Copyrighted Blog

Someone emailed me to ask if my blog is copyrighted. Indeed, it IS copyrighted. Of course, many bloggers use photos from the Internet, post links, etc, and that's generally considered acceptable or the copyright offices would go insane trying to follow who uses what. It's okay to "rewrite" or discuss a subject matter from a blog, but MANY blogs are copyrighted, just as most websites are. I use a service that instantly OFFICIALLY copyrights my every post. I won't get the notification for this particular post until after I post it, but here's the certification for one of my previous posts "Interesting Conversation with Dennis Davern" that was emailed to me immediately after my post (in case anyone questions my claim here). My posts are legally protected, and I would appreciate them not be copied and reposted elsewhere without my permission, which in most cases I will give. If I catch any of my posts copied and pasted elsewhere, all I need do is notifiy the service if I disapprove, and they let me know the information about the person reprinting my work.

Copyright :: All Rights Reserved

Registered :: Sat Oct 15 02:26:42 UTC 2011
Title :: Interesting conversation With Dennis Davern
Category :: Blog
Fingerprint :: afb9a62c5f648a3e22b69a4b5a091c28a25ee3b3d010af4863c69abf197352c6
MCN :: E3PWY-MBTWE-2W7M7

Please consider signing this petition for justice

Some of you may remember when I told the story about the horrid summer my family endured. I got a call one morning that my daughter-in-law's brother had been shot (while sitting in his living room watching TV). Sadly, he did not make it. A young couple had been out in their backyard in the middle of the night and were shooting a gun. The bullet carried into Joe's apartment and hit him in the back of the head while he watched TV. He had been married for just a few short weeks.

This was traumatic, impossible-to-accept tragedy for my daughter-in-law's family in Illinois. They are trying to get as many signatures on a petition before the sentencing of the couple responsible for Joe's death. It was a reckless act the couple should serve at least some time for and be held accountable for their reckless actions. They took away a young man's life, a young man who loved his life.

Please, take a moment to sign this petition. The story is posted at the petition site on the front page. I will appreciate your support, and so will Joe's immediate family. Thank you. Here is the link:

https://www.change.org/petitions/associate-judge-timothy-steadman-issue-the-maximum-sentence-for-both-houstons

Unpublished Natalie Wood Photos

Someone send me this wonderful file of Life's unpublished photos of Natalie. I'm sure many of you may have already seen it, but here id the link to a nice tribute.

http://www.life.com/gallery/65921/natalie-wood-25-unpublished-photos#index/0

Tommy Garrett interviewed Marilyn Wayne - Canyon News Article

The beautiful Natalie Wood

Tommy Garrett interviewed Marilyn Wayne for his latest article in a series of Natalie Wood reports to lead up to the 30th anniversary of her tragic death on Thanksgiving Weekend 1981.

Marilyn will also appear on CBS's special segment of 48 Hours Mystery to air on Novemebr 26, 2001, on the Saturday night of this Thanksgiving weekend, the Saturday night 30 years ago Natalie went missing from the Splendour.

I appreciate Tommy Garrett's interest in the compelling tragic story of Natalie's death, and he is independently interviewing those of us who had submitted testimonial statements to LA County Sheriff's Department. We are looking forward to the results of the department's decision on those statements.

Soon, information will be revealed on the progress of the collaborative appeal to the LACSD to reopen Natalie's case. Here's the link to Tommy Garrett's latest article on his interview with Marilyn Wayne.

 Canyon News - 'I Heard Natalie Wood's Cries,' An Exclusive

Petition still grows

Reopen Investigation of Natalie Wood's death Petition

Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition. It now has 801 signatures and will remain open for new signatures. The petition comments are compelling, and so many people offered their reasons and feelings about Natalie Wood's case. Each and every signature and comment is so important. Thank you, and please keep the petition circulating! It's never too late. 

The marina in St. Augustine

I took this photo is St. Augustine when interviewing with 48 Hours. The marina we visited seemed huge to me, but Dennis said it wasn't even 10% the size of Marina Del Rey in California, wehre Splendour docked. I spoke with Dennis tonight and he said he's really feeling so much better since being able to talk about his experience of the Thanksgiving weekend of 1981.

