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

[eve]

So the boat was moved to a more secluded spot? I thought Natalie didn't want it moved. I'm wondering how Natalie's cries for help were heard, then?

She reportedly didn't want it moved and she even talked of finding a seaplane out. They did move it. There was another boat anchored near theirs, the "ear witness."

Moving to a more secluded spot is something I've often seen when there are many boats anchored in an area. Can be a good idea if you want some rest and quiet, or privacy! Sailors, especially, will often move away from partying power boats (lol), at least around here. They often get up earlier. The sailors, that is.

On the other hand, it's much more convenient (and maybe safer, too) to anchor where there is more civilization (restaurants, etc.). The closer the better, too, since you have to take a dinghy in.

One thing I wanted to say about dinghy travel is that it is generally a real pain. I am NOT fearful of water, can swim well, can drive most any boat, and I don't much like the "dinghy-ing in" that has to be done while on the big boats if you want to go to shore. I would never have taken a dinghy alone in the dark on any of our trips. It isn't even considered safe to "dinghy" (or swim) alone, for that matter! Now I guess it depends on the dinghy, but many are flimsy and slippery. They are low and close to the water. A water-phobe would not like them much.

I just can't believe NW would voluntarily do the dinghy thing by herself in the dark. I don't think she was trying to fix a noisy dinghy. I think she was on the back deck arguing with her husband, which I think was connected to their stateroom. I think she was inside before that, to change into night clothes, but she went back out or he got her to come back out and she wore her coat to do so. Maybe she was fully into particpating in the fight or maybe she was trying to get him to come in and stop making a scene. I think CW crashed first.

The only way I can see her messing with that dinghy is if she was in utter fear for her life and had no other escape. I also can't see why, if she were in fear, that she wouldn't seek help from DD or CW. I think they were arguing and it turned ugly. She had probably dealt with these fights with RW before. DD probably had too. I doubt she thought her life was in danger. I doubt DD did either, and he had been ordered away by RW. That had probably happened before too.

Whether it was an intentionally pushing overboard or an accident, I doubt we will ever know. She was pretty banged up. If it is true RW delayed getting help, or discouraged searching, I think that can be verified. I still don't see consistent time lines on who was called when. Why would he delay, if he did?

Eve

 

[Chewy]

She wouldn't have done it herself. And frankly if she were mad at RW it makes the most sense that she would have gone to DD who had taken her in the dingy early, either to tie it up or to take her to shore. Since she was dressed in a nightgown and socks I doubt she planned to go to shore.

So it seems like DD ought to be looked at very closely for foul play.


Also I found this

My husband James Wyatt and our three teenagers Noelle, Charlotte and Billy were all aboard my Catalina 27 moored about 200 feet from the boat Natalie Wood was on the night she died. We had gone ashore to Dougs to have dinner and buy groceries and rowed back out to our boat around 10:30 pm. When we had just gotten through stowing our groceries, we heard a man shouting “Natalie”, but we never did hear any woman screaming for help. We all went to sleep and contacted the Harbor Patrol in the morning when we heard what had happened and they did not even want to talk to us. They said it was an accidental drowning.

POSTED BY: CHARLENE DRYER | NOVEMBER 21, 2011, 12:03 PM 12:03 PM

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/enterta...e-woods-cries-for-help-on-night-actress-died/


Could be BS but should be able to be checked out very easily.

Another reason that this should be reopened is that the woman in the other boat stated they called Harbor Patrol TWICE and they received no help. So if RW had called he wouldn't have likely got help either .

This is a problem with protocol as well. So perhaps these issues are what caused to have the case be reopened.

 

[Cazzie]

I don't see why DD should be looked at for foul play, except in the concept of a full re-investigation. Surely he wouldn't have written his book in 2009, and come forward in the media now (2011), and like a couple other posters said, surely he would have just gone about his life, not wanting to draw any more attention to the whole thing.

Just speculating, but perhaps someone(s) is/was not happy about his book (written with co-author) and has put pressure on him, and thus he is coming forward again. Almost a self-preservation act, which might be misguided. But, surely if "something" happens to him and/or co-author, LE will possibly know where to look.

I totally think that RW's "people's" statement, especially the "...anyone who is looking to profit from the 30th anniversary of Natalie's death" is an attempt to discredit and demean DD and his revelations. It's not working (not with me, anyway).

But I'm open to whatever the re-opening of the investigation brings out. Just hoping for no more coverup.

