Captain: Wagner responsible for Wood death

Actress Natalie Wood and her husband, actor Robert Wagner, enter a reception celebrating the first issue of Look Magazine in Beverly Hills, California on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 1979. / AP Photo/Huynh

A yacht captain said that he lied to investigators about the mysterious death 30 years ago of actress Natalie Wood, whose body was found in the waters off Southern California, and blames the actress' husband, Robert Wagner, for her drowning.

The circumstances of her death had long been classified as a tragic accident.

But on Thursday homicide detectives unexpectedly re-opened the case. A Los Angeles County sheriff's detective will speak to reporters Friday about the decision to take another look at the Oscar-nominated actress' death on Nov. 29, 1981.

In a special to air Saturday on CBS at 10 p.m. ET/PT, "48 Hours Presents Vanity Fair: Hollywood Scandal," Dennis Davern, the captain of the Wagner's boat, the Splendour, said, "I believe that Robert Wagner was with her up until the moment she went into the water."

Wood drowned after spending several hours drinking on Catalina Island and a yacht with Wagner, fellow actor Christopher Walken (with whom Wood was co-starring in the film "Brainstorm") and the ship's captain, Dennis Davern.

40 Photos

Natalie Wood

The Los Angeles Times quoted Sheriff Lee Baca as saying recent comments by the captain, Davern, who was interviewed for a book project and whose comments from a 2000 article by Vanity Fair are being featured on a new print edition and a "48 Hours Mystery" episode focusing on Hollywood scandals.

The coroner's autopsy indicated Wood had died by accident, attempting to board a rubber dingy off the Splendor, when she fell and drowned.

"That story is 100 percent false," Davern said in a preview of the "48 Hours" special. "Natalie would never, in a million years, take that dingy out by herself. She would have gotten me."

It is not the first time Davern has contradicted statements he and others made to investigators after Woods' death. The magazine notes that he has told his story through tabloids, and has been shopping for a book deal for years.

Boat captain: Natalie Wood death story bogus

On NBC's "Today" show Friday Davern said that he made mistakes by not telling the truth about events leading to the Thanksgiving weekend death and had urged Los Angeles County sheriff's homicide investigators to reopen the case.

"Was the fight between Natalie Wood and her husband Robert Wagner what ultimately led to her death?" show host David Gregory asked.

"Yes," Davern replied.

"How so?"

"Like I said, that's going to be up to the investigators to decide," the captain said.

Davern said he believes Wagner had intentionally kept the investigation into Wood's death low profile and didn't do everything he could have done. When Gregory pressed Davern for supporting details, the captain said that was the duty of investigators.

Appearing on the Vanity Fair special, L.A. Country Sheriff's Detective Duane Rasure - who was the original investigator on the case - questioned Davern's comments about Wagner: "That's like saying Robert Wagner pushed her overboard. That's a murder investigation. But I don't believe him."

Also interviewed on the Vanity Fair special are Marti Rulli, a longtime friend of Davern's who has spent 30 years investigating Wood's death; Roger Smith, the paramedic who took Wood's body to shore; Marilyn Wayne, who was on a nearby boat that night; and Mart Crowley, a close personal friend of Wood and Wagner, who also questions Davern's assertion. "To infer that he stood by ... and didn't dive in to save her is just absurd ... to anyone that knows anything about their relationship."

In the magazine, Davern is quoted as saying that Wood and Wagner fought in their cabin before the actress disappeared. Coroner's officials ruled her death an accidental drowning, perhaps caused by her slipping off the boat while trying to tie down a dinghy.

Wood's death sparked tabloid speculation that foul play was involved, but Wagner and Wood's sister have dismissed any suggestion the actress' death was anything more than an accident. Coroner's officials at the time agreed, writing that Wood was "possibly attempting to board the dinghy and had fallen into the water, striking her face."

Sheriff's officials are hoping for tips from the public may shed new light on how Wood - who was afraid of being in the water - ended up drowning.

• no previous page
• next

1/2

[JRC_903]

While RObert Wagner sounds a little less then sincere in his comments about these events, this boat captain's MO appears to be in trying to capitalize on this by reinventing the history that he made when he originally told the story. He is an admitted liar. By reopening this investigation, they can once again get him under oath. Then depending on the statute of limitations---he might find himself to be the "person of interest." in all of this.

[SUZAMBA]

Is the captain going to be held accountable for the lie he now claims he told 30 years ago?? And what about withholding his "Proof" that he now says he can has. Sounds alittle too fishy to me. What is he really after? How old is this man.

[marychicagoland]

It is hard to seriously consider the word of someone who admittedly lied before, especially when he(the captain)will finacially profit from the newfound interest in this case. I don't know if Wagner is guilty or not, but if he is the captain is just as guilty for keeping quiet for so many years and allowing all leads to the case to grow stone cold.

[msay3]

I believe that is called aiding and abetting...considered a crime in a murder.

[reverendflash]

Am I the only one to notice the caption claiming that Look Magazine's first issue was in 1979? The magazine was around in the 40s and closed up shop in the early 70s. That picture was from a party to celebrate the launch of "Look, The Picture Newsmagazine", a new different publication put out by a different owner who secured the rights to the name.

[AmazingGrce]

IF the captain were an honorable person he wouldn't be shopping for a book deal now or before. He's nothing more than a bottom-feeding slimeball. Regardless of the truth of what he is saying now either he lied before - making him an accomlice to any crime, or he is just banging a drum to make money in which case he is the fugus on the bottom-feeding slime.

[raycatcher]

This investigation may lead to a show trial by which the public will be entertained for a few days. To get enough evidence for a conviction is well nigh impossible. The captain wil make money from the media, and if he was not under oath when he lied 30 years, he will not get a perjury charge.

[bajajohn1]

They had been drinking and Wagner was in a foul mood. After Wood disappeared, all on board contrived a story to tell investigators. In other words, they conspired to relate the events. Who knows, maybe Wagner, in a jealous, drunken rage, pushed her into the water and then proceeded to manufacture a cover story.

[endrepubs]

Sounds like the Captain is having second thoughts and getting worried about righting things before he meets his maker. He is a spineless coward for holding it in for 30 years.

[sykesterryb]

Where on earth is this coming from? And why now? Natalie Wood's death was tragic, but even I don't remember its exact date in 1981 (or was it 1982?). And the "Captain" is now coming out with his revelation 30 years after the fact. Sounds like someone is out for a bit of publicity or a book deal. It's pathetic.

[jay2195]

As a former private yacht and commercial riverboat captain, I know that the captain is ultimately responsible for the safety of the passengers and crew. I have refused to leave the dock several times when passengers have been drinking too much. The captain must be aware of what is going on on his vessel at all times. At the very least, if the captain knew that the passengers were drinking excessivly, he should have posted a watch to ensure their safety. Failure to do so would constitute negligence in my opinion. If he didn't see the event in person, he should not speculate. If he witnessed an act of murder and didn't report it then he is as guilty of a crime as the murderer. No sympathy here for this captain.

Jay2195