LOS ANGELES — Nearly four decades after his wife drowned, investigators are now calling 87-year-old actor Robert Wagner a “person of interest” in the death of Natalie Wood. Since 1981, speculation has swirled around the death of the 43-year-old actress who had been nominated for three Academy Awards and appeared in the films “West Side Story” and “Rebel Without a Cause.”

She was on a yacht with Wagner, actor Christopher Walken and the boat captain on Thanksgiving weekend of 1981. After a night of drinking, her body was found floating in the water off California’s Catalina Island.

Robert Wagner appears with his former wife, actress Natalie Wood, in 1972.
Robert Wagner appears with his former wife, actress Natalie Wood, in 1972. Associated Press

Investigators initially ruled it an accident but reopened the case in 2011 to see whether Wagner or anyone else played a role after the boat’s captain said he heard the couple arguing on the night of her disappearance. The coroner’s office amended Wood’s death certificate the next year to include “drowning and other undetermined factors.”

Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. John Corina told CBS News in an interview that aired Thursday that he doesn’t believe Wagner has told the whole story about what happened during the boat trip.

“As we’ve investigated the case over the last six years, I think he’s more of a person of interest now,” Corina said. “I mean, we know now that he was the last person to be with Natalie before she disappeared.”

Asked whether he believed Wood was murdered, Corina said: “I think it’s suspicious enough to make us think that something happened.”

A sheriff’s department spokeswoman later played down the comments, saying there is nothing new with the case.

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