Robert Wagner not a suspect in Natalie Wood death

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department refuses to give any specifics about its new investigation into the 30-year-old drowning death of actress Natalie Wood— except to say that her husband, actor Robert Wagner, is not a suspect.

Lt. John Corina, the lead detective on the case, said at a news conference Friday that his office has received "substantial information" prompting the sheriff's department to take another look into one of Hollywood's great mysteries, which was ruled an accidental drowning 30 years ago.

"Recently we received information which we felt was substantial enough to take another look at the case," Corina told more than 100 reporters outside the sheriff's office in Monterey Park. "The case has been assigned to two homicide investigators who will be following up on the information and any other new information."

But Corina stressed the investigation is very much in the initial stages.

"Right now her death has been ruled an accidental drowning. That's what it is. But if our investigation points to something else, I will address that. The information we received made us want to take another look at the case."

Wood, 43, drowned while boating off Catalina Island on Nov. 29, 1981. Her husband, Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken, her co-star in the film on which she was working, were on board the yacht Splendour, as was captain Dennis Davern.

In an interview with the Today show Friday morning, Davern said he had come forward to police with new information. "I made mistakes by not telling the honest truth in the (initial) police report," Davern said.

When asked if Wagner had more of a responsibility in the case, Davern said, "Yes, I would say so, yes." But he refused to elaborate.

Corina said that information prompting the re-opening of the case had come from "several sources. We have found it to be credible enough to take another look."

When asked directly if Wagner himself was a suspect, Corina simply gave an emphatic, "No."

In fact, Wagner's family had not even been contacted. "We're just opening the investigation," said Corina. "Sooner or later we will be contacting his family."

Corina was asked whether publicity about the 30th anniversary of Wood's death is playing a role in the case's re-opening. "The date is inconsequential to us," said Corina. "It may have jarred people's memories, since it's been in the media. So it might be how the timing relates to us."

Wagner released a statement saying his family would give "full support" to the investigation. But he added the hope that the new information "would come from a credible source or sources other than those simply trying to profit from the 30 year anniversary of the tragic death."

Ironically, Wagner is due to appear on the CBS crime drama NCIS on Tuesday, playing a potential murder suspect trying to prove his innocence.

The Hollywood Reporter says that even though police indicate they do not consider Walken a suspect in the inquiry, he has hired former federal prosecutor Mathew Rosengart to represent him.

Davern has said for years that the official account of Wood's disappearance was not what really happened, including in a 1992 appearance on a Geraldo Rivera special and in a 2000 Vanity Fair piece. He also worked with author and friend Marti Rulli on Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour, a book released last year.

In the Vanity Fair story, Davern is quoted as saying that Wood and Wagner fought in their cabin before the actress disappeared. Coroner's officials ruled her death an accidental drowning, perhaps caused by her slipping off the boat while trying to tie down a dinghy.

She was found wearing a flannel nightgown, socks and a red down jacket and Davern identified her body for authorities, according to an autopsy report. Her body had superficial bruises, according to the report, but those were considered consistent with drowning.

Her death sparked tabloid speculation that foul play was involved, but Wagner and Wood's sister have dismissed any suggestion the actress' death was anything more than an accident. Coroner's officials at the time agreed, writing that Wood was "possibly attempting to board the dinghy and had fallen into the water, striking her face."

Wood received Academy Award nominations for Rebel Without a Cause (supporting) and Splendor in the Grass and Love with the Proper Stranger. She was 43 when she died. She and Wagner were twice married, first in 1957 before divorcing six years later. They remarried in 1972.source

The Associated Press contributed to this report.