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Wood Death Still Considered Accidental, Wagner Not a Suspect Say Investigators

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Natalie Wood

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Lieutenant Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department held a brief press conference this morning to discuss the re-opening of the investigation into the 1981 drowning death of actress Natalie Wood. The LASD wanted to make it clear that Wood's husband, actor Robert Wagner is not a suspect, and, in fact, Wood's death remains considered an accident. The first step for the LASD will be to re-interview yacht captain Dennis Davern, who admitted recently he lied about what happened the day of Wood's death in the waters off Catalina.

There is a definite media and timing angle, points out L.A. Now:

The case was re-opened in part because of questions from the media about the circumstances surrounding Wood’s death. Some of those questions were prompted by the captain’s account of the night, detailed in the book “Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour.” His statements are also the centerpiece of a "48 Hours" segment, produced in conjunction with Vanity Fair, scheduled to air Saturday.

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