I believe DD when he said "I just didn't want my whole life to go by without telling the truth about this" and "I just want to give Natalie a voice". (not direct quotes)

 

[oceanblueeyes]

When detectives finally board Natalie Wood’s former watercraft -- if they haven’t already -- they will seek to examine such things as distances between stateroom cabins, the deck, and the other areas on the boat, as well as the location of the ramp used for boarding the dinghy she is alleged to have clung to. Doing this aids them in determining more accurate logical time sequences between events alleged to have occurred that night.

It can also help them more easily judge the potential awareness of each member on board to the others’ comings and goings -- and sounds -- based upon where they were at on the vessel at each stage of the night.

Detectives will most likely evaluate the ability to hear sounds from each location on the boat as well, placing a man at various locations on board while another person calls from the location Natalie is believed to have fallen.

http://www.examiner.com/criminal-pr...e-scene-reconstruction-and-witness-statements

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Not sure that's going to help unless they get all they use drunk and drugged people to place in various areas.

Using sober people will not give the same results IMO.

 

[Cazzie]

Not sure that's going to help unless they get all they use drunk and drugged people to place in various areas.

Using sober people will not give the same results IMO.

Well that would be a fun exercise and perks for LE personnel. j/k

I really don't want Natalie to be "written off" with "oh well, everyone was drunk and/or high".

Hoping the LE investigation will be thorough.

 

[eve]

She wouldn't have done it herself. And frankly if she were mad at RW it makes the most sense that she would have gone to DD who had taken her in the dingy early, either to tie it up or to take her to shore. Since she was dressed in a nightgown and socks I doubt she planned to go to shore.

So it seems like DD ought to be looked at very closely for foul play.


Also I found this




http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/enterta...e-woods-cries-for-help-on-night-actress-died/


Could be BS but should be able to be checked out very easily.

Another reason that this should be reopened is that the woman in the other boat stated they called Harbor Patrol TWICE and they received no help. So if RW had called he wouldn't have likely got help either .

This is a problem with protocol as well. So perhaps these issues are what caused to have the case be reopened.

Very good points and I too read the article you link. I think it was one of the better articles I have seen. If it is true that RW would not have received help if he had called, this should be revealed. But it will never change the effect of his not calling earlier (or earnestly) --- on many people's feelings and instincts about his culpability in this case.

It almost makes you wonder if there was some kind of interference in the rescue personnel's "willingness" to respond to the help calls.

Eve

 

[Chewy]

Very good points and I too read the article you link. I think it was one of the better articles I have seen. If it is true that RW would not have received help if he had called, this should be revealed. But it will never change the effect of his not calling earlier (or earnestly) --- on many people's feelings and instincts about his culpability in this case.

It almost makes you wonder if there was some kind of interference in the rescue personnel's "willingness" to respond to the help calls.

Eve

I take his not calling as something else. I think he thought she was fine. In fact DD states that RW conveyed to him that he thought she had gone to the port to the restaurant or something like that.

Again if you think about it, DD's story has more and more holes. On the one hand he says he saw Natalie Wood in her nightgown on the deck and then minutes later she was gone and RW convinced him that she had gone to shore.

But it was raining. And she was alone and the boat had no light.

And the captain knew this.


So by laying down the captains story and looking at his own words several times, he admits to ignoring NW as she was beaten up by RW and left in the water. He has comments that range from RW saying that he thought she went to shore, to comments with Wagner saying "Leave her there, teach her a lesson."

Um I don't care how much someone paid me, if I knew someone couldn't swim and I had personally given them quaaludes early in the evening which DD in his own words admits, I would be out there looking for them. Not getting drunk and ignoring them for 2 hours.

To me it seems more logical that DD knew something went down and told RW that she went to shore or allowed him to believe this.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Lifeguard Captain Still Believes Natalie Wood 'Could Have Been Saved'

Former county supervising rescue boat captain Roger Smith is optimistic that answers will be given over why lifeguards were not immediately alerted of the actress' disappearance in 1981.

Lifeguard captain, Roger Smith, who pulled Wood's body from the water is still under the impression that the actress could have been saved had a search began earlier, the Los Angeles Times reports. The former county supervising rescue boat captain was optimistic that by police reopening Wood's case, the investigation into her death would provide answers over why there was a lull before lifeguards were alerted of the actress' disappearance.

