CA - Natalie Wood, 43, drowned off California coast, 29 Nov 1981

[Columbo]

Is this a law? We don't adhere to this on Lake Michigan . . . and we didn't off the coast of Cali last summer.

While it is not a smart thing to do, is it prohibited? It should be especially at a harbor used so much like Catalina . . . Thanks

krimekat, I don't really know if it's prohibited. I think eve has said that she has boating experience, and she is the one who posted that info so I was trusting in her knowledge.

 

[eve]

krimekat, I don't really know if it's prohibited. I think eve has said that she has boating experience, and she is the one who posted that info so I was trusting in her knowledge.

When I used the word rules, I just meant conventional safe boating "rules." It is not prohibited legally that I know of, it is just understood that one should always employ the buddy system in dinghy travel whenever possible and especially at night. I have taken a dinghy alone once when close to shore and in daylight in order to have a shower alone on the boat! LOL! But it was very calm that day and my party was within yelling distance at 11 a.m. I am an experienced boater and have my lifesaving certificate. 1st rule, never swim or boat alone. I hate it when my son goes out in his deer stand alone. It goes against my grain, it is as if he is on water alone, in my mind.

I think it amazing also that RW insisted on that wine.

Sorry I wasn't more precise!

Eve

 

[Columbo]

When I used the word rules, I just meant conventional safe boating "rules." It is not prohibited legally that I know of, it is just understood that one should always employ the buddy system in dinghy travel whenever possible and especially at night. I have taken a dinghy alone once when close to shore and in daylight in order to have a shower alone on the boat! LOL! But it was very calm that day and my party was within yelling distance at 11 a.m. I am an experienced boater and have my lifesaving certificate. 1st rule, never swim or boat alone. I hate it when my son goes out in his deer stand alone. It goes against my grain, it is as if he is on water alone, in my mind.

I think it amazing also that RW insisted on that wine.

Sorry I wasn't more precise!

Eve

Thanks for clarifying that, eve! It may be my fault for using the word "prohibited" when I quoted your information .. Anyway, the buddy system always makes sense.

You know, I wondered what was so great about Soave Bolla. I never drank it but have always thought of it as a mediocre, run-of-the-mill wine. ????:waitasec: That was just my impression--I could be totally wrong. Maybe the restaurant was too fancy to carry it in their bar!

 

[Linda7NJ]

Well, I always liked him on tv and screen, so I hope this is true. I just find it very hard to believe a woman who feared water as she did would have gone off the boat voluntarily after drinking, in the dark, and even after a fight, and especially in her nightgown and socks and a down jacket. That is what you wear when you are going to bed and have to go out in the cold for a few minutes, not when you are boat-hopping or going ashore. They said it was a flannel nightgown and wool socks, too. I just cannot believe that she climbed into the dinghy like that, but who knows? Without knowing for sure, RW clearly did the wrong thing and I can see why he feels guilty. On water any missing person requires immediate investigation and assistance, without confirmation that the person is accounted for, you don't mess around. He and DD were both culpable in this, imo. Remember the dinghy as found had locked oars and the key was on off. Boaters always keep the keys in the dinghy ignition, and most who topple from dinghies do so when it is turned on, running.

Eve

There is no telling how stupid or fearless someone can get when drunk and taking ludes. IMO

When I was young, I did quite a few things I would have NEVER done sober.

 

[eve]

There is no telling how stupid or fearless someone can get when drunk and taking ludes. IMO

When I was young, I did quite a few things I would have NEVER done sober.

I imagine you are right. As for me, my fears are huge even when in an altered state. But I can believe that it's possible.

Eve

 

[Columbo]

There is no telling how stupid or fearless someone can get when drunk and taking ludes. IMO

When I was young, I did quite a few things I would have NEVER done sober.

This is possible, but I don't think she got into the dinghy to go on a joyride. She wanted to get off the boat. We may never know why, but whatever emotion/reason drove her to do so was stronger than her fear of dark water. I'm not so sure the autopsy showed that she had quaaludes in her system, but I can't interpret the chemical findings in the toxicology part of the autopsy. Alcohol, yes.

 

[Chewy]

She wanted to get off the boat in a pair of socks and a nightgown and down jacket?

 

[redheadedgal]

someone commented on the eight prescriptions...

darvon-- pain med
placidyl-- insomnia
dalmane-- insomnia
optimine-- antihistamine
metahydrin-- hypertension
antivert-- motion sickness
synthroid-- thyroid regulation
bacrtim-- antibiotic (ear infections/UTIs)

they were all legal, prescribed and for legitimate ailments/issues. i don't see a problem.

additionally, according to the autopsy report, her liver was normal and healthy. i'm sure some might suggest that there are those with addiction/drug/alcohol problems who do not manifest unhealthy livers, but i take the info for what it's worth.

