40 Years Later, the Enigma of Natalie Wood’s Demise Persists

In a tragic incident four decades ago, renowned actress Natalie Wood lost her life to drowning near Catalina Island.

Authorities ruled her death as accidental, speculating that the 43-year-old star of “West Side Story,” who had no swimming skills, had been drinking the night before her lifeless body was discovered floating face-down in the ocean.

Since then, her demise has remained an unsolved mystery in Hollywood, generating tabloid gossip, television specials, and books that delved into the possibility of foul play.

The case took a dramatic turn ten years ago.

In 2011, thirty years after Wood's passing, officials from the Los Angeles County sheriff's office reopened the investigation.

Subsequently, in 2013, the county coroner's office modified the cause of Wood's death from “accidental drowning” to “drowning and other undetermined factors.”

The revised coroner's report pointed to fresh bruises on Wood's arms and knee, a scratch on her neck, and a scrape on her forehead, hinting at a potential assault before her drowning.

Moreover, the report highlighted conflicting accounts regarding Wood's disappearance and whether she had quarreled with her husband, actor Robert Wagner.

Wagner, along with Christopher Walken, her co-star in the film “Brainstorm,” was on board the 60-foot yacht where Wood was last seen alive on November 28, 1981.

According to authorities, in the hours leading up to her death, the three actors dined at Doug's Harbor Reef restaurant in Two Harbors before returning to the yacht named Splendour.

Once on board, they consumed alcohol, and an argument ensued between Walken and Wagner.

The new report indicated that Wood went missing around midnight, and an examination of her stomach contents revealed that her death likely occurred around that time.

The report also stated that Wagner reported her missing via radio at 1:30 a.m.

Roger Smith, the captain of the L.A. County rescue boat who aided in retrieving Wood's body from the water, claimed he did not receive a call to search for her until after 5 a.m.

Initial investigators believed that Wood sustained bruises when she fell off the yacht and struggled to climb into a rubber dinghy, whose side bore scratch marks consistent with that theory.

However, the 2013 coroner's report mentioned that nail clippings were not collected from Wood's body to determine if she had made those scratch marks.

Additionally, the dinghy was no longer available for examination.

The coroner concluded that Wood likely died shortly after entering the water.

During the reopened investigation, over 100 individuals contacted authorities, but it became evident that the new probe did not yield significant breakthroughs.

Some detectives asserted that Wagner possessed more knowledge about Wood's death than he admitted, an allegation vehemently denied by the actor's attorney.

No charges were ever filed, and the department remains uncertain if a crime was committed.

In 2018, Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau acknowledged that their biggest obstacle was time.

Many witnesses, including those on nearby boats, have passed away, as has the original investigator.

Efforts continue to reach out to the public once again, urging anyone with information to come forward.

Sadly, Corina himself passed away in 2019.

This article was compiled using archival material from The Times.

Here is a breakdown of the Wood case coverage by The Times:

California Robert Wagner's Actions After Natalie Wood's Death Leave Detectives Perplexed
Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators claim they are closer to unraveling the circumstances surrounding Natalie Wood's demise while boating near Catalina Island almost four decades ago.

However, they express a desire to hear from her husband, Robert Wagner.

California Detective's Statements Ignite Fresh Interest in Natalie Wood's Mysterious Drowning
The mysterious death of Natalie Wood off Catalina Island has sparked over three decades of speculation, questioning whether her demise was accidental or a deliberate act.

California The Times' Coverage of Natalie Wood's Enigmatic Death in 1981
Law enforcement officials have long grappled with the mystery surrounding actress Natalie Wood's death in 1981, captivating the public's fascination.

Detectives Race Against Time in Natalie Wood Mystery
Initially, Robert Wagner claimed that Natalie Wood must have drowned while attempting to leave their yacht on a small inflatable boat.

California The Reopened Natalie Wood Case: A Puzz