Natalie Wood, Unforgettable In Life And Death

BEVERLY HILLS—Last week Canyon News spoke exclusively with Roger, Smith, who was the Supervising Rescue Boat Captain for Isthmus, Catalina Island, which was involved with the recovery of Natalie Wood’s body on November 29, 1981. Smith told Canyon News that he did not see any bruises on Wood’s body, and stated that no one else saw them either.

Although Roger Smith’s account certainly was very revealing, when discussing how the lack of an investigation was decided upon early on in the case, Splendour yacht captain and longtime Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner friend, Dennis Davern expressed his concerns over the facts and evidence being given to the public about the case. “I cannot speak for anyone else’s account, only my own, Tommy. However, I stated to you and previously about the bruises I saw on Natalie’s body, and the first thing that came to my mind was the violent argument I overheard in the master stateroom the night before Natalie went missing,” said Davern.

“When I was led to Natalie, I saw her coat across her body. I didn’t know if she was found wearing it or if it was found near her. Later I found out she was wearing her coat. Before the man who was standing near her body showed me her face, I noticed her exposed arm. She had bruises on her arms. I saw several,” Dennis Davern said. “I looked at her from head to toe and saw bruises near her ankles. The rest of her body was covered, including with her coat. When I saw her face, there was a large scrape on her cheek. I will never forget that moment. Her face looked at peace, but I cried because I knew she suffered.”

Exclusive Autopsy Sketch By LA Coroner (Frontal)

Davern spoke exclusively with Canyon News today in response to an interview Roger Smith gave to me on Tuesday, September 27. ( http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/publish/beverlyhills/Natalie_Wood_Investigation_Shocker_Exclusive.php) Smith said in part, “As you know, Tommy, I did take her to the U.S.C Marine Science Center to avoid taking her through the public at Two Harbors. I was a treatment supervisor for scuba diving accidents. So I was very familiar with the facility. I laid Natalie at the entrance platform and the deputy and I took off her Down Jacket, and we had to check her out for any foul play. That is when we found out she had nothing on under her full length night gown. We looked carefully for anything unusual and did not find any bruising as suggested in Marti’s book.” Adding, “I closed her eyes which was very easy to do. When I looked at her she did not look like she had been deceased that long, as I had seen before in drowning victims. We covered her up with a disposable blanket. I took off her rings and jewelry while we waited for what I thought would be Wagner for I.D. purposes. Instead the captain of the boat arrived! I pulled down the blanket from her face and he said yes that is her. I gave him her jewelry and he left. He did not see any other part of her and I always wondered why he said he did in the book? And I was also disappointed why Wagner did not come over,” said Smith.

Though the accounts on that day are often disputed, obviously due to the emotions everyone must have been going through when Natalie Wood’s body was found and a part of American and Hollywood history would be forever changed. Canyon News has obtained exclusive and authentic documentation of sketches from the official autopsy of Wood, and although it is not normally in good taste to make those documents public. It is important to prove facts of the case when there are discrepancies between parties.

Davern and Smith will have to reconcile their differing accounts and observations, however, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office did declare Natalie Wood’s death an accidental drowning, and Robert Wagner has always maintained that he gave his full account of what happened to his late wife before her death and has consistently denied any wrongdoing in this matter.

Exclusive Autopsy Sketch By LA Coroner (Rear)

The case expert and author of “Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour,” Marti Rulli tells Canyon News, “I am glad that you and Canyon News always print people’s accounts of their side of the story. However, I have done extensive research on this subject for nearly 30 years, and I can assure you, there were many bruises on Natalie’s body. The fact that there are so many stories about the case means that it was not properly investigated or solved for that matter. And we intend to be in touch soon with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to see where this matter stands,” concluded author Rulli.

Canyon News can report exclusively that CBS’s “48 Hours” news magazine will be featuring a segment on Saturday, November 26, on the 30^th anniversary of the famed actress’s tragic death. Canyon News has an exclusive interview with Marti Rulli about the upcoming segment.