Natalie's bruises

Several emails have asked me to describe once more what Dennis saw by way of bruising when he identified Natalie's body. What I wrote in GNGS is what Dennis told me and is what he saw. He saw lots of bruises, as exactly how he described it to me over 20 years ago. I never once questioned him about it, but apparently, because Roger Smith did not see the numerous bruises all over Natalie's body, it now comes into question what Dennis saw.

Fact: I did not order Natalie's autopsy report or see it until about 10 years after Dennis told me about the bruises he saw. The autopsy report is what substantiated Dennis's story for me, and then his passing of a polygraph test solidified what he had told me about the bruises.

I cannot answer for Roger Smith the way he apparently answered for Dennis. I "suggested" NOTHING about Natalie's bruises. They are clearly indicated -- all of them -- on the autopsy report, exactly in the areas Dennis told me he saw them, which is WHY I ordered a copy of the autopsy to substantiate his claim.

Dennis was taken to Natalie by men he didn't recognize. He was led into the decompression chamber divers on that part of the Island use. Natalie was lying on a table and Dennis saw her arm EXPOSED. He looked and saw her plain pair of blue wool socks, not high socks, but regular short wool socks, and near the socks on her LEG, near her ankle, he saw bruises. He counted bruises...it was easy to CONSCIOUSLY count what he saw....the bruises were hard to miss. Therefore, we have no way of explaining how Roger Smith did not see them. The bruises existed.

Perhaps Roger Smith did not have Natalie covered as completely as he thought or remembers. I don't know. Dennis saw the bruises on Natalie's face, arm, and legs. Don't exactly know how else to tell it.

Natalie's coat was across her body, and Dennis had no idea who was with her who showed him her face. That Roger covered Natalie with a blanket was not something I ever investigated....I did not talk with Roger until after GNGS was published. Dennis and I never talked about a blanket until I heard it from Roger, and Dennis says, yes, there was probably a blanket....what he recalls most was the horrible task of having to identify Natalie, and SEEING THE BRUISES. I included Roger's account in an epilogue for the paperback new version because I believe his version is important, too. Roger is adding information to his account he never told me. I reported what I was told.

Roger let me know long ago that he had issues with how Dennis could have seen Natalie's bruises...and Dennis and I were fine with that. I believe Roger recalls what he recalls, but I don't see how he can answer for Dennis, because Dennis saw bruises on Natalie's body. In fact, when Dennis saw the bruises, first thing to come to mind was the fight in the stateroom. I called Dennis today, and he is answering this very question for Tommy Garrett's next article as well. This all lends to the importance of having Natalie's case reopened.

Also, I had no qualms with Roger's account because it's how he "saw" it. Just as Marilyn Wayne says there was a party on the beach or on another boat. Lyndon Taylor swears there were NO parties. I don't know who is right. But I do know Dennis saw Natalie's bruises. Roger didn't. How did Roger miss what everyone else saw? I can't and won't attempt to answer for him.

Natalie had bruises all over her body. Dennis saw SOME of them on her ARM, her LOWER LEG, and her FACE, and Dennis saw how she was dressed...the way she was pulled from the ocean. Parts of her legs and arms were exposed. In our 48 Hours interview, Dennis was asked what he did after he identified Natalie. His answer was that he cried.

You can expect our 48 Hours interview to bring facts to the table



The Conch House Lounge is where I gave my interview Tuesday morning, Sept. 27th

 This is where I was interviewed for over two hours with the producer of the 48 Hours program. There is an outside pier and pavillion in the rear of the small place and that's where Dennis was interviewed for over two hours as well the next evening. We left nothing out. I know our interviews will be edited, but we covered the essentials of the investigation into Natalie's death, and Dennis told his entire account of Natalie's final weekend.

I was told that Robert Wagner and Christopher Walken were approached and offered to include their accounts, but they, as expected, did not respond. Apparently, Walken's agent questioned why anyone would bother with a 30 year old case. I suppose he doesn't realize that the public always deserved so much more in regards to this quickly closed case that is clearly a case of "celebrity justice."