The 800th signer of the petition "gets it"

I hope you are taking the request to reopen this case seriously. A lot of work has gone into researching the events of the night and the fatal flaws of what amounts to a non-investigation. Surely, you can admire and respect witnesses who still care and want to testify 30 years later. The case your detectives didn't investigate has virtually been laid out for you in testimony and witnesses. I can't imagine why there would be any further delay in pursuing justice. Can you?

A vent

Horace and Concetta Carter, parents of Marti Carter (Rulli)

This is a photo of my parents. My mother passed away (ruptured ulcer) on Oct. 17 when I was just a few days away from turning 12 years old. She was only 52. In this photo is also my father who passed away (Cancer) when I was four. For the eight years my mother was a widow, she worked like crazy but also really enjoyed her life. She was adventurous, liked to travel with her sisters, and she threw the best parties ever, especially in the summer when the entire field on our small farm would be covered with friends and family and every type of food "station" you can imagine. 

On my 12th birthday I attended my mother's funeral. I've been able to enjoy birthdays since, as I know it would only anger my mom if I didn't celebrate her life instead of mourning her death. I remember little about my father, but clearly recall the day he taught me how to properly put on socks. I was not exactly "fatherless" because my Uncle Jim lived with us and he was an awesome father figure. He graduated Girard College and instilled in me the will to learn and to be a decent person. He taught me the importance of morals. He also taught me to never back down from what I believe is meaningful. My mom taught me how to enjoy the simple things in life, and to never forget that the simple things are usually the most gratifying in the entire scheme of things.   

Anniversaries of losing loved ones are sometimes difficult. I rarely talk about those anniversaries, but today was different. It was the exact weather today of the morning I awakened and went to school to my 6th grade classroom and told a fellow student that my mom was home and in pain. I worried about her all day. After school, walking down the street from the bus stop with my twin brother, I was hoping my mom would be feeling better by the time I'd walk in the door. Then I saw the ambulance in the driveway. My mom was already inside of it so I didn't get to see her or to say anything to her. My last recall was of her lying on the sofa in the living room in the morning, and she was moaning. She died that night at 11:10 pm. After her funeral, I hoped to be able to live in the home I'd grown up in, and that we'd go on as best we could without her, but just two weeks later, my Uncle Jim also passed away. My twin, Jimmy, and I were truly orphaned. My oldest half brother took us in.

Life did go on, but I've always been aware of Oct. 17 being a day that was so damn hard. Losing a mother is the hardest thing at ANY age, and sometimes even harder on adults who lose parents because there is so much more to remember, so much more time to miss. But losing a mother at a tender age makes you cling to the short time you did have, and you try harder to remember every morsel you can.

My father was a carpenter, and my mother was a waitress who bought into owning a restaurant shortly before she died. They were not stars or celebrities. They were Mom and Dad.

We, as fans of Natalie Wood, miss her celebrity and talent. She was so much fun to watch -- she was an interesting, shining star. And most of us who "talk" here also have the capability to transcend fanhood. We see Natalie as a woman, a person, a mother of two birth daughters she never got to see grow up and become women. They missed having their mother for all those special and important events and pinnacles in life.

This is a public blog all of my personal friends and family as well as strangers can see (hard to not be truthful when you face people daily), but for people who do not know me, there may exist doubt of how I feel about Natalie's daughters. I was in their position. I know how they felt losing their mother at such young ages. I know how painful moments in life must have been for them. I also strongly feel that had a proper investigation been conducted into Natalie's death, they possibly would feel more free to celebrate their mother's life. I know they miss her. I know it must be hell to have their mother's final hours talked about to this day, but I'm not the only one who has talked about it. Sam Kashner, who broke the stateroom argument in the news was not condemned. Suzanne Finstad, who established a valid timeline and brought so many questions to light was not condemned, but I take more heat. It's okay. I realize it's probably that way because the truth is sometimes unbearable, but the truth is also the only thing that will ease pain in the long run. I've embarrassed the authorities. They deserve it. They could admit they made mistakes: who doesn't make mistakes in a job?

