Natalie Wood's Death Homicide Investigation Re-Opened

Three decades on, the death of one of Hollywood's most alluring stars remains one of its most enduring mysteries.

Natalie Wood was found dead at 43 in the waters off Southern California after a night of partying on the yacht she owned with actor husband Robert Wagner.

According to police reports at the time, the body of the West Side Story star - one of the most glamorous actresses of her generation - was found wearing a long nightgown, socks, and a down jacket.

She is believed to have fallen off the yacht 'Splendor' after drinking and dining with her husband and 'Brainstorm' co-star Christopher Walken.

But 'additional information' is now said to have come to light prompting homicide detectives yesterday to re-open their investigation into her death on November 29, 1981.

Ms Wood was pulled from the water in a cove on Catalina Island about a mile away from the yacht.

An autopsy report revealed two dozen bruises on her body, including a facial abrasion on her left cheek, and bruises on her arms.

Ms Wood's drowning sparked tabloid speculation that foul play was involved, but Mr Wagner and Ms Wood's sister Lana have always dismissed such a suggestion.

But the Los Angeles Times has reported that detectives were prompted to look at the case again after comments by the ship's captain, Dennis Davern.

Mr Davern has said he believes Ms Wood's death is directly connected to an argument she had earlier in the evening with Mr Wagner.

Last year, Mr Davern asked investigators, along with Ms Wood's sister, to re-open the case.

The issue was revisited when Mr Davern was recently interviewed for a collaboration between the magazine Vanity Fair and the television series '48 Hours Mystery' that focuses on Ms Wood's death.

The interviews followed his detailed account of the evening in a book co-authored by Marti Rulli entitled, 'Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour,' which was published in September, 2009.

In the book they say before Natalie disappeared from the boat, she was drinking and taking Quaaludes, a sedative, with her husband, Robert Wagner and actor Christopher Walken.

According to the book, Wagner became enraged when he saw Wood and Walken speaking, and smashed a wine bottle, yelling at Walken: 'What do you want to do, f**k my wife? Is that what you want?'

At that point, Walken returned to his cabin and Natalie and Robert went to their state room. According to the Captain, he heard a loud argument between the couple and thumping sounds, and eventually silence.