Natalie Wood

BEVERLY HILLS—Marti Rulli just returned from St. Augustine, Florida where she and Splendour yacht captain Dennis Davern sat down with CBS’s “48 Hours” to recreate that fateful night when film star, wife and mother Natalie Wood died off the coast of California near Catalina Island, where she and actor husband Robert Wagner were entertaining Natalie’s co-star Christopher Walken just hours before her lifeless body was found in the water. Canyon News has confirmed this information exclusively from CBS, that a major mystery segment is planned for the 30^th anniversary of Wood’s death.

The night surrounding Natalie’s death will be recreated on Tuesday, November 26 on CBS when respected producer Liza Finley, who happens to be the niece of the late author, producer and journalist Dominick Dunne, who we all knew and loved from his many crime story dispatches in Vanity Fair magazine as well as his own TV series “Power, Privilege and Justice” on TRU TV. “Dominick was one of Natalie’s friends. I had an opportunity to spend some spare time with Liza, and no matter what she chooses to use from our interviews, I am not apprehensive because I could sense her sensibility that simply shines through on certain people, as it always seemed to with her late uncle, Dominick. I was told by my former editor that our book ‘Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour’ is the last book Dominick Dunne read before he passed on. They had sent him a galley proof and I was told his comment was that he was, ‘glad the truth of Natalie’s death is now available.’ Of course, since that time, E-Reads has become our publisher for the paperback and e-versions that also include Coast Guard Captain Roger Smith’s compelling, detailed account of bringing Natalie's body to shore,” said Rulli.

St. Augustine Marina where 48 Hours interviewed Rulli And Davern

Also planned to be interviewed for the “48 Hours” mystery segment is Lana Wood, lead detective Duane Rasure, and Canyon News has also heard that Coroner Noguchi may finally end his silence on the case and contribute his input for this special segment coverage of the case. Marti Rulli added, “Hopefully, we’ll see a true effort in this planned segment to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the case. There will be scenes from Catalina Island and also shots of the yacht, Splendour, still named the Splendour in honor of Natalie.”

The St. Augustine location has been used to interview Rulli and Davern, and author Rulli said further, “This segment on Natalie’s death is planned to run on the anniversary of the exact Saturday night Natalie Wood was last seen 30 years ago while she was entertaining her co-star Christopher Walken in the main salon of her yacht Splendour. Dennis Davern and Robert Wagner were also in the main salon when Wagner became extremely jealous of Walken and smashed a wine bottle on the coffee table while accusing Walken of wanting to bed Natalie. The episode mortified Natalie and she angrily went to her master stateroom, and her husband followed. A loud and violent-sounding argument erupted that carried over to the rear deck. Minutes later, Natalie was gone, and gone forever.”

Dennis Davern And Wife, 2011, St. Augustine

“I believe this may be the most in-depth interview ever on the Natalie Wood case, although I realize much of it will end up on the editing floor, due to time allotment for the segment, but I answered questions about the investigation and Dennis answered questions about what he experienced on Natalie’s final weekend. Although Dennis and I are slotted for a segment of the proposed show, we were interviewed for hours, and we were interviewed separately. I was present to hear the pointed questions Dennis was asked, and I appreciate pointed questions because Natalie’s case never really received the type of questions our interviewer asked, and that’s what you want, you want to answer the hard questions because that’s how you get to truth. The audio and video technicians were top of the line, true professionals who have worked around the world for most of the major news shows, and they knew how to capture atmosphere as well as sincerity. I am looking forward to seeing the program myself. The interview was shot right on the docks in St. Augustine where Dennis works his marina business he has operated for the past 15 years,” said Marti Rulli.

When asked about the status of the review process by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, which includes Rulli and Lana Wood having submitted statements from several new witnesses and requested a reopening of this case. Rulli concluded, “Tommy, I will check with the sheriff's department soon to learn if they’ve taken the statements seriously, crucial evidence submitted by key witnesses who were ignored in the initial investigation. The petition is still open for signatures, and I believe it is imperative to bring the truth of Natalie Wood’s death to the public. Natalie deserves the dignity of her life and the circumstances of her death to be attached to her legacy. The show is planned to air on the Saturday night following Thanksgiving, November 26, which is the exact night of the Thanksgiving weekend of 1981 that Natalie mysteriously went missing from her luxury yacht.”

Dennis Davern and Marti Rulli with 48 Hours Mystery Crew

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