I'm not surprised; was actually surprised he never admitted what happened back then. IMO; his worst nightmare is coming true. Her sister pretty much says at the end up that video you linked to; that she feels he knows the truth; she said he's called her crying a few times.

Used to watch Hart to Hart; that's the extent of following either of them

Here is a link that might be useful: Natalie Wood detectives face conflicting accounts

Gets more interesting..

Christopher Walken Hires Lawyer to Handle Natalie Wood Investigation

Oh, I had forgotten Hart to Hart. All the girls in my office at the time were hooked on that show.

There always was something odd or left out it seems. According to your link roselvr, everyone is or has changed their story.

Need to find/link Today show interview with the captain, it's long and he didn't open up till the interviewer firmly told him he was coming on national TV, alluding to RW involvement, but not offering details to substantiate those claims. Then the guy started talking a bit more. The captain said he overheard an argument between RW & NW that carried out onto the deck, tried to intervene, was told by RW basically to go away. Then Natalie turns up missing. The captain said they searched the boat, he wanted to place a call immediately and turn on the search light but was discouraged from doing so by RW, to keep it 'low key' or something along those lines.

I see 48 Hours Mystery on CBS is airing a story about it tonight.

Typing while you posted. Could be wrong, but wasn't Christopher Walken a suspect at one point, back when it happened? Maybe a better phrase is what they call 'person of interest' now.

Here's the Today Show interview, found it on hulu.

I think back when Natalie died, people didn't try to make a buck off of every high-profile death or trial. Now everyone involved is writing a book or making the talk show rounds or spilling their guts to People magazine.

I bet the boat captain is just trying to get his book on the best seller list along with books about Amanda Knox, Michael Jackson, Kacey Anthony and so on.

Surprised he went on the show without an attorney & surprised the author did the same. What he's saying is what I remember everyone talking about at the time. Just looked up Hart to Hart- ran from 1979 to 1984; so it makes sense everything was kept quiet. Wish I remember specifics about the show & why it was canceled. From what I remember; Wagner kept a low profile once the show ended.

I guess now they have to figure out what role Wagner played & if she was pushed. I'd like to think that he will tell the truth this time. He owes it to her kids & sister.

Quote- "What happened that night only she knows, because she was alone," he said. "She had gone to bed before us, and her room was at the back. A dinghy was bouncing against the side of the boat, and I think she went out to move it. There was a ski ramp that was partially in the water. It was slippery I had walked on it myself. She had told me she couldn't swim; in fact, they had to cut a swimming scene from [Brainstorm]. She was probably half asleep, and she was wearing a coat."

Walken suggested Wood hit her head before falling into the water and floating away. Initially, he and Woods then-husband Robert Wagner assumed that the actress had left the boat to call her children, as she had the night before. The boat was just 50 feet away from shore off the coast of Catalina Island.

Here is a link that might be useful: Christopher Walken Offered Natalie Wood Death Theory in Past Interview

Just found another story where there was another boat in the water; looks like they were never interviewed although they tried to give their story. I have a feeling; this is what finally reopened the case.

'I Heard Natalie Wood's Cries,' An Exclusive

Another link below. The ET story is the 1st one I found but the other link has a lot more info.

Here is a link that might be useful: Witness Heard Natalie Wood Screaming

Although I do agree with your first paragraph dedtired, personally I'm not so sure $$ is what prompted all this from the yacht captain. The book he co-wrote is not hot off the presses, it's been out for over two years. And though not a bestseller, appears to have done relatively well per Amazon ranking. Haven't read the book. His latest statements might or might not increase sales, but he's saying (Today interview) he lied to police and when asked confirmed he feels RW was responsible. He's drawing attention to his book of course, but negative attention with repercussions to himself as well. I'm not an attorney but interfering with or impeding a police investigation is a punishable offense. So he might well be exposing himself to criminal charges.

Just my humble .02, but tend to get the impression this leans more toward a situation where someone knows more than they told and their conscience has been working on them and finally won out. He's been calling the sister for years. Then the book. Reminds me of when someone has a bombshell to drop, and for any number of reasons they delay (guilt, fear, shame, etc. depending on the situation). They will dance around it, hint, reveal glimpses and generally draw attention to it but not fully disclose everything. Then the point arrives where they are finally able to come out and say it. Pure speculation of course. But something of substance must be there to re-open the investigation 30 years later.

