Saturday, January 19, 2013
Natalie Wood case to be discussed tonight on "Geraldo at Large"
NOTE FOR BELOW: My segment was canceled due to the breaking news in Algeria I was told: if rescheduled, will post details.
I'm looking forward to appearing on "Geraldo At Large" tonight at 10PM, est., Fox News, to discuss the facts of the Natalie Wood case and all that has transpired this past week regarding the case. Hope you'll tune-in.
I'm looking forward to appearing on "Geraldo At Large" tonight at 10PM, est., Fox News, to discuss the facts of the Natalie Wood case and all that has transpired this past week regarding the case. Hope you'll tune-in.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Natalie Wood article: Robert Wagner's response to news release he has not cooperated with new investigation
http://www.eonline.com/news/379814/natalie-wood-death-investigation-robert-wagner-won-t-be-interviewed-again-new-leads-being-pursued
In this article Wagner's attorney claims Wagner has cooperated for the past 31 years concerning Natalie Wood's death. Attorney claims the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept efforts are based on those who want to sensationalize and exploit Natalie's death.
Fact is, Wagner went through two brief interviews during the initial investigation in 1981. Since then, he has only talked about Natalie's death publicly when he chose to, which I observed happened only when he wanted to promote his book release in 2008. In his book and during his book tour he hardly broached the pressing questions in the mystery of his late wife's tragedy.
I spent over 25 years trying to get the Wood case reopened. When it finally happened in Nov. 2011, Wagner's released statement was that he 'welcomed the investigation' -- as long as it wasn't based on those trying to profit. Now, after NOT cooperating with the authorities he lamely still blames Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour for the reason he is being called out in the press. This author is not responsible for the multiple bruises on Natalie Wood's body that the current L.A. Coroner has determined curious enough to change the status of Natalie's death certificate from accident to undetermined so that the LASD can continue with their investigation.
Wagner has NOT cooperated with the NEW investigation, and in this article claims he has been fielding questions for decades. Fielding is an appropriate word. He has not only dodged questions in interviews and in his book, he has dodged the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
My goal had always been to get Natalie's case into competent, professional hands. When that happened, I was gratified the authorities took over. What is in the news now comes from the professionals. They are not exploiting, nor sensationlizing. They want answers. This article makes it clear, none will come from Wagner.
In this article Wagner's attorney claims Wagner has cooperated for the past 31 years concerning Natalie Wood's death. Attorney claims the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept efforts are based on those who want to sensationalize and exploit Natalie's death.
Fact is, Wagner went through two brief interviews during the initial investigation in 1981. Since then, he has only talked about Natalie's death publicly when he chose to, which I observed happened only when he wanted to promote his book release in 2008. In his book and during his book tour he hardly broached the pressing questions in the mystery of his late wife's tragedy.
I spent over 25 years trying to get the Wood case reopened. When it finally happened in Nov. 2011, Wagner's released statement was that he 'welcomed the investigation' -- as long as it wasn't based on those trying to profit. Now, after NOT cooperating with the authorities he lamely still blames Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour for the reason he is being called out in the press. This author is not responsible for the multiple bruises on Natalie Wood's body that the current L.A. Coroner has determined curious enough to change the status of Natalie's death certificate from accident to undetermined so that the LASD can continue with their investigation.
Wagner has NOT cooperated with the NEW investigation, and in this article claims he has been fielding questions for decades. Fielding is an appropriate word. He has not only dodged questions in interviews and in his book, he has dodged the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
My goal had always been to get Natalie's case into competent, professional hands. When that happened, I was gratified the authorities took over. What is in the news now comes from the professionals. They are not exploiting, nor sensationlizing. They want answers. This article makes it clear, none will come from Wagner.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Robert Wagner Refuses to Co-operate in Natalie Wood Investigation: Associated Press Article
Robert Wagner Not Interviewed In New Wood Inquiry
LOS ANGELES (AP) — 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 Thursday.
Wagner was interviewed by authorities soon after Wood's drowning 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, sheriff's Lt. John Corina said.
Blair Berk, an attorney for Wagner and his family, said the actor had cooperated 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 Corina said the actor's representatives have 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 cooperated over the last 30 years in the investigation of the accidental drowning of his wife in 1981," 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, Berk said, neither Wagner nor his daughters have any new information to add. She said the latest investigation was prompted by people seeking to exploit and sensationalize the 30th anniversary of the death.
The renewed inquiry came after the yacht's captain Dennis Davern told "48 Hours" and the "Today" show 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, Christopher Walken and the boat captain on Thanksgiving weekend of 1981 before she somehow ended up in the water.
