The death of Natalie Wood has become one of Hollywood’s lingering mysteries. This article exposes the corrupt motives behind the original investigation and lays bare the stunning evidence that Sam Perroni has uncovered to reveal what really happened on the night of her tragic accident. Keep reading the article below to learn more about Who Killed Natalie Wood.
Investigators say fresh bruises noted on her autopsy may have played a role in changing the manner of her death. They told CBS’ 48 Hours that she “looked like the victim of an assault.”
Wood was an icon in her own right, not only a Hollywood star but also an accomplished stage actress and singer. Her acting talents were honed by her strict mother and she worked diligently at learning her lines and other actors’ as well, earning the nickname “One Take Natalie.” However, the young Hollywood blonde eventually rebelled from her ultra-wholesome image, wanting to act in more adult roles. This was not acceptable to her husband at the time, actor Robert Wagner.
As the years passed, speculation grew that he was responsible for her death. The captain of the yacht she was on, Davern, claimed that Wagner pushed her into the water and didn’t want to call for help. He later wrote a book where he elaborated on his story, saying that he heard Wagner and Wood fighting. He went on to claim that he was told not to tell police about his version of events in 1981, and that Wagner threatened him again in the months leading up to his death.
The bruises found on her body were a major red flag to investigators. They believed that they could have been inflicted before she died, but were never able to pinpoint when exactly she was injured. The LA County Sheriff’s department reopened the investigation in 2011, but Wagner refused to speak with investigators. He did, however, vehemently deny being involved in the crime.
Wagner was also accused of slandering his ex-wife in the days following her death. In addition, he was accused of stealing the yacht she was on and even using it for his own personal pleasure.
While the exact cause of her death is still unclear, it is now known that she was a heroin user. This is in addition to the fact that she was severely under the influence of alcohol and pills during her final hours. It is also confirmed that she was terrified of water, which may have contributed to her untimely demise in the freezing cold water.
In this book, author Sam Perroni uncovers critical motive evidence from the Wood’s probate file as well as evidence from a hotel in North Carolina where she and her co-star Christopher Walken were filming Brainstorm. Perroni also discusses inconsistencies in Wagner’s statements and activities prior to and after Natalie’s death, showing he was aware that he had something to hide.
What Happened On The Night Of Her Death?
There is so much to learn about this bizarre night in 1981 that is essentially a Rashomon come to life. It is known for sure that alcohol and pills were involved and that Wood had a deep-seated fear of water. But what isn’t so clear is how she wound up in the freezing water that night. Was she the victim of a horrific accident? Or was someone else to blame?
On the night of her death, Wood was sailing their yacht Splendour with her friend and Brainstorm co-star Christopher Walken and their skipper Dennis Davern. They had dined at Doug’s Harbor Reef in Catalina and were still a little tipsy when they returned to the boat. The manager of the restaurant worried that the quartet would be too drunk to make it back to their dinghy, Prince Valiant, but the group made it back safely.
Then everything changed. According to a book written by Finstad, Walken and Wagner got into an argument over her acting career and her choice to leave her young children with their babysitter while she was shooting a movie. Apologies were made and the argument ended. Then, at around midnight, she disappeared.
A few days later, her body was found about a mile away from the couple’s boat in an isolated cove called Blue Cavern Point. An autopsy found she had drowned.
There are conflicting accounts of what happened on the night of Natalie’s death, but one thing that is certain is that there was a lot of drinking. The toxicology report found that her blood alcohol level was 0.14 percent when she died.
There are many theories on what happened to Natalie Wood that have sprung up over the years, and they all hinge on the same events. The prevailing theory is that Wood was the victim of an accident. The theory is that she slipped while trying to retie the banging dinghy and fell into the water. This was supported by the testimony of a number of people who heard arguments on the deck of the yacht. In addition, some of the bruises on her body were consistent with her having been hit.
Who Was She With On The Night Of Her Death?
The case of Natalie Wood’s death has never been definitively solved. While there is evidence to suggest foul play, the only suspects are still alive and no charges were ever filed against anyone. But new claims have emerged that could change everything about the night of her death. The star’s daughter has spoken out with shocking details about what her mother was doing on the day she died.
In the weeks leading up to her death, Natalie Wood had been rehearsing her role as an actress in Brainstorm. The project was a remake of an old movie, and the original star was supposed to be in attendance at the rehearsals. The actress was a big fan of the first film and had wanted to attend the shoot.
The evening of her death, Wood was with her husband Robert Wagner and co-star Christopher Walken, both of whom were also working on Brainstorm. The four of them had been dining in a mainland restaurant that night and were quite intoxicated. When they returned to Splendour, their skipper Dennis Davern said that there was an argument between the two. He claimed that Wagner became angry and smashed a bottle of wine against the table, forcing everyone to shield themselves from the broken glass. He then chased her into her stateroom where they continued to argue.
After that, he claims that he heard them calling for help from the water. When he went down to see what was happening, the dinghy and Wood were gone. He screamed for her and was unable to get her back onboard.
Originally, authorities believed that Wood had been pushed into the water and then drowned. They changed their mind when a coroner’s report cited fresh bruises on her arms and knee. It also listed scratch marks on her neck.
But these findings have never been proven and many people think they were simply made up. For years, investigators have pressed Wagner and Walken for more information about the incident but they never gave any concrete answers. It has been reported that both were under the influence of alcohol on the evening of Natalie’s death and had a deep-seated fear of water. This could explain why they were so reluctant to give any further insight.
Why Was She Missing?
In her time, Natalie Wood was regarded as one of Hollywood’s most alluring actresses. Her untimely death in 1981 has remained one of the movie industry’s most controversial mysteries. On November 28, 1981, the star was sailing off the coast of Catalina Island aboard her husband Robert Wagner’s yacht, Splendour. Also aboard were her co-stars Christopher Walken and Dennis Davern, who were filming the sci-fi flick Brainstorm.
It seems like a straightforward case at first glance, but things get complicated from there. The three men on board kept changing their stories to investigators, raising red flags. One of the main reasons is that the bruises Wood had on her body were inconsistent with her story of being thrown overboard by a dinghy.
The bruises were found on her arms, legs and head and could indicate she was assaulted prior to her disappearance. However, the medical examiner’s office initially classified her death as accidental drowning due to alcohol intoxication and the fact that she couldn’t swim.
Since then, many have suspected foul play in her disappearance and death, including her sister Lana. The 2021 book Brainstorm: An Investigation of the Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood by Sam Perroni is a comprehensive, hard-hitting investigation into her death. The author has used official records and photographs, never-before revealed confidential documents, dozens of interviews with witnesses, and forensic experts.
He reveals how the case was glossed over by local law enforcement agencies and how the entrance of powerful Hollywood insiders helped suppress the truth for decades. Perroni’s research into this case is extensive, and he has presented a compelling argument that it was murder.
One of the most controversial aspects of this case is how Wagner treated his wife and daughter after her death. According to Lana, he started treating her with hostility and would exclude her from dinner parties. She says he even ragged her in the media after she sold some of her clothing. He is now refusing to talk to investigators about the case. It’s a tragic mystery that may never be solved.