30 years later: who killed Natalie Wood? - Page 4

Nico · #46 11-22-2011, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CADreaming

I loved it too. I usually can't stand those type of movies but it was intriguing. And, maybe her death and the questions about her relationship with Walken helped add to my interest. But, I still enjoyed it.

Thank you for this! I'm going to take you gals up on this recommendation. I

Quote:

Originally Posted by CADreaming

Ok, so it's just a piece of gossip but remember earlier when I mentioned Stefanie Powers and William Holden's death? It happened a couple of week's prior to Natalie's drowning. I remember there was a lot of speculation going on in the tabloids anyway about the "coincidence" of the timing of their deaths and the rumors about Stefanie & RJ. So, the gossip I read was a theory in effect that Bill Holden (who was an alcoholic and had recently been drinking again) had actually gotten into a fight with Stefanie and she either hit him or he fell, she left him and he died. It went on to say that because of her relationship with RJ and the knowledge that if the truth was revelaed she would be implicated, their show would be canceled and careers go up smoke, that she was calling him all hours of the night pissing Natalie off and she was fed up with their affair. The speculation is that Natalie was fighting on the boat that night with RJ about Stefanie because she knew the truth about Holden's death and that RJ was determined to protect Stefanie.

If there is zero truth in that theory, it sure is well thought out.

Meanwhile, I stumbled on this website of the author of Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendor -- with a ton more info: http://martirulli.blogspot.com/

This stuff is SO riveting, my goodness. Thank you for these contributions. It's like one of those stories where you pop a bag of popcorn and sit at the edge of your seat wondering what will come up next. This whole Powers/Holden/Wagner/Wood thing is captivating...I'm going to check out this link. Thank you!

Y'all are better than the news.

CADreaming · #47 11-23-2011, 07:51 AM

It is fascinating. Did you see 48 Hours? I missed it. Here's the detective:

And, this just came out today:

By ABC News
Nov 23, 2011 7:04am
Natalie Wood Mystery: Captain of Yacht Passes Polygraph Test

The recently reopened case of actress Natalie Wood’s drowning death focuses on new information that may implicate those on board the boat the actress fell from 30 years ago, including the boat’s captain, who has passed a lie detector test.

Dennis Davern, the captain of the Splendour, the yacht which the actors were staying on, said that he heard Wood and husband Robert Wagner arguing moments before she disappeared. Davern has said that he believes Wagner had a role in Wood’s death.

Davern had a lie detector test performed on him by examiner Howard Temple, who says that the results of the polygraph “indicated he was telling the truth.”

In this exclusive interview with “Good Morning America,” Temple said Davern told him that after Wood’s death Wagner instructed him to not speak about the drowning.

“Davern made the statement that he stayed at the Wagner home … [was] told not to talk …Wagner paid for his therapy, and Davern could not leave the estate without bodyguards,” Temple said.

In an NBC interview last week, Davern said ”Yes I would say so,” when asked about Wagner’s responsibility. He admitted that he may have been at fault as well, saying, “We didn’t take any steps to see if we could locate her. It was a matter of don’t look too hard, don’t turn on search light, don’t call anyone.”

Davern also said that he lied to officials in the initial police report. It is unclear whether he could face charges if that’s true.

Davern’s motives in revealing this new information regarding the night of Wood’s death have been called into question after he co-authored a book about the actress’s death. He and Marti Rulli wrote the 2009 book “Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour,” about the circumstances surrounding the actress’ death. He and Lana Wood, Natalie Wood’s sister, asked authorities to re-open the case last year.

ABC News has learned that detectives have now interviewed Marilyn Wayne, the boater who was aboard a ship 40 yards away that night in 1981. She claims she heard Wood screaming for help moments before she allegedly drowned off the coast of Catalina Island in California.

“They talked to me about what I remember from the case all those years ago,” Wayne told “Entertainment Tonight.”

Wood, the star of film classics like “West Side Story” and “Rebel Without a Cause,” apparently drowned while boating with Wagner and actor Christopher Walken, with whom she was filming what would be her last role in the movie “Brainstorm.”

The official cause of Wood’s death was determined to be accidental drowning, but because there has been little concrete information about the circumstances surrounding the events of that night, speculation has been rife and the case remains one of Hollywood’s longest-running mysteries.

Lifeguard Roger Smith, who pulled Wood’s body out of the water, has told “Good Morning America” that he believes the actress may have floated alive for hours.

“I could have saved her,” Smith said, adding that he was “not called in time.”

So far Wagner and Walken, the two men with Wood that night, are keeping quiet regarding the reopening of the case.