Years ago, Wagner had his daughter do a special on Natalie, and Gavin Lambert was behind a televised biography which ended with the theory that Natalie adjusted a banging dinghy and fell into the water. Those interviews were controlled by what Wagner approved of to be told, so whatever he did not want exposed or questioned was never told. I appreciate 48 Hours' interest in Natalie's 30 year old case.

As I said, we left nothing to the imagination in our important interviews. Even if only 10% makes it to air, that 10% will include the truth of what happened the night Natalie ended up in the ocean. We were asked a few hard questions, too, and we answered with our honest opinions.

There are others interested in the 30th anniversary as well. I will keep you posted.

CBS 48 Hours Mystery interview with Dennis and Marti

The Marina in St. Augustine where Dennis Davern works on many boats.

I returned home on Friday from spending the week in St. Augustine, Florida with Dennis Davern. We were interviewed for a CBS special segment of "48 Hours Mystery" to air on November 26, 2011, the Saturday night after Thanksgiving--the Saturday night Natalie Wood went missing from her yacht exactly 30 years ago.


The segment will coincide with a special release of Vanity Fair magazine -- a "best of" edition that includes Sam Kashner's March 2000 article on Natalie Wood's final weekend, when he interviewed Dennis and broke the story that indeed there had been an argument in the Wagner master stateroom that carried over to the back deck minutes before Natalie went missing.

We were interviewed by the producer of the show, Liza Finley, who happens to be Dominick Dunne's niece, and she asked pointed questions that were right on target. The camera/technician crew consisted of pure professionals (who work worldwide and for many of the most popular news shows such as 60 Minutes and major network magazine shows). We couldn't have been in better hands. I hope we will be portrayed as honestly as we offered our knowledge and witness accounts of what transpired the night Natalie left her yacht.

It was 40 years ago this very year that I met Dennis Davern at Jax Beach in Florida, just above St. Augustine Beach where we culminated our 40 year journey with our interviews. It was a poignant visit, and I did get to spend a day and night at Dennis's beautiful home. He has a wonderful family and his life in St. Augustine is so far beyond the haunting night of November 28th, 1981, but it was quite apparent that Dennis is still haunted by the happenings of that final, fateful weekend Natalie Wood experienced.

I've heard, but cannot confirm that Detective Rasure will also be interviewed for this show and that's exactly the way Dennis and I prefer. Let him answer why he ignored Natalie's bruises, why he ignored Marilyn Wayne and Roger Smith, and let him explain, finally, how he feels about learning that Dennis's account of the bottle smashing is indeed, confirmed by Robert Wagner himself twenty five years later. The show will also be filming from the actual Splendour and showing in comparison where Dennis just showed the crew the dinghy was tied with two lines to the yacht that night Natalie went "missing."

We will also stay on top of the LA County Sheriff's Department for an answer as to their intentions on reopening the case. The petition is still open for signatures and will remain open for an extended period of time.

Thank you to everyone for your continued support, and I want you all to know I've done all I can up to this point to try to bring Natalie justice. I truly hope the justice system will give Natalie the opportunity to have the truth connected to her history, her legacy. If not, "Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour" will always be available for those who care about truth and justice for Natalie Wood.

***

San Francisco News on Natalie Wood Investigation

All of the indicated markings on these Natalie Wood Autopsy diagrams show how many bruises she had on her body after being pulled from the ocean on the morning of November 29, 1981 

San Francisco News Natalie Wood Investigation Shocker, Exclusive


I am so grateful for the attention Natalie Wood's case is receiving as we near the 30th anniversary of the day she was robbed of life.

I understand that journalists, after interviewing many people to cover a story fairly, MUST report what they are told, and Tommy Garrett is the epitome of integrity and slants nothing: he reports what he learns in an interview.

It is Roger Smith who didn't see the bruises, but the medical examiner sure did, and although I do not like posting the diagrams shown here, these are actual diagrams from Natalie's autopsy report. How anyone could have missed this many bruises is beyond me, and Dennis sure didn't miss them because the largest bruise was on Natalie's face... a large abrasion, and it was Dennis who identified Natalie. Dennis saw leg bruises, too, and those were the same bruises the coroner saw and reported on the autopsy.

