# Re-opening Natalie Wood case--did anything come of it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 9, 2012, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219 "2012-03-09T02:03:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/41 "2018-02-02T00:38:32Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > So she was trying to drown her sorrows? Boo, hiss! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/42 "2018-02-02T01:07:51Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > So she was trying to drown her sorrows? I sea what you did there. ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/43 "2018-02-02T02:29:01Z")
I thought everybody knew the last thing he said to her was, _sure you can have some more wine. Just don’t go overboard._ ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/44 "2018-02-02T04:27:22Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > So they’re fishing around for clues again? Did oceans of evidence suddenly surface? > > Sorry. > > Even if Wagner were to be arrested it seems that any good attorney would challenge the “assault wounds” theory (pretty certain Wagner could afford the best). How can it be proven beyond reasonable doubt the injuries weren’t due to post-mortem trauma after being in the water for x number of hours/days? > > Unless there’s a new smoking gun, re-hashing this is a waste of time and money. Perhaps Walken decided to talk? > > I 65% think there was a physical fight and Wood was accidentally killed. Wagner-Walken threw her in the water; a murder or manslaughter charge would be a career killer. > > And I 35% think they were all seriously drunk/stoned and the guys went to bed. Alone on deck, Wood went overboard accidentally or purposefully. For what it’s worth, a biographer claims that Wood struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts throughout her life I can’t imagine that they didn’t know about the bruises in the original investigation, that can’t be the new evidence or whatever is causing this to be an active investigation again. So what is really going on? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/45 "2018-02-02T04:31:38Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I can’t imagine that they didn’t know about the bruises in the original investigation, that can’t be the new evidence or whatever is causing this to be an active investigation again. So what is really going on? Maybe they were swamped with work and finally cleared the logjam. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/46 "2018-02-02T04:31:43Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I can’t imagine that they didn’t know about the bruises in the original investigation, that can’t be the new evidence or whatever is causing this to be an active investigation again. So what is really going on? In 2011 the captain of the boat changed his story: > [@](#): > > The former captain of the boat from which actress Natalie Wood drowned in 1981 alleged on TODAY Friday that her husband, actor Robert Wagner, was responsible for her death. > > Dennis Davern said he is now urging homicide investigators to look into Wood’s death. She had been boating with Wagner and his “Brainstorm” co-star Christopher Walken near Santa Catalina Island off the coast of California when she drowned. > > “I made some terrible decisions and mistakes,” Davern told NBC News’ David Gregory. “I did lie on a report several years ago.” > > He added, “I made mistakes by not telling the honest truth in a police report.” > **[Boat captain alleges actor Robert Wagner responsible for Natalie Wood's death](https://www.today.com/popculture/boat-captain-alleges-actor-robert-wagner-responsible-natalie-woods-death-2D80555795#.UqIX-_RDt7g)** > > The former captain of the boat from which actress Natalie Wood drowned in 1981 alleged on TODAY Friday that her husband, actor Robert Wagner, was responsible for her death.Dennis Davern said he is now urging homicide investigators to look into Wood's... ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/47 "2018-02-02T04:38:52Z")
Of course Christopher Walken is guilty. He LOOKS guilty. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/48 "2018-02-02T04:41:06Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Of course Christopher Walken is guilty. He LOOKS guilty. :o ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/49 "2018-02-02T04:47:14Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > In 2011 the captain of the boat changed his story: > [Boat captain alleges actor Robert Wagner responsible for Natalie Wood's death](https://www.today.com/popculture/boat-captain-alleges-actor-robert-wagner-responsible-natalie-woods-death-2D80555795#.UqIX-_RDt7g) And then it took 7 years for that to bear fruit? I think there has to be more to it than that for why it is coming up again now. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/50 "2018-02-02T05:17:22Z")
[CBS](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/natalie-wood-drowning-suspicious-death-robert-wagner-new-witnesses-los-angeles-sheriff/): > [@](#): > > Now, a statement obtained Thursday by CBS News from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Information Bureau reads that “for the first time, we have witness statements that portray a new sequence of events on the boat that night.” > > “A witness provided details about hearing yelling and crashing sounds coming from the couple’s stateroom,” the statement read. It continued: “Shortly afterwards, separate witnesses identified a man and a woman arguing on the back of the boat. The witnesses believed that the voices belonged to Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner.” Was anyone else on the boat apart from Wood, Wagner, the captain and, er, Walken? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/51 "2018-02-02T05:37:57Z")
There are more details [here](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2064139/Natalie-Wood-death-Robert-Wagner-shouted-f----boat-claims-Dennis-Davern.html), from a rather grubby newspaper. If Wagner had argued with Wood and then, according to the article, shouted at her “Get off my f\*\*\*\*\*\* boat", would he bear liability by law for her death if she died while doing so? EDIT: Just noticed the article’s from 2011. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/52 "2018-02-02T05:44:54Z")
That article is 7-some years old. If there was anything to it, we probably would have heard more in that time. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2018, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/53 "2018-02-02T19:54:05Z")
Unless you’d been swimming and your ears still had some water in them. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/54 "2018-02-04T06:08:56Z")
What a bunch of misogynistic fucks in this thread. Natalie Wood was a human being who was likely murdered. Just because there is little evidence doesn’t mean she wasn’t killed. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/55 "2018-02-04T06:12:13Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > What a bunch of misogynistic fucks in this thread. Natalie Wood was a human being who was likely murdered. Just because there is little evidence doesn’t mean she wasn’t killed. What, too soon? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/56 "2018-02-04T06:25:31Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > What, too soon? Just soon enough to tell us what we need to know about you. Woman killed. Opportunity to joke about it. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/57 "2018-02-04T06:52:50Z")
You wouldn’t get drunk and jump off a boat, would you? Natalie Would. What’s her middle name? Drift. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/58 "2018-02-04T06:56:08Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > You wouldn’t get drunk and jump off a boat, would you? > > Natalie Would. > > What’s her middle name? > > Drift. You are a sad man. And a misogynist. She was a human being and deserving of her proper respect. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/59 "2018-02-04T07:01:14Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > You are a sad man. And a misogynist. She was a human being and deserving of her proper respect. Nope, I’m pretty happy. You want to hear some space shuttle jokes? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2018, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219/60 "2018-02-04T11:08:34Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Nope, I’m pretty happy. You want to hear some space shuttle jokes? Oh, yeah, like the guy who was complaining that Houston was shortchanged because they did not get a retired orbiter to display – then someone observed that Texas already got Columbia. Any other depths of bad taste we can explore? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-opening-natalie-wood-case-did-anything-come-of-it/615219.md?page=4)