The tragic demise of Natalie Wood in 1981 remains one of Hollywood's enduring enigmas.
Natalie Wood passed away due to drowning on Nov. 29, 1981, off the shores of Catalina Island in California.
She was on a yacht voyage with her spouse Robert Wagner, close friend and co-star from Brainstorm, Christopher Walken, and the boat's captain, Dennis Davern.
The circumstances surrounding Wood ending up in the water are shrouded in ambiguity, captivating the public's interest for years, especially with recent developments in the case.
Retired prosecutor and former Arkansas Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Perroni has delved deeply into the investigation.
Perroni, who authored the book “Brainstorm: An Investigation of the Mysterious Death of Film Star Natalie Wood” in 2021, has pushed for a reevaluation of the case.
According to Radar Online, Perroni alleges that Wood and Wagner engaged in a heated argument at a hotel restaurant just before her tragic demise, a detail he deems crucial to the investigation.
Initially labeled as an “accidental drowning,” Wood's cause of death was determined by the coroner's office.
Reports from the Los Angeles Times indicated that she was unable to swim and had consumed alcohol the night before her body was discovered.
However, subsequent developments have emerged.
The case was reopened in 2011, leading to a revision in 2013 that changed her cause of death to “drowning and other undetermined factors.”
This new coroner's report highlighted bruises and scratches on Wood's body, suggesting potential assault prior to her demise.
Robert Wagner was identified as a “person of interest” in 2018 by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, as disclosed to CBS News.
Lieutenant John Corina stated that Wagner's shifting recount of events raised suspicions, with discrepancies noted in his statements to authorities.
Wagner, now 93, has vehemently denied any involvement in Wood's death, despite assertions from individuals like Davern and Lana Wood, Natalie's sister, who accuse him of foul play.
Perroni alleges witnessing an altercation between Wood and Wagner at a North Carolina hotel weeks before the yacht incident.
In his plea for a coroner's inquest jury, he mentions the presence of Walken during the confrontation.
Perroni asserts, “After 40 years, Natalie Wood's death deserves an unbiased inquiry unhampered by celebrity, cronyism, and ulterior motives.”
Lana Wood, Natalie's sister, has been vocal about her suspicions, stating in her book that she believes Wagner played a role in her sister's demise.
Dr. Phil episodes in 2018 featured Lana and Davern expressing their belief in Wagner's culpability.
The uncertainty surrounding Wood's death persists, with Walken emphasizing the mystery of her drowning.
Recent reports from Page Six suggest that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has designated Wood's case as “open and unsolved” after exhausting all leads, signaling a shift in Wagner's status from a “person of interest.”
Representative Lieutenant Hugo Reynaga indicated willingness to investigate new leads should they emerge in the future.