I do not "suggest" ANYTHING in "Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour" -- if I couldn't verify it, or back it up, it didn't go into the book. Natalie had bruises all over her body and Dennis saw some of them, and the coroner documented them. That's accuracy, not "suggestion."

Roger Smith is one of the most honest men I've ever encountered, so I also believe that he may have been ignoring the many black and blue marks, and smaller bruises as he looked for more prominent type wounds, but because he didn't see the bruises does not mean they didn't exist. Roger Smith is as haunted by Natalie's death as anyone involved, and I respect that he is willing to talk about it. But, as for Natalie's bruising, the autopsy report says it all!

Tommy Garrett Interviews Roger Smith

Canyon News - Natalie Wood Investigation Shocker, Exclusive

I found Tommy Garrett's interview with Roger Smith extremely revealing. Seems Wagner was all over the place with excuses as to why he waited over 4 hours to contact professional help to assist in finding his missing wife. Roger also recalls Wagner telling him that Natalie told him she was going to untie the dinghy lines. Wouldn't that have been vital information for this case? Wagner told Rasure he "had no idea what happened to Natalie."  Wagner also told Roger she might have gone off to party on another boat. Seems Wagner was extremely nervous when Smith and the Avalon Deputy reached the scene.

But, Roger was never interviewed by the detectives! It's just another huge flaw in Natalie's case and proves how important it truly is to give the case another look. Seems a lot more might have been revealed to the authorities ON THE SCENE had they thought to talk to the people who could have given them vital information.

Roger had told me he did check Natalie's body for gunshot or stab wounds. I have no idea how he missed the numerous bruises that the coroner marked in her autopsy report. When Dennis identified Natalie, he saw the numerous bruises on her ankles and her facial abrasion, and he noticed a scratch. Natalie did have over 25 bruises indicated in her autopsy.

More Tommy Garrett, Canyon News Coverage of Natalie Wood's Final Weekend

Tommy Garrett of Canyon News  is following what may result of the re-open Natalie Wood case petition. His articles are informative, fair, well written, and I appreciate that he's talking with those who also submitted statements to accompany the petition, including Lana Wood and Dennis Davern. I am very grateful to jounalists like Tommy Garrett. Hopefully, he will receive a response from the LACSD soon.

Canyon News - Natalie Wood Yacht Captain Speaks, Exclusive

Reopen Natalie Wood Case Petition is Making News!

Author Campaigns to Have Natalie Wood Death Investigation Re-Opened - FishbowlLA

The petition is making news! Thank you ALL so much for contributing to this mission to bring Natalie the justice she, ANYONE, deserves!

New 5-star Amazon Review for "Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour"

I am SO PROUD of this new, conscientious review posted today at Amazon. I truly appreciate this review. Nealus "gets it!"

This is a Well Written Book that I'd describe as a Murder Mystery., September 21, 2011


By Nealus - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour (Paperback)

Marti Rulli is Natalie Wood's best friend - "NOW" - but she wasn't 30 years ago. She knew her as well as we all knew her back then.

Marti Rulli has brought to life a friendship we all can have now with Natalie Wood - because Marti Rulli is teaching us about the reasons for us to keep Natalie in our memories - every day.

And now I believe I would like to call Marti Rulli - my friend too - for her sacrifices in order to get this book published.

What she has done in GNGS with Dennis Davern - is to bring out from him - the honesty and trustworthiness Natalie's Memory Deserves - and this is just miraculous.

What Marti Rulli has done - was to pour her life and sanity into this project - for so many. GNGS has hidden inside of it - an actual autobiography of Marti's and Dennis's Trials and Tribulations in helping Dennis Davern be able to stay on course to do what he finally accomplished. Sharing the Truth.

The heartache one learns in this book could only be shared with us by these two strong loving and caring human beings.