I have not hurt Natalie's family. The tragic happenings on Thanksgiving weekend of 1981 is what hurt them, and I feel complete sympathy for them. The controversy, the lies, and the "mystery" are what cause added turmoil. After the way I was brought up, those lies are something I could never ignore. I posted this at 11:10 exactly because, well, I really felt my mother's presence all day today. RIP, Mom.

Yesterday's Angel, Natalie Wood

In the summer of 2009, Lincoln Center in NY City paid a tribute to Natalie Wood, calling her "Yesterday's Angel." When I was in St. Augstine a few weeks ago interviewing for the upcoming 48 Hours November special, I saw this sculpture in the hotel window where I stayed. I took a picture of it because it reminded me of Natalie, of "Yesterday's Angel."

Natalie Wood was a godsend to many people in her life. She helped so many people, and was a kind and thoughtful person. Her death affected so many people near and far. Fans loved her for her heartfelt performances, and her family and friends loved her because she was an honest, no-nonsense, straightforward woman who CARED about people. She will always be remembered as "yesterday's angel" because she was such a genuine person.

Many people still care about Natalie, as it should be. Natalie deserves all of us who still care about her. I am proud to have attached truth to her legend, and make no mistake about it, Natalie Wood IS a legendary figure, no matter who tries to bury her name along with her. Natalie Wood was the spark of Hollywood for several decades. She was also the spark of life for so many who loved and cared about her.

Canyon News & San Francisco News articles about "Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour"

Canyon News - 'Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour'

San Francisco News 'Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour'

Tommy Garrett's latest article gave me an opportunity to let new potential readers learn more about GNGS, and I appreciate his interest and all of his tremendous help. GNGS is such an involved book with so many aspects of a convoluted case to cover, and Tommy allowed me the time and space to answer more thoroughly that most venues do. In my opinion, he's one of the last journalists to still concentrate on important information, and he gives shape and form to comments: that's a rare breed many readers miss these days.

Interesting conversation With Dennis Davern

Dennis and I were just talking on the phone about when he identified Natalie's body. I asked him if he remembers the blanket Roger Smith claims to have covered Natalie with. Dennis does not recall the blanket. He said there may have been a blanket over Natalie, but what he recalls is Natalie in her cotton nightgown, with shorter sleeves, and the red down jacket lying across her. He saw her arm, he saw her lower legs and saw her blue wool socks. He saw the abrasion on her face. When Dennis saw her, she was that much exposed and he is SURE of it. It took only moments.  

Dennis and I have no way to answer for anyone else who claims to know more about what Dennis saw than Dennis himself does, but Dennis is adamant that he saw several bruises and he described Natalie's nightgown as a "light colored cotton nightie with small flowers on it about the size of an eraser."

Sorry, but I think that's pretty good recall compared to someone who doesn't even remember Natalie's socks or over 25 bruises strewn across her body. I am simply making a point that people have their versions, their recall, and what one person does NOT notice, another may never forget it, especially in the type of hell Dennis was experiencing.

In another example of whose recall is accurate, Marilyn Wayne recalls a party on a boat moored near her boat and the Splendour. Dr. Lyndon Taylor was on his back deck from 10:30 PM to midnight and swears there were no parties on the beach or on any other nearby boat. These type of differences are things I cannot explain; these are the things I can only surmise about, and I believe Marilyn heard enough noise to believe there was a party, but I am as equally sure Dr. Lyndon Taylor is as accurate. These are snags, but snags that do not detract from Dennis's polygraphed account that Wagner was with his wife when she went missing, and these slight differences also enhance the need for a proper investigation into Natalie's death.

When Roger Smith arrived on the scene, Wagner told him he did not call for help because he figured Natalie was off fooling around somewhere, and he wanted to protect his image from bad publicity. This prompted Roger to coin his phrase: "So the rich must die to avoid bad publicity?" Roger's information never made it to the detectives, because the detectives ignored key witnesses, and I still hold fast that although Roger Smith doesn't remember things Dennis DOES remember, Roger Smith is definitely a crucial witness to Wagner's cavalier, snide attitude about a wife lost at sea.

