Natalie Wood

Natalie Wood was one of the most celebrated actresses in Hollywood history, known for roles in Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Rebel Without a Cause (1955), West Side Story (1961), and Splendor in the Grass (1961). She was nominated for three Academy Awards. On the night of November 28–29, 1981, she drowned near Catalina Island, California, under circumstances that have never been fully explained. She was 43 years old. [Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-02-25/natalie-wood-case-homicide-determination)

Wood was spending the Thanksgiving weekend aboard the family yacht Splendour with her husband Robert Wagner — the actor to whom she had been married twice, most recently since 1972 — and actor Christopher Walken, who had been working with her on the film Brainstorm. The boat captain, Dennis Davern, was also aboard. On the evening of November 28, 1981, the group had dinner at a Catalina Island restaurant and returned to the yacht, where an argument erupted between Wagner and Walken. Wood went to her cabin. At some point during the night, she went into the water.

Her body was discovered the following morning, approximately one mile from the Splendour, floating face-down near a small rubber dinghy. She was wearing a red down jacket, socks, and a nightgown. The Los Angeles County coroner initially ruled her death an accidental drowning, finding bruising on her body that was attributed to the dinghy and rocks. The official cause was listed as drowning with contributing factors of alcohol and sea sickness medication. [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/02/us/natalie-wood-case-robert-wagner-person-of-interest/index.html)

For nearly three decades the case remained closed. In 2011, boat captain Dennis Davern gave extensive interviews to investigators and to journalists, claiming that what happened the night Wood died had been more troubled than previously disclosed, and that Wagner had been hostile toward Wood before she disappeared. Davern stated he did not call for help promptly enough and expressed regret. He had co-authored a 2009 book titled "Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour" with Marti Rulli that offered a more detailed account of the night's events.

In November 2011, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced it was reopening the investigation based on new information from witnesses including Davern. Detectives from the LASD Homicide Bureau were assigned to review the case. In January 2012, the Los Angeles County coroner amended Wood's death certificate: the cause was changed from "accidental drowning" to "drowning and other undetermined factors," reflecting uncertainty about how she entered the water. [Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-02-25/natalie-wood-case-homicide-determination)

In February 2018, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department publicly named Robert Wagner as a "person of interest" in Wood's death, citing the fact that he was the last known person to see her alive and that his account of events had changed over time. No charges have been filed. Wagner, through his representatives, denied involvement in Wood's death and said he cooperated fully with investigators. Walken has given limited public statements over the years, generally declining to discuss what occurred that night.

In February 2022, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner released a new report concluding that the manner of Wood's death could not be classified as an accident and should remain "undetermined." The report noted that bruising on Wood's body was consistent with forceful grabbing rather than accidental injury. The LASD investigation remained open as of 2026. No murder charges have been filed and no arrests have been made. The case stands as one of Hollywood's most enduring unsolved mysteries. [Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-02-25/natalie-wood-case-homicide-determination)

Original Investigation — 1981

The Los Angeles County Coroner investigated Natalie Wood's death following the discovery of her body on November 29, 1981. The original autopsy found bruising on her arms and legs, which was attributed to accidental contact with the dinghy and rocks. The coroner ruled the manner of death accidental drowning with alcohol and sea sickness medication as contributing factors. No criminal investigation was opened at the time.

Case Reopened — 2011

In November 2011, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reopened the investigation after boat captain Dennis Davern provided new information to investigators. The LASD announced that detectives from its Homicide Bureau would review the case. Davern had previously co-authored "Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour" (2009), which described the night of Wood's death in greater detail than his earlier statements to police.

Death Certificate Amendment — 2012

In January 2012, the Los Angeles County coroner amended Wood's death certificate. The cause of death was changed from "accidental drowning" to "drowning and other undetermined factors." This change reflected the investigators' conclusion that the manner of her entry into the water could not be determined from the available evidence.

Robert Wagner Named Person of Interest — 2018

In February 2018, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department publicly named Robert Wagner, Wood's husband at the time of her death, as a person of interest in the investigation. Sheriff Jim McDonnell stated that Wagner was the last known person to see Wood alive and that his account of events on the Splendour had been inconsistent. No charges have been filed against Wagner. His legal representative stated that he had cooperated with all investigations. [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/02/us/natalie-wood-case-robert-wagner-person-of-interest/index.html)

2022 Medical Examiner Report

In February 2022, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner issued a new report on Wood's death. The report concluded that bruising on Wood's body was more consistent with forceful human contact than with accidental injury from a dinghy or rocks, and that the manner of death should remain classified as undetermined rather than accidental. The LASD investigation remained active. No arrests have been made. No murder charge has been filed in any jurisdiction as of 2026. [Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-02-25/natalie-wood-case-homicide-determination)