TMZ has an interesting document from the book author asking the case to be reopened; I can't find it on TMZ; found the link on Google. Link to HTML version here-

Dennis Davern Statement Submitted With Public Petition to LACSD
On November 29, 1981, while Natalie Wood was missing from her family yacht, Splendour, (of which I
operated and maintained as an employee of the Wagners) her husband, actor Robert Wagner,
instructed me to never offer any details in reference to the circumstances surrounding Natalie WoodâÂÂs
disappearance from the yacht on the night of November 28, 1981. Robert Wagner informed me he
would hire an attorney who would handle my statement about Natalie WoodâÂÂs disappearance and
drowning, which he did before Natalie WoodâÂÂs funeral, and I signed a statement the appointed attorney
drafted, one completely void of the facts surrounding Natalie WoodâÂÂs disappearance.
I did not lie to anyone, including the authorities or the attorney. I simply obeyed what was asked of me
and offered no details. The attorney and the authorities on the Natalie Wood case asked only a few
questions of me, none pertinent to the true reason Natalie Wood left the yacht both on Friday and
Saturday nights, Nov. 27 and Nov. 28, 1981

Here is a link that might be useful: TMZ PDF file

That Canyon News article "I Heard Natalie..." that you linked to relaying what witnesses on the nearby yacht heard was chilling, roselvr.

I thought so too.

The more I was reading; the more that I remembered started to make sense. I feel that in the next few days we're going to be seeing some heat coming down & I don't doubt they're going to bring Wagner back in.

With Jasckson's trial so fresh in the news; it will be interesting to see where this goes.

I was so surprised to see the case reopened ; there are reports of a bottle of wine smashed on a coffee table by RW, everyone had been drinking, etc...
Seems like it's going to be mess. But if justice was not served..............

It seemed so suspicious back then. Hard to believe it took 30 years for a conscience to surface.

Just read a Detroit Free Press article that said he (the captain) has been speaking out off an on for years that the official account wasn't what really happened, but something he said recently makes detectives want to speak to him again. That and this new 3rd party they keep mentioning must have something worth looking at.

What I don't get is the often repeated statements Wagner (and others) wanted it kept quiet right from the time it happened, before authorities were notified. From the standpoint of a family's privacy after losing a wife and mother, of course. But unless famous 'movie stars' get biased treatment from LA Sheriff's Dept., appears none of them were politically influential or well connected enough to wield any influence. This isn't the Kennedys and Marilyn.

This unfolding story keeps bringing to mind a book I read long ago by Vincent Bugliosi, And The Sea Will Tell. His writing style is captivating. As opposed to Helter Skelter where he wrote from the stance of prosecutor, in Sea he defended one of the parties. There are central parallels in both stories; the sea, an island, a yacht, loss of life and a lot of unanswered questions, suspicions and a long period of time before new evidence appears. Though a bit sluggish during the trial phase, it's a good book if you like a nonfiction mystery. (Avoid reading Amazon reader reviews, there are spoilers.)

Can they be charged 30 years after her death? If anything; I assume Wagner & the captain could be charged with involuntary manslaughter for not looking for her?

Moonshadow; if you go to the links I added above 'I Heard Natalie Wood's Cries,' An Exclusive- that's another witness who heard her in the water for 25 minutes. They tried to call for help but no one answered. She said she's been trying to tell the story for years & no one questioned her.

If this is current and accurate, the statute of limitations has run out.

I saw that about the woman at your link, she was very specific about what she heard and the time frame. Including hearing a man's voice say 'calm down..we're coming to get you' or something similar. That woman had a lot of things to say, another mystery why they never questioned her. And there's the handwritten threatening note she says she received within days.

What I find especially tragic is this was NW's worst fear. Can you imagine having a phobia about something, and your final moments are spent enveloped by it? Heartbreaking to think the terror she must have felt, clinging to hope, crying out for help, and no help came.

At least there could be some truth and reconciliation.

TCM aired Splendor in the Grass yesterday. What a loss. She was splendid in and of herself.