The L.A. County Sheriff’s Office is reopening its investigation into the death of movie star Natalie Wood, who drowned in 1981 while boating off the California coast.
Homicide investigators are reexamining one of Hollywood’s most enduring mysteries after someone with “additional information” about the drowning contacted them.
Authorities didn’t provide further details late Thursday, but more information will surely be made available soon as the case is reopened and actively pursued.
Last year, the star’s sister, Lana Wood, and the captain of the yacht on which Wood sailed with her husband, actor Robert Wagner, asked officials to reopen the case.
On Thursday, L.A. County Sheriff’s Deputy Benjamin Grubb couldn’t say whether the sister and the yacht captain have prompted the renewed investigation.
Natalie Wood’s body was found floating in the water about a mile away from the yacht, near Catalina Island, in a long nightgown, socks, and a down jacket.
The autopsy report showed that Wood had suffered two dozen bruises on her body, including a facial abrasion on her left cheek, and bruises on her arms.
In 2010, Lana Wood said she believes a heated argument between her sister and Wagner, who can be seen on next week’s NCIS, preceded Wood’s drowning.
She told CNN last year she does not suspect foul play, however.
Dennis Davern, the former captain of the yacht Splendour, broke his long silence with a detailed account in “Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour,” a book he wrote with his friend Marti Rulli. It was published in September 2009.
Davern also believes Wood’s death was the result of a fight with Wagner.
In a lengthy interview with CNN in 2010, Davern said the investigation of Wood’s death was incompetent and suggested there was a cover-up. He said he regrets misleading investigators by keeping quiet at Wagner’s request.
Wagner’s publicist, Alan Nierob, issued a statement saying the actor’s family “fully support the efforts of the LA County Sheriff’s Dept. and trust they will evaluate whether any new information relating to the death of Natalie Wood Wagner is valid, and that it comes from a credible source or sources other than those simply trying to profit from the 30 year anniversary of her tragic death.”
Nierob said no authorities have contacted Wagner.
Wood and Wagner married in 1957, divorced in 1962, then remarried in 1972. They often sailed their yacht and invited Wood’s Brainstorm co-star, Christopher Walken, to join them on a sail on Thanksgiving weekend in 1981.
Walken and Wood were filming Brainstorm and the rumor mill was abuzz with speculation that Wagner was jealous of Walken, but authorities have said Walken witnessed only the events leading up to an argument between the couple.
Walken couldn’t be reached immediately for comment.