Official Says Wagner Is Not A Suspect In Natalie Wood's Death
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles County sheriff's detective says Robert Wagner is not a suspect in the 1981 death of his wife, actress Natalie Wood.
Lt. John Corina has told a press conference Friday that new information is substantial enough to take another look at the case.
Wood's body was found floating off Santa Catalina Island as the couple were on a boating excursion. The death was ruled an accidental drowning.
Corina was asked if Wagner is a suspect and the detective said no.
However, earlier Friday, the skipper who was captaining the yacht Wood and Wagner were on when she died said he blames Wagner for the actress' drowning.
Dennis Davern tells NBC-TV's "Today" show on Friday that he made mistakes by not telling the truth about events leading to the 1981 Thanksgiving weekend death of the actress.
The Splendour was at the island with Wagner and Wood and her "Brainstorm" co-star Christopher Walken aboard.
Davern says he urged Los Angeles County sheriff's homicide investigators to reopen the case.
The Sheriff's Department announced Thursday that the case has been reopened.
Davern says he believes Wagner had intentionally kept the investigation into her death low-profile and he says he believes Wagner is responsible for Wood's death.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