Marti Rulli says: " But Somehow, Natalie Wood ended up in the water she feared her entire life. Common sense - all I had to go on when I started my Quest for Truth - Added to all I have learned since, screams out for a closer, professional look into Wood's Death. "

My Pen name is " Nealus "

I dusted off my Autobiography in '05 - written 20 years before.... "An Inch From Murder" and I published it. An Inch From Murder: My Life As A Male Victim Of Sexual Child Abuse

I feel extremely proud to have experienced Marti Rulli and Dennis Davern's outstanding work - and she has spent far more than my 20 years - bringing GNGS to us.

As an Author - I feel tremedous empathy for your sweat and tears.

Marti Rulli said: " Natalie Deserves Her Justice "

Tommy Garrett's Second Article in Petition Quest for Natalie Wood

The Petition and statements have been received at the LA County Sheriff's Headquarters. Hopefully, the official request will be taken seriously.

Canyon News - Natalie Wood Death Investigation, Exclusive

Natalie Wood - From here to eternity (1979) pt5

Natalie won a Golden Globe for her performance in "From Here to Eternity" - a 6 hour TV movie aired in 1979.
Natalie could've been at the Emmy's tonight, either presenting, or possibly even winning one.
She would've been a young 73. This, or any of the 30 previous years could have been her year for another Golden Globe, an Oscar, or an Emmy.

Natalie Wood's death: a convoluted case

One of the reasons Natalie's death information became so scattered is because many elements, or comparments, and PEOPLE, surfaced over the years that were right there from the very beginning. A thorough, INTITIAL investigation could have eliminated the "mystery" and convoluted information the case has grown into, but, as we all know, there was NOT a thorough investigation into Natalie's death. There were a few questions asked of the three surviving cruise participants and then an "accidental drowning" ruling from a coroner's office that was put under pressure to close the case fast.

The compartments of the case are:

1) The LA County Sheriff's Department: Rasure felt there was no need to investigate further than the three survivors and he bought their answers of "We don't know what happened" even after catching Dennis Davern is a contradictory statement about having spent Friday night in a motel room with Natalie in Avalon. He ignored the horribly messy master stateroom and shattered glass all over the main salon, calling it "rolling seas." He didn't check any of the cruise survivors for corresponding scratches or bruises. He did not issue a breatalyzer for any of them. He sent them home and dealt with their attorneys.

2) The medical examiner's office announced there had been an argument aboard the yacht, but was quickly contradicted by the LACSD. Noguchi went on to theorize -- He claimed there were scratches on the dinghy, Rasure says Noguchi fabricated the scratches. (Roger Smith saw scratches we later find out)
  a) Noguchi says Natalie's jacket weighed 50 lbs when wet (out of water) .. an exaggeration of more than 60% -- down jackets don't weigh 50 lbs out of water, nor do they drag a person down IN the water.
  b) Noguchi THEORIZED Natalie received her numerous bruises while trying to mount a float-away dinghy. If so, she could never have kept the socks on her feet.
 c) Noguchi THEORIZED there was a banging dinghy distrubing Natalie's sleep. She never went to sleep. She also didn't perform boat chores in the rain in the middle of the night. Nor did she ever go "star-gazing" in the dark ocean in the middle of the night (especially with a broken headlight on the dinghy...easily discovered IF questions had been asked.)
 d) Noguchi THEORIZED Natalie died around midnight. A PROFESSIONAL Coast Guard Captain (Roger Smith) tried to be vocal and let authorities know that he believed Natalie had drowned just shortly before being pulled from the ocean.

3) Roger Smith: tried to be vocal but was totally ignored. This Coast Guard Captain who cared about safety and TRUTH had wanted to let the detectives know that Wagner's PRIMARY concern when Smith showed up with the Avalon Sheriff was that his image not be affected. Wagner said, "I didn't call for help because I have an image to protect and didn't want publicity...I thought she (Natalie) was off somewhere partying on another boat because that's the kind of woman she is." The detectives never heard this information because they IGNORED Roger and the medical examiner's office.

