[LadyPox]

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department held a news conference Friday surrounding the mysterious drowning death of movie star Natalie Wood 30 years ago.

The department announced Thursday that they've reopened the case after investigators were contacted by a tipster who reportedly had additional information about Wood's drowning.

The three-time Academy Award nominee is known for her roles in "Rebel Without a Cause," "Miracle on 34th Street" and "Westside Story."

On Nov. 29, 1981, Wood was with her husband, actor Robert Wagner and her co-star Christopher Walken on a sailing trip over the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Wood went overboard and drowned.

At the time, Wood's death was ruled accidental by sheriff's investigators and the L.A. County Coroner's Office. But now, Sheriff Lee Baca told the Los Angeles Times the department received a letter from a third party saying the ship's captain had new recollection about the case.

Wood's badly bruised body was found floating a mile away from the yacht just off the coast of Catalina. She was wearing a long nightgown, socks and a down jacket and had a blood alcohol level of .1 percent, according to the police report.

The captain of the ship Wood was on recently wrote a book about her death and said that he believes Wood's death was a direct result of an argument she had with her husband right before she drowned.

Matthew Belloni, news director of The Hollywood Reporter, said Hollywood trade newspapers didn't cover celebrities' private lives back in the day. However, Wood's death made headlines because of the mysterious circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Wagner family released the following statement Thursday:

"Although no one in the Wagner family has heard from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department about this matter, they fully support the efforts of the L.A. 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."

[LadyPox]

How many people here even remember this case? Does the LA County Sheriff's Office really have nothing better to do??

From what I've read, I think the coroner explained it perfectly at the time. Natalie and Robert got into a blow out because she was having an affair with Christopher Walken. She was intoxicated (there are suggestions she had a drinking problem) and went to bed.

However, a small row craft tied to the boat kept banging against the side and kept her awake. She attempted to untie it, fell overboard (hitting the row boat) and drowned. A major contributor to her death... she was too drunk, or knocked out, to pull off a bulky coat she was wearing... and drowned.

I think it's entirely a matter of cheap publicity and clearly the Sheriff's Office needs to find better things to do.

[Mr.Goodbar]

^^ what he said

big ups to Cristopher Walken for tappin natalie woods tail

whatever...it just people after publicity

On November 17, 2011, the department said that it would reopen the case based on new information they had received from the boat's skipper, Dennis Davern

[dooshman]

Originally Posted by Mr.Goodbar ↗

^^ what he said

big ups to Cristopher Walken for tappin natalie woods tail

whatever...it just people after publicity

She.

After all these years, I wouldn't put too much credence into someone's "recollection." Unless the state attorney's office have hard proof (fingerprints, DNA, etc.), I think it would be a waste of taxpayer's money to pursue this. Personally, I agree this was a case of accidental death.

[BrownRock]

My dad thinks Robert Wagner killed her. I think she just drowned on her own. Alcohol + swimming = not a good combo.

[kandystar]

I've actually been following the case since news agencies blew up my twitter about it yesterday. Did you know that Robert Wagner played Number Two in the Austin Powers movies? :O

[Steve]

What type of wood doesn't float?...............answers on a post card please.

[Mr.Goodbar]

Oh what a shock ~~ someone has a book to sell

The new investigation follows a statement by Mr Davern, given to police by the author Marti Rulli, with whom Mr Davern co-operated on the 2009 book Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour.

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/cele...119-1noc0.html

[BlueNosePit]

Originally Posted by BrownRock ↗

My dad thinks Robert Wagner killed her. I think she just drowned on her own. Alcohol + swimming = not a good combo.

who the fuck goes swimming in a nightgowm, socks, and down jacket??

[fredstones]

Reopen a 30 year old case with 3 surviving people alive. Hmmm...

Police report that Robert Wagner is not a suspect. Hmmm...

They say he's not a suspect... Until they arrest his ass. Something's up.