Robert Wagner Suspect In Natalie Wood Death? Only In The Media

Is actor Robert Wagner a suspect in Natalie Wood’s death? Only the media seems to think so, despite new allegations of assault in the actress’s tragic drowning in 1981.

Though many questions about Natalie Wood’s death still go unanswered, Wagner is not a suspect in the recently re-opened case, at least not in the eyes of investigators. Reporters asked the Los Angeles County Sheriff to put media speculation to bed with an absolute response regarding Wagner’s suspect status.

So is Robert Wagner a suspect? “No,” Lt. John Carina said at a Los Angeles press conference, during which the office officially confirmed that the investigation had been reopened.

“No” is about as absolute and unequivocal as you can get. Robert Wagner is not a suspect in Natalie Wood’s death.

For his part, Wagner is refusing to talk to the press or law enforcement about the investigation, reports TV Guide. The 92-year-old actor released a statement through his lawyer in which he said that he feels he has already given as full an account of his wife’s death as he can.

“Mr. Wagner has fully co-operated over the last 30 years in the investigation of the accidental drowning of his wife,” said Brian Berk, Wagner’s lawyer. 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.”

From 1981 until last July, Wood’s death was ruled “accidental” by the coroner’s report, but it was later changed to “undetermined” when bruises and scratches on her body were discovered. Coroners were unable to tell whether or not those injuries were sustained before or after her drowning.

UPI reports that Robert Wagner, Natalie Wood, actor Christopher Walken, and the ship’s captain, Dennis Davern, were the only people on the ship that night. Davern said that he had heard Wagner and Wood arguing, and believed that Wagner was responsible for her death.

This opened up media speculation that Wagner was a suspect, with some theorizing that he may have purposefully or accidentally killed Natalie Wood after a night of drinking and arguing.

Wagner has maintained his innocence all along, saying that he didn’t realize his wife was missing until about 1:30am, when he reported her missing.

Do you think Robert Wagner is suspect in the death of Natalie Wood?