“Based on the condition of her body when we pulled her from the water, I believe she survived for sometime in the water and was blown out to sea. She probably cried for help for hours,” Smith said. “I’ve always believed she could have been saved. Her fingers were still pliable when she was pulled from the water, suggesting she had not been dead for hours.”

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/natalie-wood-death-investigation-lifeguard-captain-264991

 

[RubyBlu]

Well that would be a fun exercise and perks for LE personnel. j/k

I really don't want Natalie to be "written off" with "oh well, everyone was drunk and/or high".

Hoping the LE investigation will be thorough.

IA Cazzie,

There are many "oh well's" : 1) its been 30 yrs why bother? 2) leave it alone let NW RIP, 3) Davern's just promoting his book, duh

LE has something in their back pocket or they wouldn't be moving ahead w/the investigation. :twocents:

 

[eve]

IA Cazzie,

There are many "oh well's" : 1) its been 30 yrs why bother? 2) leave it alone let NW RIP, 3) Davern's just promoting his book, duh

LE has something in their back pocket or they wouldn't be moving ahead w/the investigation. :twocents:

I am beginning to agree that if they are investigating after the first two days or so after DD's appearance on Today and the other affidavits came to light, there must be a reason.

It has been 30 years. They would not out on a limb go casually, me thinks.

Eve

 

[Cazzie]

IA Cazzie,

There are many "oh well's" : 1) its been 30 yrs why bother? 2) leave it alone let NW RIP, 3) Davern's just promoting his book, duh

LE has something in their back pocket or they wouldn't be moving ahead w/the investigation. :twocents:

I hope you're right on your last sentence.

I'm just fantasizing, but what if someone made an audio recording (or took photos) and secured it away all these years? And they were reluctant to turn it in to LE for fear of retaliation from someone? That fantasy fits with what DD has said, and his demeanor on recent MSM videos. Just an idea that I hope pans out, for the sake of justice for Natalie. Like I said before, I hope that everyone coming forward has protection, even witness protection program.

There's still that elephant in the room. :angel:

Aside from fantasies, I really think the crux of the re-investigation is the witness testimonies back at the time that were apparently ignored and those statements by RW/DD/CW that were believed without proper investigation...by those in charge of the initial investigation. JMO. :twocents:

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I am beginning to agree that if they are investigating after the first two days or so after DD's appearance on Today and the other affidavits came to light, there must be a reason.

It has been 30 years. They would not out on a limb go casually, me thinks.

Eve

Perhaps they should fill the DA's office in. They are confused by all this according to a post up there^^^^^

 

[curiousjo]

I saw the interview with DD on a morning TV show and the evening show reviewing the NW drowning. If I recall correctly, DD said that the air was tense the entire weekend. RW was very jealous of CW. The arguing lead to NW asking DD to take her to shore that first night, where they both stayed at a local hotel. They returned the next morning, and NW tried to make peace by making breakfast for everyone. Later that night, CW and NW went to the local restaurant. RW walked in late and was upset to see them laughing at the bar. After dinner, they all went back to the boat. CW and NW continued to chat. RW got upset, broke a wine bottle on the table and asked - are you trying to F*** my wife? CW retired to his room. NW and RW went to a bedroom and fought, then went out on deck and continued to argue. DD tried to intervene, but RW sent him away. The arguing stopped, all was quiet. RW tells DD that NW is missing. They search the boat. DD thought she may have gone to his quarters or to see CW, but no luck. DD suggested turning on search lights and calling for help. RW said no, we are not going to do that. Guess he insinuated that NW had taken dingy to shore. They hung out and drank, DD felt uncormfortable. Finally, they called ashore to see if she was there, then eventually called coast guard. DD says that he wants to come clean with true story. He claims RW wanted to make sure they all told the same story and wanted this to be kept low key. DD admits lying to LE. He regrets how things went down that night. He seemed scared, didn't really want to talk - the co author filled in the details. I have to say that I believe DD. Who knows if NW slipped or was pushed or placed on dingy out of spite. On the previous night DD had taken NW to shore - I am sure he would have done so that night if she asked. In the end, we will probably never know. Its just too late. Since RW did not want the search lights turned on or call put out for help, then I have to wonder what the heck he did to her......

 

[eve]

Perhaps they should fill the DA's office in. They are confused by all this according to a post up there^^^^^

Or that's what they want people to think. That's their job right now, until LE gives them a case they can prosecute. And the press can go all over the place on this type of story.

Eve

 

[Chewy]

I hope you're right on your last sentence.