4) Marilyn Wayne heard, along with two others, Natalie's cries for help from drowning. She was accused of wanting her fifteen minutes of fame by Detectuive Rasure...then and later on various documentaries. She CAME FORWARD and was totally ignored.

5) Lyndon Taylor sat next to the Wagner party at Doug's Harbor Reef Restaurant. He saw the bitterness and coldness in Wagner's eyes that night..he saw the anger mounting, the trouble brewing at the Wagner table.  He worried about them. He was never questioned and was moored only a football field away.

6) Paul Wintler, an Island worked, was the first to responed to the scene after Wagner's lame call, "Someone is missing" -- over TWO HOURS after Natalie was "missing." Wintler thought Wagner was overacting with screams of "Where is she, where is she?" as he took Wagner ashore. Why hadn't Wagner screamed "Where is she?" to Dennis? A few good detective questions could gotten to the bottom of that question, but Paul wasn't interviewed until Suzanne Finstad was writing a biograpghy 20 years later.

7) Harbormaster Doug Oudin should have called the Coast Guard immediately but deferred to Wagner. 

8) Pam Eaker: first to write a report for Detective Rasure. She reported (per Wagner's answer) that an immediate search started for Natalie. A makeshift search didn't start until 2:00 A.M. and a professional search not until close to 5:00 A.M. That's a far cry from "immediate." (NATALIE HAD BEEN MISSING SINCE SHORTLY AFTER 11:00 PM)

9) Doug Bombard. He was the "big help" -- he went searching for Natalie by boat, and said he'd watch over the Splendour when everyone left the scene. The LACSD did NOT secure the yacht properly. One of Bombard's waitresses (and her boyfriend) spent the night on the Splendour to help Bombard "watch over it" -- can that get any less professional?

10) Everyone bought "accident" -- WHO COULD HARM NATALIE? was the going speculation.

11) Christopher Walken was not forthcoming about the bottle smashing, nor about the true atmosphere of the weekend. He has told a few different stories throughout the long years.

12) Robert Wagner contradicted himself numerous times since the fateful cruise. His contradictions have been excused by authorities throughout the years.

13) Dennis Davern: the only eye and ear witness who is willing to cooperate with authorities...has been willing to cooperate for decades ...but falls into that list of those the authorities choose to ignore and continue to ignore.

14) It was a bungled investigation. No question about it. No one communicated...no one investigated ... no one interrogated.

FOUR of the above people have submitted their official statements to the authorities, along with our petition. Dennis, Marilyn, Roger, and Natalie's sister, Lana Wood, have all now asked, by written statement, that the authorities look into the convoluted mess Natalie's Wood's death scenario has become, all because they closed the case way too soon, way too fast.  Back in Novemebr 1981, it would've been so easy to determine that Natalie's Wood's husband was involved with Natalie Wood's death. To what degree was THEIR job to determine. A mother of two, a legendary actress, a beautiful person, was denied her due justice.  Her death was not a convoluted case: it was a rather simple one.

How sad and tragic, to this very day.
***

Five Years in a Row!

My favorite Cliff Lee catch - the nonchalant pop up catch in the 2009 World Series against the Yankees.

Roy Halladay pitched a no-hitter in the 2010 playoffs, but they didn't get to the big show.

Philadelphia Phillies are National League East Division Champions!


They did it tonight! I'm NOT jinxing them, I'm just CONGRATULATING them -- baseball fans will understand :-)
I'm just a fan who loves baseball, loves the Phils, always have, always will, and this has been such an interesting season. I admire lots of teams (National and American) but I'm a dedicated Phils fan who simply is so happy for them tonight.

I know it's not over, but we're happy to have Hunter Pence (from the Astros) now going into his first post-season experience with the Phils (what a unique player!). And, the luckiest thing of all was when we got Cliff Lee back last December, who is in the running for the Cy Young award this year, along with Halladay, too, two Phillies star pitchers.

It's just so relaxing to kickback on hectic or trying days to watch a good baseball game, and even better on a good day! Whatever teams make to the series, I'll be watching. And, I love the line: PLAY BALL!