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.
Corina said detectives have tried at least 10 times to interview Wagner but have been refused. He said some of the refusals have come from the actor's attorney, and that detectives at one point traveled to Colorado to try to speak with Wagner but were unsuccessful.
Corina said the latest inquiry had turned up new evidence.
"Most of the people we've talked to were never talked to 30 years ago," he said. "We've got a lot of new information."
Asked if the information might lead to criminal charges, Corina said that would be up to prosecutors if they are presented a case.
"All we can do is collect the facts," he said. "We're still trying to collect all the facts."
Corina said new people have emerged with information each time the case is in the news. Detectives would like to interview other people who haven't agreed to talk, he said.
Coroner's officials released an update autopsy report on Monday that detailed the reasons Wood's death certificate was changed last year from a drowning death to "drowning and other undetermined factors."
The updated report states the change was made in part because investigators couldn't rule out that some of the bruises and marks on Wood's body happened before she went into the water.
"Since there are unanswered questions and limited additional evidence available for evaluation, it is opined by this medical examiner that the manner of death should be left as undetermined," Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran wrote in the report completed in June.
Officials also considered that Wood wasn't wearing a life jacket, had no history of suicide attempts and didn't leave a note as reasons to amend the death certificate.
Wood was famous for roles in films such as "West Side Story" and "Rebel Without a Cause" and was nominated for three Academy Awards.
Conflicting versions of what happened on the yacht have contributed to the mystery of her death. Wood, Wagner and Walken had all been drinking heavily in the hours before the actress disappeared.
Wagner wrote in a 2008 memoir that he and Walken argued that night. He wrote that Walken went to bed and he stayed up for a while, but when he went to bed, he noticed that his wife and a dinghy that had been attached to the yacht were missing.
"Nobody knows," he wrote. "There are only two possibilities; either she was trying to get away from the argument, or she was trying to tie the dinghy. But the bottom line is that nobody knows exactly what happened."
Wagner was interviewed by authorities soon after Wood's drowning 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, sheriff's Lt. John Corina said.
Blair Berk, an attorney for Wagner and his family, said the actor had cooperated 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 Corina said the actor's representatives have 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 cooperated over the last 30 years in the investigation of the accidental drowning of his wife in 1981," 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, Berk said, neither Wagner nor his daughters have any new information to add. She said the latest investigation was prompted by people seeking to exploit and sensationalize the 30th anniversary of the death.
The renewed inquiry came after the yacht's captain Dennis Davern told "48 Hours" and the "Today" show 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, Christopher Walken and the boat captain on Thanksgiving weekend of 1981 before she somehow ended up in the water.
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.
Corina said detectives have tried at least 10 times to interview Wagner but have been refused. He said some of the refusals have come from the actor's attorney, and that detectives at one point traveled to Colorado to try to speak with Wagner but were unsuccessful.
Corina said the latest inquiry had turned up new evidence.
"Most of the people we've talked to were never talked to 30 years ago," he said. "We've got a lot of new information."
Asked if the information might lead to criminal charges, Corina said that would be up to prosecutors if they are presented a case.
"All we can do is collect the facts," he said. "We're still trying to collect all the facts."
Corina said new people have emerged with information each time the case is in the news. Detectives would like to interview other people who haven't agreed to talk, he said.
Coroner's officials released an update autopsy report on Monday that detailed the reasons Wood's death certificate was changed last year from a drowning death to "drowning and other undetermined factors."
The updated report states the change was made in part because investigators couldn't rule out that some of the bruises and marks on Wood's body happened before she went into the water.
"Since there are unanswered questions and limited additional evidence available for evaluation, it is opined by this medical examiner that the manner of death should be left as undetermined," Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran wrote in the report completed in June.
Officials also considered that Wood wasn't wearing a life jacket, had no history of suicide attempts and didn't leave a note as reasons to amend the death certificate.
Wood was famous for roles in films such as "West Side Story" and "Rebel Without a Cause" and was nominated for three Academy Awards.
Conflicting versions of what happened on the yacht have contributed to the mystery of her death. Wood, Wagner and Walken had all been drinking heavily in the hours before the actress disappeared.
Wagner wrote in a 2008 memoir that he and Walken argued that night. He wrote that Walken went to bed and he stayed up for a while, but when he went to bed, he noticed that his wife and a dinghy that had been attached to the yacht were missing.
"Nobody knows," he wrote. "There are only two possibilities; either she was trying to get away from the argument, or she was trying to tie the dinghy. But the bottom line is that nobody knows exactly what happened."
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