When gossip website TMZ.com caught up with Walken in West Hollywood Tuesday to ask him what he thinks about the reopening of the case, Walken simply said, “I don’t know.”

Wagner, the now 81-year-old star of the TV series “Hart to Hart,” is still hard at work, making an appearance as a murder suspect on an episode of CBS’ “NCIS” this week.

Wagner was not charged in Wood’s death, and police plan to reach out to him as part of the re-opened investigation. They say he is not a suspect.

gfd1963 · #48 11-23-2011, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Another thing that bothers me are the bruises on her body. How did she get those?

I am a huge fan of Natalie to the extent that I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard she had died.

There is a book by the coroner on the case called Coroner to the Stars. In it, from what, I remember he says the bruises on Natalie's legs were consistent with her trying to reboard the dinghy via some sort of metal step used by swimmers but not being be able to as the down jacket she was wearing had become heavy with water. It is believed she held onto the dinghy as it was carried by the tide and breeze for over a mile frantically fighting for her life.

I actually find, at the moment, the official version of events quite plausible and that it was some sort of freak accident surrounded by some unfortunate circumstances ie. arguing, drinking, people hearing or not taking her cries for help seriously as there were parties going on on other boats. I do believe though that help should have been called sooner.

Gill.

McTrouble · #49 11-23-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfd1963

I am a huge fan of Natalie to the extent that I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard she had died.

There is a book by the coroner on the case called Coroner to the Stars. In it, from what, I remember he says the bruises on Natalie's legs were consistent with her trying to reboard the dinghy via some sort of metal step used by swimmers but not being be able to as the down jacket she was wearing had become heavy with water. It is believed she held onto the dinghy as it was carried by the tide and breeze for over a mile frantically fighting for her life.

I actually find, at the moment, the official version of events quite plausible and that it was some sort of freak accident surrounded by some unfortunate circumstances ie. arguing, drinking, people hearing or not taking her cries for help seriously as there were parties going on on other boats. I do believe though that help should have been called sooner.

Gill.

Interesting stuff!

I guess one of the reasons this is all so fascinating is precisely because we will never ever know the real truth of the matter.

Macfanforever · #50 11-23-2011, 03:45 PM

I did like Brainstorm.With all of the computers we have today .I would love to record and playback my dreams.Ok as I was thinking of this story.I remember first hearing about Natalie Woods accident from Entertainment Tonight which I recorded at the time.My mom was heartbroken when she was watching the story unfold with me that night.I missed the 48 Hours show .but I can catch it online .This will be a very interesting case.

Nico · #51 11-23-2011, 04:10 PM

This doesn't say a lot, however I'm going to share it because every little bit seems to add something: Christopher Walken Says "I Don't Know"

Here's what Robert Wagner said about that night in (I believe) his book:

Quote:

‘Chris [Walken] began talking about his 'total pursuit of a career', which he admitted was more important to him than his personal life. He clearly thought Natalie should live like that, too.'I got angry. "Why don't you stay out of her career?" I said. "She's got enough people telling her what to do without you."'As the argument escalated, Natalie left for bed.
'The last time I saw my wife she was fixing her hair in the bathroom while I was arguing with Chris,' he said. 'I saw her shut the door. She was going to bed.'

So apparently Chris Walken and Robert W. were fighting over Natalie prior to her death.

gfd1963 · #52 11-23-2011, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McTrouble

Interesting stuff!

I guess one of the reasons this is all so fascinating is precisely because we will never ever know the real truth of the matter.

I'm in total agreement with that, Viv. I think it could be discussed until the cows come home and we wouldn't be any wiser - a bit like Marilyn, no one knows for sure.

Gill.

Nico · #53 11-23-2011, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfd1963

I'm in total agreement with that, Viv. I think it could be discussed until the cows come home and we wouldn't be any wiser - a bit like Marilyn, no one knows for sure.

Gill.

Yes, definitely a bit. Though I find Natalie's more fascinating but, ultimately, just as sad. With Marilyn, there are different theories of course, but she was a highly sensitive and emotionally scarred person who had spent so many years living up to an image that was very different from who she really was inside. Whereas, with Natalie, there was this huge mystery and shock. And the children involved makes it WAY more tragic to me.

Anyway, there seems to be all these things unfolding with Natalie's case that are happening right now, but with Marilyn...it all sort of seems to be more speculation than facts.

Unless you know more than me.

I really like discussing this with you good people. I've learned more about this whole case via this thread than in all the years I've wondered, as a Natalie fan. How weird is that?

GypsySorcerer · #54 11-23-2011, 05:23 PM

I have been a fan of Natalie Wood since I was little. My mom adores her and introduced me to her films. Splendor is one of my top ten favorite films.