I'm just fantasizing, but what if someone made an audio recording (or took photos) and secured it away all these years? And they were reluctant to turn it in to LE for fear of retaliation from someone? That fantasy fits with what DD has said, and his demeanor on recent MSM videos. Just an idea that I hope pans out, for the sake of justice for Natalie. Like I said before, I hope that everyone coming forward has protection, even witness protection program.

There's still that elephant in the room. :angel:

Aside from fantasies, I really think the crux of the re-investigation is the witness testimonies back at the time that were apparently ignored and those statements by RW/DD/CW that were believed without proper investigation...by those in charge of the initial investigation. JMO. :twocents:

I'm wondering if they are letting DD talk and talk and talk.

When you reopen a case accusing someone of murder that's a very serious charge and they will definitely investigate it.

This reminds me of the 48 Hours Mystery involving the preacher that killed his wife. They were able to convict him based on his own testimony filmed by 48 Hours because of all the interviews he did not matching up to earlier statements.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

I don't see why DD should be looked at for foul play, except in the concept of a full re-investigation. Surely he wouldn't have written his book in 2009, and come forward in the media now (2011), and like a couple other posters said, surely he would have just gone about his life, not wanting to draw any more attention to the whole thing.

Just speculating, but perhaps someone(s) is/was not happy about his book (written with co-author) and has put pressure on him, and thus he is coming forward again. Almost a self-preservation act, which might be misguided. But, surely if "something" happens to him and/or co-author, LE will possibly know where to look.

I totally think that RW's "people's" statement, especially the "...anyone who is looking to profit from the 30th anniversary of Natalie's death" is an attempt to discredit and demean DD and his revelations. It's not working (not with me, anyway).

But I'm open to whatever the re-opening of the investigation brings out. Just hoping for no more coverup.

I believe DD when he said "I just didn't want my whole life to go by without telling the truth about this" and "I just want to give Natalie a voice". (not direct quotes)

I couldnt agree with you more, Cazzie. Dennis Davern has laid it all out there for the LAPD to see. He knows that the LAPD will investigate him as they should and yet hides nothing. He admits he made serious mistakes. He has already taken three polys and passed and I have no doubt whatsoever if the LAPD ask him to take one he will.

For some this seems to be more about blaming anyone BUT Wagner THE HUSBAND of Natalie Wood who did not seek help immediately.

It's the Blame Dennis Davern defense because he dared to tell what really happened.



imo

 

[Chewy]

oh Please it is not. It's about people picking and choosing which details to pay attention to and which to ignore instead of laying down everything DD has said and examining it.

And comparing it to other testimony.


And when you do that you see that DDs story doesn't make sense and is not corroborated by other witness testimony EXCLUDING the testimony of RW since I consider him a suspect.

CW and the woman in the other boat and the details on Natalie Wood DO NOT CORROBORATE what DD is saying.

But I'll suggest the opposite. It's about people being so sure that they have a Hinky feeling about RW so they have decided to ignore all the FACTS and look only at the gossip and speculation.


And finally DD DID NOT come forward with this information for 28 years. And the only reason he did is because Lana Wood was pushing and pushing because she didn't believe the version of the story from that night.

DD DID NOT COME FORWARD on his own to clear this up. Instead he moved in and befriended someone he now says murdered someone right in front of him.

Nice guy.

Funny how his story changed when RW didn't keep getting him jobs and paying him.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Or that's what they want people to think. That's their job right now, until LE gives them a case they can prosecute. And the press can go all over the place on this type of story.

Eve

What would be the purpose of misleading the public and showing discourse between the LE and DA on this story?

As far as the press goes, TMZ said this. IMO from following all sorts of stories / cases, TMZ is very accurate and very on top of things.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I couldnt agree with you more, Cazzie. Dennis Davern has laid it all out there for the LAPD to see. He knows that the LAPD will investigate him as they should and yet hides nothing. He admits he made serious mistakes. He has already taken three polys and passed and I have no doubt whatsoever if the LAPD ask him to take one he will.

For some this seems to be more about blaming anyone BUT Wagner THE HUSBAND of Natalie Wood who did not seek help immediately.

It's the Blame Dennis Davern defense because he dared to tell what really happened.



imo

Or perhaps it's those who feel this man is taking the opportunity to cash in on this case after 30 years.

30 YEARS! Almost to the date. Why? Why now?

He admits he lied back then. Ok. Was he being dishonest then or is he being dishonest now?
Either way, his credibility is lacking IMO.