New Natalie Wood Findings Change Original Cause of Death
by Shannon KeirnanThree decades have passed since the mysterious death of beautiful “West Side Story” actress Natalie Wood, but our interest in her drowning has yet to wane.
Enough interest remains, in fact, to reopen the case. In November of 2011, around the 30th anniversary of her death, her body was re-examined.
In 1981, the "Splendor in the Grass" actress, who could not swim, was boating with her husband Robert Wagner and friend and co-star Christopher Walken, when she went overboard off the Santa Catalina Islands. The body of the 43-year-old was found hours later.
In a report released Monday, the coroner who re-examined Wood, Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran, changed Wood’s cause of death from “accidental drowning” to “drowning and other undetermined factors.”
The report cited bruising that had been overlooked in the previous examination. While bruising had been reported, they were determined to be older bruises.
Now, however, bruising on Wood’s right forearm, left wrist, and right knee, as well as scratching and scrapes on her neck and forehead have been determined to be “fresh.” This indicates that Wood may have been assaulted before she went overboard.
There has not been enough evidence to classify the case as a crime, although there were “conflicting statements” at the time regarding when Wood disappeared, and whether or not she had argued with her husband that night--as the skipper of the yacht alleged--which have led to speculations of foul play.
The family of Natalie Wood, however, wishes people were less intrigued.
Wood’s daughter, Courtney Wagner, says, “There are certain people in our lives that continue to drudge up all this speculation and stories every year for no other reason than to indulge themselves. I was just casually watching E! "Fashion Police" recently and Joan Rivers referred to something being like ‘going to a pool party at Natalie Wood’s house’ and it was painful. I don’t see how anyone would find a distasteful comment like that funny.”
A friend of the family told Fox411, “It’s all very sad and painful for them to have to relive this again” and said the family just wishes “it could be let go so everyone could really move on.”