 

[redheadedgal]

Who was using cocaine in this group?

the drug is listed in her autopsy pg 22...

i believe the way it's listed was to make sure she was tested for these things but maybe it was misinterpreted by poster(s) here and some thought it was in her system?

it says "cocaine, codeine, morphine" under barbituates so i would presume they wanted her tested for those specifically ?

then later on pg 24 the test for barbituates comes back on dec 3/81 as "ND" or Not Detected


i believe any partying (drugs, alcohol) did influence judgment... but it does not imo justify or excuse RW or anyone from neglect/lack of care. if davern didn't act to save/find her, my thinking is still that RW played director and called the shots that night... as he did in demanding the wine be brought to the restaurant. this tells me he is a control freak... and i subsequently believe the comments he didn't want the publicity/attention after natalie went missing were accurate b/c of this. he would rather not have negative PR (ie control the situation) than make sure his wife was safe and sound on the yacht or elsewhere. sad.

 

[eve]

the drug is listed in her autopsy pg 22...

i believe the way it's listed was to make sure she was tested for these things but maybe it was misinterpreted by poster(s) here and some thought it was in her system?

it says "cocaine, codeine, morphine" under barbituates so i would presume they wanted her tested for those specifically ?

then later on pg 24 the test for barbituates comes back on dec 3/81 as "ND" or Not Detected


i believe any partying (drugs, alcohol) did influence judgment... but it does not imo justify or excuse RW or anyone from neglect/lack of care. if davern didn't act to save/find her, my thinking is still that RW played director and called the shots that night... as he did in demanding the wine be brought to the restaurant. this tells me he is a control freak... and i subsequently believe the comments he didn't want the publicity/attention after natalie went missing were accurate b/c of this. he would rather not have negative PR (ie control the situation) than make sure his wife was safe and sound on the yacht or elsewhere. sad.

I thought the writing on the report I saw was hard to read but think it was "ND" by cocaine -- not detected.

I agree RW = director and HUSBAND. I agree-- it looks to me like many mistakes made by all, but buck stops with him, imo. I think at the least he didn't exert himself much in rescuing or finding her because of fear of scandal and repercussions.

Eve

 

[Columbo]

someone commented on the eight prescriptions...

darvon-- pain med
placidyl-- insomnia
dalmane-- insomnia
optimine-- antihistamine
metahydrin-- hypertension
antivert-- motion sickness
synthroid-- thyroid regulation
bacrtim-- antibiotic (ear infections/UTIs)

they were all legal, prescribed and for legitimate ailments/issues. i don't see a problem.

additionally, according to the autopsy report, her liver was normal and healthy. i'm sure some might suggest that there are those with addiction/drug/alcohol problems who do not manifest unhealthy livers, but i take the info for what it's worth.

I agree,redheadedgal, all those prescriptions were completely legitimate and not all found in her body at the time of death. Darvon used to be used for extreme menstrual cramps, and maybe it still is. Obviously she had a thyroid issue or she wouldn't have taken Synthroid! etc,etc.

People often get a prescription from a doctor, fill the prescription, and then never use it. So if you got a list of drug prescriptions from their pharmacy it would show all kinds of stuff. For example, every time I have a dental procedure and the dentist prescribes vicodin, I fill the prescription, even though I hate vicodin and know I won't use it, I'm afraid that this time I might need it for the pain!

You're right, the autopsy said she was healthy and well-nourished, and her internal organs were all healthy. When she was alive, you could just look at her and see she was not drugged,drunk, or wasted, like the obvious examples of unfortunate Hollywood types who ended up that way. Compare Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz to Judy Garland at Natalie's age. The aging and other external results of drugs and liquor were obvious. Natalie was bright-eyed and healthy looking all her life.

 

[Columbo]

the drug is listed in her autopsy pg 22...

i believe the way it's listed was to make sure she was tested for these things but maybe it was misinterpreted by poster(s) here and some thought it was in her system?

it says "cocaine, codeine, morphine" under barbituates so i would presume they wanted her tested for those specifically ?

then later on pg 24 the test for barbituates comes back on dec 3/81 as "ND" or Not Detected


i believe any partying (drugs, alcohol) did influence judgment... but it does not imo justify or excuse RW or anyone from neglect/lack of care. if davern didn't act to save/find her, my thinking is still that RW played director and called the shots that night... as he did in demanding the wine be brought to the restaurant. this tells me he is a control freak... and i subsequently believe the comments he didn't want the publicity/attention after natalie went missing were accurate b/c of this. he would rather not have negative PR (ie control the situation) than make sure his wife was safe and sound on the yacht or elsewhere. sad.

bolded by me.

