The Yacht Robert Wagner Owned: A Deep Dive

On November 29, 1981, Natalie Wood drowned near, within a mile of, or on the 55-foot yacht Splendour, owned by her husband Robert Wagner. Wood had been on board the Splendour with Wagner, Christopher Walken, and the yacht's captain Dennis Davern. Wood's body was found about a mile away from the yacht, with an inflatable boat beached nearby. The circumstances of her death remain a mystery, with conflicting witness statements leading to an extensive investigation.

The boat was called the 'Splendour'

The boat was called the Splendour. It was a 55-foot or 58-foot yacht owned by Wagner, who was questioned by police following the mysterious death of his wife, actress Natalie Wood, in 1981.

Wood was found floating in the Pacific Ocean, a mile from the yacht, wearing a red down jacket and a flannel nightgown. She was 43 years old.

Wood's death was initially ruled an accident, but conflicting witness statements from Wagner, actor Christopher Walken, and the boat's captain, Dennis Davern, led to an extensive investigation.

Davern has since alleged that Wagner pushed Wood off the yacht to her death. He claims that Wagner held him hostage to prevent him from telling the truth. Wagner has denied any involvement in Wood's death.

Robert Wagner was questioned following Natalie Wood's death

Robert Wagner was questioned following the death of his wife, actress Natalie Wood, in 1981. Wood died under mysterious circumstances, drowning in the Pacific Ocean near Santa Catalina Island. She was on board Wagner's yacht, the "Splendour", with Wagner, actor Christopher Walken, and the yacht's captain, Dennis Davern.

Wagner initially told detectives that Wood had left in a dinghy to go ashore. However, conflicting witness statements from Wagner, Walken, and Davern led to an extensive investigation. Davern has since changed his story, now claiming that Wagner pushed Wood off the yacht and was responsible for her death. In 2011, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reopened the investigation, and in 2012, the coroner's office amended Wood's death certificate, changing the cause of death from accidental drowning to "drowning and other undetermined factors". Wagner was named a person of interest in the investigation in 2018.

The circumstances surrounding Wood's death remain unclear. The autopsy report revealed that she had bruises on her body and arms, as well as an abrasion on her cheek. There were also traces of alcohol and medication in her bloodstream. Wagner has denied any involvement in Wood's death.

Wagner was named a person of interest in the investigation

In February 2018, Robert Wagner was named a person of interest in the investigation into the death of his wife, actress Natalie Wood. Wood died in 1981, after drowning in the Pacific Ocean near Santa Catalina Island. At the time, her death was ruled an accident, but conflicting witness statements prompted the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to reopen the investigation in 2011.

Wagner, Wood, actor Christopher Walken, and the yacht's captain, Dennis Davern, were all on board the night before Wood was found floating in the water. Wagner claimed that Wood was not on the yacht when he went to bed and that he believed she had taken off on her own in a small inflatable boat, as she had done before. However, Davern later alleged that Wagner pushed Wood off the yacht and that he held him hostage to prevent him from telling the truth.

In his memoir, Wagner acknowledged that he and Wood had an argument before she disappeared, but he denied any involvement in her death. The autopsy report revealed that Wood had a high blood alcohol content and traces of medication that increase the effects of alcohol in her system. She also had 39 fresh bruises on her body, including an abrasion on her left cheek.

In 2012, the Los Angeles County Chief Coroner amended Wood's death certificate, changing the cause of death from accidental drowning to "drowning and other undetermined factors." The amended document stated that the circumstances of how Wood ended up in the water were "not clearly established." In 2013, an addendum to the autopsy report stated that Wood may have sustained some of the bruises before entering the water.

Wagner and Wood had been arguing and drinking all day

On the night of November 28, 1981, Wagner and Wood had been arguing and drinking all day. The couple, along with actor Christopher Walken and Splendour's captain Dennis Davern, had been on board the 58-foot (18-metre) yacht Splendour, owned by Wagner.

The jealousy had been building up throughout the weekend, with Wagner suspecting that Wood and Walken were having an affair. Wagner's jealousy culminated in a heated argument with Wood, during which he smashed a wine bottle on the table. After the fight, Walken retired to his room, while Wagner and Wood went to theirs. Their door was closed, so Davern couldn't see anything, but the sound of their yelling was horrifying.

Soon after, Wood was in the water, and the chaos began. Wagner told Davern and Walken that his wife had fallen and died, and "this will be our story." Davern, still in shock from the events and confused from the alcohol, initially backed up Wagner's story. However, he later realised that Wagner had likely murdered his wife out of jealousy.

Wagner has long denied the claims, and he once accused Davern of being a "despicable human being" and "capitalising on the death of a beloved Wagner family member." The investigation into Natalie Wood's death remains open and unsolved.

Wagner refused to let the boat captain turn on the searchlights

On the night of November 28, 1981, Natalie Wood, her husband Robert Wagner, Brainstorm co-star Christopher Walken, and Splendour's captain Dennis Davern were on board the Splendour yacht. Wood and Wagner had a heated argument in their cabin, with Wagner allegedly jealous of Wood and Walken's friendship.

The next morning, Wood was found floating in the water, wearing a red down jacket and a flannel nightgown. She had drowned, and her death was initially ruled an accident. However, conflicting witness statements led to an extensive investigation, and the case was reopened in 2011.

Wagner, Walken, and Davern initially told detectives that Wood had left in a dinghy to go ashore. However, Davern later claimed that Wagner had refused to let him turn on the searchlights to look for Wood after she went overboard. Davern also alleged that Wagner had held him hostage, suggesting that Wagner wanted to bar him from telling the truth about Wood's death.

In his memoir, Wagner acknowledged that he and Wood had argued before she disappeared, but he denied any involvement in her death. Authorities have named Wagner a person of interest in the investigation, and the case remains open and unsolved.

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