GO PHILS!

Natalie Wood Petition sent to L.A. County Sheriff -Canyon News Exclusive!

The petition and six statements have been prepared and sent to to the L.A. County Sheriff. The petition has gathered signatures from American citizens as well as from caring people around the world. The petition is accompanied by comprehensive statements from myself, Dennis Davern, Lana Wood, Marilyn Wayne, Roger Smith and a certified, licensed psychologist, and along with caring media attention, our request for the reopening of Natalie's case may finally have impact. The following article will also be in Sunday's newspaper in L.A.

Canyon News - Natalie Wood, Not Forgotten, World Exclusive


 

Hacked

My computer (AOL address) was hacked, so if any of you receive an email from me that has no subject or an undescribed link inside DO NOT OPEN IT. I will always include a subject headline, and never send a link that I do not identify. I ran a scan and removed all Malware and also changed my security information, so everything should be fine now, but please ignore any emails you may find suspicious.

This problem occurs with AOL and Yahoo constantly. Never open a link that you find questionable... from any sender.

NEVER FORGET

On this 10th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy of 2001, may we remind ourselves to never forget the horror of the terrorism we faced. Our country united like never before, and we gave of ourselves like never before in the early aftermath of the mega-tragedy, and then slowly but surely we divided again. A quote I use in my manuscript about 9/11 is one we ALL can live by:

My country is the world and my religion is to do good  - Thomas Paine

To this day, I shudder thinking about how our pulses raced as we were shocked that day beyond belief.   

From my manuscript about the 9/11 tragedy, I want to mention one of the most inspiring people I met and interviewed in the aftermath of that horrible day. His name is Bill and he was a broken man after what he witnessed. I helped Bill through the weeks in the aftermath, but I can't express how much Bill helped me.
Here's his story as copied from my manuscript:

Bill Kilpatrick had been heading for the Battery Tunnel, in his truck, when his life suddenly changed, he insists, forever. Bill had trouble telling his story, and called me. I had given out my cell phone number, in trust… I heard the pain in his voice…pure agony... I lived it with him. He felt terrible that he couldn't recover the bodies of those who jumped from the towers, so that the loved-ones of those people could have a body for a funeral. What he witnessed while attempting to help will play out forever in his mind.
In Bill's words:

Driving south toward the Battery Tunnel, I was waiting for the traffic light to change. I was on the West Side Highway when I heard a jet to my left side, and I became puzzled, knowing that jets are not permitted to fly so low over the city. As the traffic light changed to green, I started moving, but kept my eye on the low-flying jet. It appeared to be heading toward the WTC.

I drove by the walkway, near Vesey Street, and saw the jet tilt to the right, just slightly enough to be directly on course with the North Tower. In immediate reaction to this sight, I screamed out loud, “Pull up! Pull up, Dear God, pull up! Please pull up the jet!”

It slammed into the Tower.

Passing Vesey Street, I almost hit a few people who were running through the streets, toward the Tower. I attempted to pull over to my right, by Battery Park City, but there was no place to park, and I could not make a U-turn. So, I kept moving toward Battery Tunnel, then finally, said ‘to hell with this’ and pulled my SUV onto the sidewalk, and jumped out.

A passerby said to me, “Don’t leave your vehicle there. They’ll tow it.”

I looked at him incredulously, and said, “You must be joking, Pal! Do you see what the hell is going on here?”

He said it wouldn’t matter, that ‘they will tow it anyway.’

I didn’t care. I started running toward The Towers. There were people running, screaming and crying. Some people were yelling up to the Tower occupants, those hanging out of the high windows, and screaming to them to not jump.

“Help is on the way,” they yelled up to the tower occupants.

I knew the people in the towers couldn’t even hear them. I also knew help would be helpless.

I didn’t hear the second plane incoming. The coffee cart guy on the corner near the Towers was packing up his cart, getting ready to move out. At that moment, I heard the loudest BOOM I’ve ever heard in my life.