That's right, neither cocaine nor barbiturates were found in her system.

It's just a really sad story. I think you're right about RW wanting to control every situation, and being so afraid of negative PR that he didn't search for Natalie right away. I also can't imagine demanding someone (a friend) go out of their way like that to bring him a wine when the restaurant had perfectly good wines. It seems like he wanted to prove he was big by ordering people around.

 

[redheadedgal]

then later on pg 24 the test for barbituates comes back on dec 3/81 as "ND" or Not Detected

it was late last night when i typed this and i erred...

i meant to type "the test for cocaine, codeine, morphine comes back on dec 3/81 as "ND"...



sorry for any confusion:seeya:

 

[redheadedgal]

I also can't imagine demanding someone (a friend) go out of their way like that to bring him a wine when the restaurant had perfectly good wines. It seems like he wanted to prove he was big by ordering people around.

maybe to show his dining companions who's boss?

and when i think of the control issue i have to consider too the smashing of the wine bottle... people do things like that b/c they're p*ssed off and want to show frustration... maybe to even get the desired result. he was not happy with whoever was in the room with him and he needed to show his power. makes me wonder what else he did-- either to NW or DD.*

*i do not necessarily mean physical violence... but threats, intimidation, etc

 

[Columbo]

it was late last night when i typed this and i erred...

i meant to type "the test for cocaine, codeine, morphine comes back on dec 3/81 as "ND"...



sorry for any confusion:seeya:

No confusion! :seeya:

 

[Columbo]

maybe to show his dining companions who's boss?

and when i think of the control issue i have to consider too the smashing of the wine bottle... people do things like that b/c they're p*ssed off and want to show frustration... maybe to even get the desired result. he was not happy with whoever was in the room with him and he needed to show his power. makes me wonder what else he did-- either to NW or DD.*

*i do not necessarily mean physical violence... but threats, intimidation, lack of care, etc

That certainly could be the case--he wanted to show them who was boss. I think he may have been really jealous of Natalie and felt insecure, as if he could lose her to CW ?

The more I think about the wine bottle smashing--wow--how many people would do something like that? It really is a power move by someone who is very angry. The alcohol probably helped bring it out, too. I guess the need to prove he was powerful ruled a lot of his actions...."don't use the searchlights" , "don't call for help".

 

[redheadedgal]

I think he may have been really jealous of Natalie and felt insecure, as if he could lose her to CW ?

the people magazine article i posted a few pages back written by the friend who traveled on the yacht with them (did you get the chance to read it? very interesting!) said emphatically how in love they were... maybe RW wasn't jealous/anxious of losing NW to CW per se but more like he didn't want anyone (except close friends and fam) encroaching too far into his territory* --- NW. plus i'm sure the alcohol just magnified any emotional issues... as you mentioned above.


* i.e. NW and CW were co-stars/ becoming friends but maybe RW didn't want her hanging out with too many other men b/c she was his wife... his beautiful glamorous movie star wife... mother of their child

 

[redheadedgal]

Compare Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz to Judy Garland at Natalie's age. The aging and other external results of drugs and liquor were obvious. Natalie was bright-eyed and healthy looking all her life.

vs.

 

[Zoe Bogart]

Interesting points all.

The talk of the demand for Soave Bolla got me wondering. Was it perhaps a ploy to get DD and CW out of the restaurant so he could speak to his wife alone? After all, she had spent the previous night away from him in a hotel room she shared with DD. Maybe he wanted quite time with his wife, for whatever reason?

Yes, I know a restaurant isn't a private place but maybe he just wanted to be out of earshot of DD and CW?

In my opinion, everyone lied about that night. Everyone had something to hide. Everyone was drinking, plus DD and CW are said to have taken their time on the Splendour to "smoke a joint".

No to mention it's illegal to operate any type of vessel while intoxicated, including a dinghy.

So why was it okay for them to claim "drinking" that night, but not okay for them to tell the entire truth? What the heck was going on???

 

[Zoe Bogart]

Originally Posted by Columbo View Post
Compare Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz to Judy Garland at Natalie's age. The aging and other external results of drugs and liquor were obvious. Natalie was bright-eyed and healthy looking all her life.

http://ca.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=slv1-msgr&va=natalie+wood


vs.

Judy was an obvious mess when I was a kid. While watching her TV show I used to ask my parents what was wrong with her. So, yes, the changes in her were so, so apparent.

The same thing could be said for other Hollywood celebrities, too, as well as for people who've never been famous, people who lived for drugs and/or alcohol. Alcohol and drugs can do horrible things to the human body. Although I guess it depends on each person, the length of time they used the stuff, and how their body reacts to it.

In retrospect, I think Natalie was a much stronger person mentally and physically than Judy G.