actor Christopher Walken. Classified as an accident, new information could change the course of Hollywood history.

Dennis Davern, the captain of the Wagners' yacht, Splendour, has recently admitted he lied to investigators thirty years ago, and what he has said may implicate Robert Wagner.

"I believe that Robert Wagner was with [Wood] up until the moment she went into the water," he says in a new interview. But now, says Davern, it's in the hands of the investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department: "I made some terrible decisions, mistakes. It's just going to be left up to the investigators. I did lie on a report years ago," he said on the "Today" show, according to NBCLA.

Wood, Wagner, and Walken had been drinking for several hours aboard the boat. The events, as pieced together in the initial investigation, had Wood slipping and falling into the water while she attempted to get into the dinghy to leave the yacht or she was attempting to adjust its fastening to the side of the boat. Her body was found hours later. Wagner's 2008 autobiography maintains what happened specifically is unknown to everyone, only that she either was trying to leave or secure the dinghy.

"Natalie Wood was wearing a red down jacket when authorities discovered her body 30 years ago ... and her wardrobe could prove she floated alive in dark water for hours while Robert Wagner allegedly stalled rescue efforts," notes TMZ. The author of a new book about Wood's death has published findings that "completely contradicts the opinion of the coroner in the case."

Adds TMZ: "The captain also claimed Wagner instructed the crew to NOT call in the Coast Guard to aid in search and rescue efforts once they realized Natalie had gone missing."

Had the Wagners been arguing prior to Wood going into the water? And to what extent is Wagner responsible for Wood's death? "A fight between Wagner and Wood led to her death, [Davern] said, adding that Wagner tried to make the case a low-profile investigation," according to NBCLA.

Robert Wagner issued a statement last night in support of the investigation:

"Although no one in the Wagner family has heard from the LA County Sheriff’s department about this matter, they fully support the efforts of the LA County Sheriff’s Dept. and trust they will evaluate whether any new information relating to the death of Natalie Wood Wagner is valid, and that it comes from a credible source or sources other than those simply trying to profit from the 30-year anniversary of her tragic death."

Sheriff Lee Baca says what has come to light was enough to prompt a re-opening of the case. The LASD has not offered any details yet, but will speak with the media at 11 a.m.

UPDATE 11:40 AM: Wood's Death Still Considered Accidental, Robert Wagner Not a Suspect Say Investigators

Contact the author of this article or email tips@laist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Lindsay William-Ross in News on November 18, 2011 8:30 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

hssrinsf

My 2 cents..wagner was hot

BlueFairlane

You know, I'm almost to the point that I'd pay for just one cross-ist post out of Los Angeles that doesn't involve celebrities or pseudo-celebrities. That was your evil plan all along, wasn't it? I'll be waiting for my bill.

Come on, California! I know actual people live there. I know actual things happen, and that these things have consequences and ramifications for those who don't read People magazine. Is this really all you've got?

AndrewInDC

"Natalie Wood Death Investigation: Is Robert Wagner Responsible for Her Drowning?"

No.

And thank god for the cross-ist posting or we'd never had the chance to chime in on this late breaking piece of news that's sure to impact all our lives in a substantive way.

ANGRYGOD11

Perhaps one of the most interesting points is anyone now investigating this case might not have been born until years after Natalie Wood died.

"Tim Osman"

What would a proper 9/11 investigation consist of? No more government secrecy and constant hiding behind "national security", asking every possible question, investigating every shred of evidence, considering every possibility based on all evidence, including all witnesses' testimony, having top white house and government officials testify on record while under oath, and that's just a start.

What would I expect the outcome to be? I think a better question might be what would I hope the outcome to be? The answer to that - 100% of the truth and justice for the people that were killed, hurt, or their lives forever damaged - both that day and henceforth.

cold_war_ice

Usually it would take a lot longer to take a conversation from Natalie Wood and into 9/11 truther territory, and for that swift feat of conversational acrobatics I applaud you.