All hell broke out. Debris was everywhere, falling and flying through the air. There was a crystal-like substance that stung my eyes. I kept on trying to get closer to the Towers, but it became clear that I couldn’t. It became clear that this event would change the entire city...the world.

I kept looking up as much as I could between the debris and smoke falling down on us…then I saw people from the top floors of the Towers either falling or jumping to their deaths.

I was across from the South Tower, near the parking lot, where there were bodies all over the place. Many were burned and charred and some just black with soot or gray dust.

I lost it. I just lost it at this point.
I didn’t collect my thoughts, I just acted on auto-response, and tried to move some of the bodies.

The cops were screaming at all of us to move away. “Run, and get out of here,” they yelled. You were allowed to stay in the area only if you were a cop or fireman. I am neither, just a New Yorker.

For the first time in my life, I felt completely helpless and useless. I started crying uncontrollably, and panic attacks started. There was so much happening…people were confused and in shock. It seemed we all lost sense of direction. You knew where you headed, but not where you wanted to go.

There was suddenly a sea of fireman around and fire trucks coming from every direction…the tunnel, West Side Highway…from the FDR…it seemed the whole city was suddenly there.

I ran back to my truck and it was covered with paper and other debris. I figured I’d better get it out of the area, so I got onto the FDR, and that’s when the South Tower fell. I pulled over and watched with everyone else, in horror. Then, we saw the second Tower come crashing down, too. There was nothing any one of us could do.

It hurt so much to watch the loss of life. Why did this happen? I still cannot believe this has happened. The entire scene is an image my eyes refuse to accept, yet I see it over and over again. A feeling of emptiness overwhelms me since. I find it difficult to not cry everyday when something about the tragedy is mentioned. Any small reminder takes me right back to the live scene and causes me to have the same, awful, helpless feeling I experienced while watching.

I wish it all could disappear from my life forever, but it will all be with me until the day I die.

Natalie Wood Dominick Dunne Samantha Eggar Malibu August 8, 1965 Part 2

I've always, always admired Dominick Dunne but never had the courage to approach him about Natalie's death because I wasn't sure how close he was to the surviving Wagner family, even though his relationship with Natalie goes way back as this video shows. I simply did not want to intrude. He had had his share of tragedy, too, as his daughter was murdered by her boyfriend, and she was buried not far from Natalie's gravesite.

When the galley proofs were printed for "Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour" I had no idea the editor at Phoenix Books had sent one to Dominick, who was hospitalized at the time, nearing his end. Dominick possessed a penchant for justice like no other and his writings and journals were always spot on the "right side of things." To have learned that GNGS was the last book he read, and that he gave his stamp of approval and told my editor, "I'm glad the truth of her death is out there now" is an honor I will take to my grave.

Natalie and Dominick admired each other so much. I will always admire both of them.

Petition gets submitted next week!

Whenever Dennis and I are interviewed, we are asked the same opening question virtually every time. I've been defining my usual answer to the going question "Why 30 years later?"

Although I've tried for over 27 years to get the right people to listen, the reason Natalie's death is still important 30 years later is obvious: there was never a proper investigation. So, I intend to answer that question with a bit more clarity in future interviews, and yes, although I believe the petition is about the importance of justice, there's something more to it regarding Natalie's case.

Everyone deserves justice in death, especially in a suspicious scenario such as Natalie's, but it was her very celebrity and character in life that dealt her a bad hand for justice--almost as if nothing sinister could be involved for Natalie in death.

The sheriff's department didn't want a media frenzy, and the media didn't want a botched case, so dynamics and egos were involved that might not have existed had Natalie been a Jane Doe from Anywhere, USA.
A Jane Doe might've received more justice because the separate departments and media might not have clashed in a hurry to close the case, thus the questions. They certainly underestimated the legendy character already established in Natalie. Natalie transcended "Hollywood." They also underestimated the character of many people in the public--people who will not tolerate botched cases--people who expect our justice system to perform within the letter of the law. Flying the two surviving celebrities home immediately was not within the letter of the law. The celebrity involved obviously clouded the judgments of investigators.

