Boat captain alleges actor Robert Wagner responsible for Natalie Wood's death

MSNBC ^ | 11/18/2011 | Scott Stump

[SeekAndFind]

The former captain of the boat from which actress Natalie Wood drowned in 1981 alleged on TODAY Friday that her husband, actor Robert Wagner, was responsible for her death.

Dennis Davern said he is now urging homicide investigators to look into Wood's death. She had been boating with Wagner and his "Brainstorm" co-star Christopher Walken near Santa Catalina Island off the coast of California when she drowned.

"I made some terrible decisions and mistakes," Davern told NBC News' David Gregory. "I did lie on a report several years ago."

He added, "I made mistakes by not telling the honest truth in a police report."

When pressed by Gregory, Davern said he believed Wagner had intentionally kept the investigation into her death low-profile. And when asked if he thought Wagner was "responsible" for Wood's death, Davern said, "yes, I would say so. Yes."

"We didn't take any steps to see if we could locate her," Davern added. "I think it was a matter of, 'We're not going to look too hard, we're not going to turn on the searchlight, we're not going to notify anybody right now.'"

Wagner's publicist issued a statement saying his family supported the L.A. County sheriff's department "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."

Many of the details he shared have appeared in the book "Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour," authored by Marti Rulli. That book was published in 2009.

[MinuteGal]

"The coronor said that she 'wreaked of alcohol'. I remember that from back then."

I'll remember this post because it should be "The CORONER said that she REEKED of alcohol.

Musch bettre.

Leni

[Vaduz]

Dead wood

[LibLieSlayer]

Yes... I was too fast and at work so forgive me. My post was far more important than your critique.

LLS

[bgill]

On the night of Wood's death in November 1981, Wood and Wagner got into a "terrible argument" that was never reported to the original investigators, according to Rulli.

Uh, no, the argument and alchohol was ALL over the papers back then. Rumor had it there was a trist that caused Wagner to get angry. That freako Walken knows much more, too. I don't know anyone who didn't believe it was murder at the time. Far too many questions. Far too much hush-hush. IIRC, they had to re-work some of her scenes in that movie to finish it.

[TheOldLady]

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[gitmogrunt]

"The currents were strong and carried me pretty far from the boat. "

Rip tides are savage. I was at the isthmus on Catalina several years ago and got caught in a strong rip tide. Luckily I swam with the rip tide, instead of against it, at an angle and eventually made it back to shore.

[flaglady47]

“The captain did it in the red room with a candle holder.”

I loved that game when young.

[Paladin2]

Apparently not much of a Captain.

[b9]

Sad and fishy death, fo shizzle.
‘Couldn’t believe she met such a horrible end.

‘Sure liked her in Splendor in the Grass and Love With the Proper Stranger.

[LibLieSlayer]

Me too!

LLS