"Tim Osman"

30 years later they decide to re-open this investigation? 10 years later and we still do not have a proper 9/11 investigation? Yes this all makes sense.

Circe Poo

What would a proper 9/11 investigation consist of? What would you expect the outcome to be?

Guest

A proper investigation would consist of investigating EVERYTHING surrounding it, including why most of the metal from a criminal investigation was shipped off immediately to be melted down. I can add more, but you should really Google it.

exbaytriate

yeah, while you're at it, please google these:

chemtrails

area 51

oscillococcinum

it's on the internets so it must be true!

Guest

Either you're being sarcastic, or you're being dumb. In any case, it's ok for you to believe the explanations given to you by the government. And if you're truly that gullible, meet me down by the Brooklyn Bridge tomorrow with a million dollars. I'm going to sell it to you.

exbaytriate

if you can't tell the difference from sarcasm and idiocy, i strongly you stay far away from message boards and the internet all together. add a mirror to that list and you'll be safe forever.

Guest

I can totally tell the difference, but sometimes there are people like you that blur the line between idiocy and sarcasm, so it can be tough. In this case though, I'm going to go with idiocy, since your sarcasm leaves much to be desired.

BlueFairlane

What's the deal with nutcase yahoo people posting their email addresses on the California ists? There's a loon who did this on SFist, too. Did you mean for that to happen? Do you want me to send you spam?

And "nitebiter"? What the hell does that mean? Are you a Twilight fan or something?

Guest

It's not that we do it on purpose. It's that Disqus fucks up and doesn't filter it properly. If it continues to happen, they will be hearing from my attorney. And honestly, if you want to send me spam, go right ahead. Other jackasses have done it and it hasn't hurt me. Plus, Yahoo has awesome spam filters.

lazydazy

and this! http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopu...

BlueFairlane

Oh. This explains things.

Guest

Yeah. It explains that I don't accept bullshit. You can, if you want. That explains a lot about you.

BlueFairlane

There there. It'll be all right. Want your blankee?

Guest

Good comeback. It's a shame you couldn't do better and an even bigger shame that you believe everything your government tells you. Enjoy life as a gully bull.

BlueFairlane

You took 20 hours to think of that, and you're knocking my comeback ability? You're a funny guy, but only very briefly.

Guest

Yeah, that's exactly what I did. I took 20 hours to come up with something, and that's the best I could do. I didn't have anything else to do during that period of time whatsoever. (I'm not sure if you can smell it through the Internet, but the scent of my sarcasm is strong on this end.)

sweet_charles

9/11 conspiracy talk gives you a giant red flag with the word "CRAZY" written on it.

Guest

So. People believed Einstein to be crazy too. Just because you don't want to hear something doesn't mean it isn't true.

knackers

Of course Einstein was crazy. Don't you even know your history?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Guest

The should hook him up with MacGruber.

SockPuppet

You know what else floats on water?

Timon_8

The joke I remember from the time is "What Wood doesn't float?"

turntothesky

A Volkswagen beetle?

UrbanUndead

A duck? Very small rocks? A WITCH?

BrassMonkeyBallz

poop?

suga7

I've always thought her death was suspicious.

Guest

So where's Walken amidst all this....?

Paul

According to the witness, he went to sleep and never came out - so it's not like he can add anything to the story.

Well, other than confirming Wagner was fighting with Wood.

exbaytriate

i've been fighting with wood since i was 12!

PicoPhreako69

That deserves this....!

exbaytriate

is that the bartender from the tiki-ti?

fizzandpop

"When they met, it was moydur"

Spirit of 76

What a coincidence. I just recently re-watched Airport '79: The Concorde, where Wagner played a crooked defense contractor who sold weapons to friends and foes alike. When his misdeeds were about to be revealed, the character put a bullet in his own head. Wonder if Wagner will do the same.