Robert Wagner refuses to speak to police in renewed inquiry over death of Natalie Wood

By ANTHONY MCCARTNEY
Published on 19/01/2013 00:08

ACTOR Robert Wagner has ­declined to be interviewed by detectives in a renewed inquiry into the drowning death of his wife Natalie Wood three decades ago, an investigator said.

Wagner was interviewed by authorities soon after Wood’drowned in 1981, but the actor is the only person who was on the yacht the night Wood died who has not spoken to detectives as part of the latest inquiry, despite repeated requests and attempts, Lt John Corina said.

Blair Berk, a lawyer for Wagner and his family, said the actor had co-operated with authorities since his wife died.

Detectives began re-investigating the case in November 2011. Since then, investigators have interviewed more than 100 people, but Wagner has refused and Lt Corina said the actor’s representatives had not given any reason for his silence.

The detective’s remarks provided new insight into the case that has remained one of Hollywood’s enduring mysteries. Earlier this week, coroner’s officials released an updated autopsy report that had been under a security hold. It detailed why Wood’s death had been reclassified from an accidental drowning to a drowning caused by “undetermined factors”.

“Mr Wagner has fully co-operated over the past 30 years in the investigation of the accidental drowning of his wife in 1981,” Mr Berk said in a prepared ­statement.

“Mr Wagner has been interviewed on multiple occasions by the Los Angeles sheriff’s department and answered every single question asked of him by detectives during those interviews.”

After 30 years, Mr Berk said, neither Wagner nor his daughters had any new information to add. He said the latest investigation was prompted by people seeking to exploit and sensationalise the 30th anniversary of the death.

The renewed inquiry came after the yacht’s captain, Dennis Davern, told American media that he heard Wagner and Wood arguing the night of her disappearance and believed Wagner was to blame for her death. Authorities have not identified any suspects in the case.

Wood, 43, was on a yacht with Wagner, actor Christopher Walken and the boat captain on Thanksgiving weekend of 1981 before she somehow ended up in the water.

Lt Corina said Walken gave a prepared statement and spoke to detectives for an hour.

Detectives have also interviewed other actors who knew both Wagner and Wood to learn more about their relationship. Lt Corina said detectives had tried at least ten times to interview Wagner, but have been refused.