I hate to think RJ was responsible for her death. I do believe her loved her deeply, but they also had a volatile relationship. In his autobiography, he talks about lurking outside Warren Beatty's house with a gun when Natalie and Beatty were together.

I doubt if anything will really come of this...30 years later. I feel horribly for Natalie's daughters, who lost their mother so young.

CADreaming · #55 11-23-2011, 05:25 PM

I totally think there was foul play in Marilyn's death. The mob. Peter Lawford. JFK. RFK. She was a loose cannon and they couldn't risk her shooting off.

Nico, I am so with you on Natalie's case right now! I read a lot of the author's blog the other night and granted she makes valid points, but the gist remains the same. Regardless of how you slice it -- I think what ultimately happened is that RJ & Natalie had a big fight and she probably stormed out of the cabin and he was both too drunk and too mad to give it much more thought. Even like the detective said - they thought she took the dinghy back to shore. I wouldn't have gone searching for her in the water either. I would have assumed she was so pissed she went to get a room in town. She may have even stormed out saying that and he may have said fine go on then as anyone would do in the heat of the moment. Then, later he cooled down and maybe sobered up some and realized he needed to find her and maybe feared something had happened.

Then, the other things are so questionable -- the rumors about RJ's lifestyle, Walken's lifestyle, Natalie's promiscuity, Stefanie Powers/Holden, drug use on the boat... a lot of that could also add to a cover up of some kind.

The author of the book seemed obsessed with the bruising on Natalie. I read the Wagner's weekend trip was a brief break in between filming for Brainstorm. She had been filming the day before and would be back filming the next week. So, as was mentioned earlier she could very well had bruises from her scenes in addition to some obvious bruising from the drowning.

Oh, and this woman who heard her screaming. I can't let this go. I read today she did an interview recently and claims to have heard her screaming for 25 minutes. Yet, she did NOTHING!!! I'm not talking about calling someone either. If you are constantly hearing "HELP ME! I'M DROWNING!" would you not get your a** off your boat and go and look for her?? I just am floored at that. Stop your party and go find the person in distress!!

gfd1963 · #56 11-23-2011, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CADreaming

I totally think there was foul play in Marilyn's death. The mob. Peter Lawford. JFK. RFK. She was a loose cannon and they couldn't risk her shooting off.

Nico, I am so with you on Natalie's case right now! I read a lot of the author's blog the other night and granted she makes valid points, but the gist remains the same. Regardless of how you slice it -- I think what ultimately happened is that RJ & Natalie had a big fight and she probably stormed out of the cabin and he was both too drunk and too mad to give it much more thought. Even like the detective said - they thought she took the dinghy back to shore. I wouldn't have gone searching for her in the water either. I would have assumed she was so pissed she went to get a room in town. She may have even stormed out saying that and he may have said fine go on then as anyone would do in the heat of the moment. Then, later he cooled down and maybe sobered up some and realized he needed to find her and maybe feared something had happened.

Then, the other things are so questionable -- the rumors about RJ's lifestyle, Walken's lifestyle, Natalie's promiscuity, Stefanie Powers/Holden, drug use on the boat... a lot of that could also add to a cover up of some kind.

The author of the book seemed obsessed with the bruising on Natalie. I read the Wagner's weekend trip was a brief break in between filming for Brainstorm. She had been filming the day before and would be back filming the next week. So, as was mentioned earlier she could very well had bruises from her scenes in addition to some obvious bruising from the drowning.

Oh, and this woman who heard her screaming. I can't let this go. I read today she did an interview recently and claims to have heard her screaming for 25 minutes. Yet, she did NOTHING!!! I'm not talking about calling someone either. If you are constantly hearing "HELP ME! I'M DROWNING!" would you not get your a** off your boat and go and look for her?? I just am floored at that. Stop your party and go find the person in distress!!

I, too, find that particularly disturbing. Surely, as someone who was afraid of water, Natalie's cries for help would have been filled with geniune terror. Why anyone would not bother to react seriously to that is beyond me.

Gill.

Nico · #57 11-23-2011, 07:16 PM

My gosh, you know the saddest part is knowing she died in such a horrible way. I mean, it wasn't some tranquil/calm manner but one of absolute terror and struggle. And people die this way ALL the time, so a single case like this one brings to light so many others of less notable people. It's horrible any way, no matter whom it is (unless it's a serial killer/rapist/terrorist, etc. and then maybe it would be a little less horrible). But poor Natalie...she was really a very sweet and lovely woman. And a great mother.

Plus a fantastic actress, tbh. I am going to be looking thoroughly at all these links being posted in this thread because it just draws me more and more in.