Here's my summary: Roger Smith, Lana Wood, Marilyn Wayne, and Dennis Davern are ALL victims of the tragic Thanksgiving weekend of 1981. I respect each and every one of these victims who have suffered from another's evil intentions: Roger, Lana, Marilyn, and my friend Dennis are the victims, the messengers, and should never be used as the scapegoats for a deed they had nothing to do with.

Interesting blog with reviews of Natalie Wood books

Following is a link to Muirmaiden's blog with a list of the Natalie books and Muirmaiden's opinions of them. I especially appreciate her review of Lambert's Natalie biography that I believe was pure agenda, and, of course, I appreciate how she gets "Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour" -- you may be interested in following her blog.

Muirmaiden's Corner

***

People DO still care about Natalie!

Tommy Garrett emailed to inform me that his online articles on Natalie have received millions of hits, and of 11,000 (11 THOUSAND!) emails received about the articles, only 2 (TWO!) of them were negative - from Wagner fans!!!  Jacksonville TV News is  interested in interviewing Dennis this week, TV Guide has expressed interest in the articles, and AOL is picking up Tommy's informative, honest, and caring articles, as well as many other media outlets. Natalie, 30 years later, is being heard loud and clear! Thirty years later, she still deserves it!

Tommy Garrett's Excellent Article on Natalie Wood Case also published in San Francisco News!

LINK TO ARTICLE IN SAN FRANCISCO NEWS w/ photo of Splendour

San Francisco News Natalie Wood Witness Takes Polygraph, Exclusive

Tommy Garrett is a journalist who cares about details that matter in Natalie Wood's death!

LINK TO TOMMY GARRETT'S LATEST ARTICLE ABOUT NATALIE WOOD'S CASE:

Canyon News - Natalie Wood Witness Polygraph, Exclusive

Tommy Garrett has taken a true interest in Natalie Wood's death case and presents IMPORTANT details that matter to the case in his article reports. In this day and age of quick visual teaser scenes on TV, and short, non-specific articles in popular magazines, Tommy Garrett remembers the significance of a series of articles, the only way to explain major convoluted stories that grow with rumor and innuendo over the years, and in Natalie's case, decades.

When we were interviewed for 48 Hours, the producer had first taken the time to read every article and book available on Natalie's life and death, and for that, I was so appreciative. She knew what she wanted to ask, and she knew why she wanted to ask her questions, which were pointed and consistent (for hours). I was astounded, and so impressed. When Dennis and I had been interviewed in the past, many times the interviewer hadn't even followed the important information connected to Natalie Wood and the circumstances surrounding her death.

Now, almost 30 years later, Natalie has caring people helping to give her a voice. I thank them.      

Interesting

I've been talking with the person who made the Splendour coffee table that RJ smashed the wine bottle on. His name is Basil and he is older than RJ. He's a really nice man with many fine memories of the Wagner family. He sent me this photo of the Splendour coffee table he took after he made it, and something of interest he told me is that RJ called him to ask him to repair the table after the weekend Natalie died. Basil never got the table back. Dennis had already asked RJ for the table and RJ gave it to Dennis instead. 

Dennis Davern's 48 Hours interview

This was the dock Dennis was interviewed on by 48 Hours Mystery. The docked boats serve as the background for his interview, and there was a boat similiar to Splendour we were going to take out into the ocean the next day, but the owner was taking it on a cruise, so another boat (a bit smaller than Splendour) was chartered instead, and the 48 Hours crew went for a cruise with Dennis, and Dennis pointed out where the cleats for the dinghy are on the rear deck of the boat (how the dinghy Valiant would've been tied to the Splendour).

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Phillies

Although they lost tonight and the season is over for them, they had the best record in baseball for the 2011 season. That's an accomplishment that is achieved with a lot of hard work. For that, I congratulate them, and may "the best team" win the World Series this year.  

So many are remembering Natalie Wood this year!

Please tell everyone about this, and I hope the theaters are packed on Nov. 9th

Tommy Garrett sees the important point....

Canyon News - Natalie Wood Autopsy Shocker, Exclusive

Tommy Garrett sees the importance of reopening Natalie Wood's death case. A more thorough investigation into how and why Natalie Wood had so many bruises on her body when found floating in the ocean may have eliminated the controversy that carries over to this day!