Natalie Wood will be seen as long as there is electricity! Natalie made several CLASSIC movies. She is at the heart of our ever defining Hollywood. Is there a high school in America whose drama department hasn't produced West Side Story? If there is, they'll get to it one day. People will be watching Natalie Wood movies until our world is in the dark.

Therefore, any person of that stature especially deserves to be known in death in the ceermonious manner she was known in LIFE. Natalie was a good-hearted person, and yes, she may have been the first to say, "I'm no different than any other person" but Natalie was different in ways we appreciate. Therefore, she should be remembererd with TRUTH as well as with JUSTICE. She did not "get drunk and fall off a boat" and no one, especially her former husband, should be swaying the thinking with statements such as, "When she left us...." or "We think she was trying to quiet a dinghy..."

THERE WAS NO BANGING DINGHY and Natalie didn't "leave anyone."

She is with us forever through her heartfelt work, and the last place she wanted to be on the last night of her life was on an open deck near the water she feared her entire life. She was going to bed, angry, yes, because her husband had just smashed a wine bottle in her co-star's face while screaming accusations, but there was still only one place Natalie had her sights on that night, and that was a warm bed, safe in her stateroom aboard her yacht. Instead, she suffered for her existence in the cold ocean currents, and HER HUSBAND made sure no one went looking for her in a timely, urgent search.

Natalie's death is one of the most tragic and terrifying on record, and was swept under the celebrity rug of privilege most likely because everyone felt, "No one would ever harm, let alone kill, Natalie Wood." 

Petition Signer #768 says it all:

I suspect you are already aware of the glaring discrepancies in this case. Perhaps you feel past mistakes don't impact on the LACSD today. You would be mistaken. People want to know that loved ones counted for something and got every measure of justice they were due. If it happened yesterday or 30 years ago we need to know that justice matters to the LACSD and the pursuit of it transcends timelines. Ms. Wood deserves that. We all do. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". MLK JR

Reopen Investigation of Natalie Wood's death Petition

Please sign!

Reopen Natalie Wood Case Pettion still gathering signatures

Here's another powerful comment made at the petition today (addressed to the LACSD): Signer #765

Review your former colleague's work and see what you think. First suspect in a wife's murder? The husband. This husband was choppered away from the crime scene before interrogation. This husband has changed his story in writing many times. The facts do not match the story. Especially the crime scene. Several witnesses have been ignored and discounted yet they still stand ready to tell the truth about that night. Who won't talk? The husband. Still satisfied with the "investigation"?

Reopen Natalie Wood Death Investigation Petition

Natalie Wood's death was a fast closed case, but I still consider it a "cold case" thirty years later as does the following particular signer of the petition. The petition will be submitted next week along with several signed declarations from key people involved in the initial short-lived investigation.

If you haven't signed or know of anyone who might want to sign, please pass this on. The petition has had very little promotion, yet includes over 760 signatures. For now, we are relying on word of mouth, so please help so that we can get as many signatures as possible before next week. Remember: a signer can remain anonymous publicly.

I thank the caring person who started the petition. It makes a statement in and of itself, yet the many comments prove that people were never satisfied with the way Natale's case was handled. I thank each and every one of you for caring as well. Why does it matter 30 years later? My answer is simple. Injustice ALWAYS matters.

Signer #757 Comment:
From the very minute I saw the tragic footage of Natalie being recovered from the water, I suspected Robert Wagner in some form of foul play. It's a damn shame the California justice system decided to give this man a free pass, but that wouldn't be the first time they screwed up. It is now time for JUSTICE FOR NATALIE and this case needs to be reopened before the guilty party passes away peacefully in his sleep. This was no accident. It's a 30 year old cold file.

Reopen Investigation of Natalie Wood's death Petition

Thank you.

Labor Day Wishes

Even when she frowned, she was beautiful

Hope you all have a nice Labor Day weekend, the unofficial end of summer. Please remember what I've been saying for the past few months: that this will be Natalie's year. It will be. Have a great weekend.