Natalie Wood’s Sister and the Yacht Owner Want Case Re-opened
March 9th, 2010 - 3:09 am ICT by Angela Kaye Mason ( 13 comments )
Mar 8 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Natalie Wood was a well-loved and beautiful actress who first appeared on the screen as a child in the movie, “Miracle on 34th Street.” She also starred with such leading men as James Dean, in Rebel Without a Cause, which she won an Oscar for, and Warren Beatty in Splendor in the Grass, which she also won an Oscar for. She also had a starring role in West Side Story.
In a television interview, Natalie revealed to the world that her worst fear was of dark seawater. In November 1981, in a tragic twist of irony, she drowned in the Pacific Ocean off the Coast of California’s Catalina Island. Her death still remains one of Hollywood’s mysteries. The death was ruled to be an accident by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office, and the sheriff has closed the case, but some people say that they story just doesn’t add up.
Now Natalie’s sister, as well as the yacht owner, is asking the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office to re open the case. There has been no response as of yet. Although Lana Wood does not suspect foul play, she said she does feel that a heated argument between Natalie’s husband Robert Wagner and Natalie led up to her death. “I just want the truth to come out, the real story,” she said.
The yacht captain, Dennis Davern also believes that the fight led up to the tragedy. He has broken his long silence about that night, and published a book, “Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendor,” which was published in September. Although no one is accusing Robert Wagner of killing Natalie, they feel that parts of his story don’t add up. Lana even said that she does not feel that he ever got over Natalie’s death, “she was the love of his life,” she added.
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- Natalie Woods' sister wants to re-open her death case - Mar 19, 2010
- Natalie Portman plays down the 'Black Swan' controversy - Apr 07, 2011
- Robert Wagner considered killing ex-wife Natalie Woods lover - Sep 28, 2008
- Robert Wagner had no role to play in Natalie Wood''s death - Aug 19, 2008
- Isabelle Adjani tops Time Magazine's beautiful women list - Feb 09, 2011
- Natalie Portman – Hogging The Spotlight - Dec 15, 2010
- Top honours crown 'The King's Speech' at 83rd Oscars (Roundup) - Feb 28, 2011
- Robert Wagner tried to kill love rival - Aug 15, 2008
- Warren Beatty makes comeback after 13 years - Jun 23, 2011
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Tags: catalina island, coast of california, james dean, lana wood, leading men, los angeles county coroner, los angeles county sheriff, miracle on 34th, miracle on 34th street, natalie wood, november 1981, rebel without a cause, robert wagner, splendor in the grass, television interview, tragic twist, warren beatty, west side story, yacht captain, yacht owner
March 9th, 2010 at 4:39 am
I agree totally 100% on wanting case reopened !!
March 9th, 2010 at 6:28 am
The problem is you have a ships owner that wrote a book and is not trying to profit from it. How else do you make money on a dead woman. Reopen the case to stir up emotions so he can sell his book.
Pathetic. Whether they had an argument or not there is not one shred of evidence that there was foul play. Even her own sister admits that.
March 9th, 2010 at 8:11 am
I was the owner and captain of the vessel anchored next to woods on this fateful night. I had either six or seven guests on board at the time. We were never questioned by any authorities.
March 10th, 2010 at 10:00 am
That is very interesting Ray. Did you hear anything that night? How far were you from the Wagner boat?
March 10th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
John, The isthmus is a relatively small cove at the northern end of the island directly accross from long beach, CA where we departed from that day, after competeing the day before in the Schooner Association’s race.
During the summer the isthmus is a pretty active place but this time of year you could yell from shore and be heard anywhere on the boats.
My estimate (30 years later) was that there were less than twenty boats visiting, most were on the moorings closer in to the beach.Our vessels were not tied to moorings but were anchored as we were the largest. To anchor you are required to stay further off the beach. We were probably 100 yards apart or more which is what a vessel can swing when on an anchor, in approximately 40ft of water. We were closer to bird rock which sits in the middle of the entrance and woods was closer to cherry cove ( where the body and dingy were found )We, everyone on my boat had been drinking in the bar earlier (there is only one bar/ rest)and went back to boat between about 9 and 10 0′clock we only had one dingy so we ran shuddles back and forth from the beach. It is so quiet there that time of the year if the wind isn’t blowing (It blows straight accross the Isthmus)you would be able to hear conversations on any of the boats. Yes, we heard arguing and fighting. I am approaching 70 years old now and all of my guests were younger than I. I believe that although scattered are all still around. As I have not discussed this with any of them since that time I would be interested in what they remember before I say anymore. Ray
March 11th, 2010 at 8:37 am
Ray, Thanks for answering my question. I only hope that if foul play was involved, that justice will prevail. Take care. John
July 4th, 2010 at 10:46 am
Natalie Woods sister has said in a UK Daily Mail article that she wonders if Wagner accidentally pushed Natalie. She said she does not think it was intentional, but he may have accidentally pushed her since th captain had heard Wood and Wagner argiung on teh deck earlier. I would not pick on this captain of teh ship who has told Lana Wood that she needs to reopen this case. He was there when this happened and obviously knows something the press has not reported or has not been able to report.
February 16th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Ray Badger - owner and captain of the Brilliant. Is that you?
February 18th, 2011 at 12:25 am
yes, david diamond it is me, how have you been ? remember the taxi ride on christmas eve ?
May 2nd, 2011 at 1:32 pm
I was on the Splendor many times as a young teen. I can tell you the master state room is in the back and the swim step was 12 ft from that stateroom. Robert wagnor could have heard her fall into the water if he were in the master state room. The guest staterooms and crew bunks were forward.
May 2nd, 2011 at 1:39 pm
I used to drive the dingy as well. It was named the Valiant. It was a 10ft zodiac with a 50hp mercury with a stering wheel. It was a fast little boat. Anyway after her death the splendor was donated and sold. Wagner insisted the name be changed, so the new owner changed it to The Graceful Lady in San Diego. The last I saw of the boat was in 2007 in a Waikiki marina, run down looking
November 19th, 2011 at 9:33 am
Ray,
The Brilliant the same one I
saw in Mystic that you used to talk about?
Mike McV
November 22nd, 2011 at 12:24 am
mike, how are you doing, email me at badger958@hotmail.com. Ray