The former captain of the yacht where actress Natalie Wood tragically died has come forward with shocking allegations against her husband, Robert Wagner.
Dennis Davern, who was aboard the Splendour in November 1981 when Wood disappeared, has expressed his belief that Wagner is responsible for her death and asserts that search efforts were halted under his orders.
Davern, now 62, was one of the four individuals present on the yacht at the time – the others being Wood, Wagner, and actor Christopher Walken.
Having served as the couple’s boat captain for six years, Davern admitted to having a foreboding sense about the voyage from the start.
According to Davern, the weekend was marred by intense arguments, leading Wood to request disembarkation at one point.
Allegedly, both Wood and Davern left the yacht in a Dinghy, with the actress appearing visibly shaken.
Seeking refuge at a nearby hotel, Davern managed to persuade Wood to return to the boat the following day, assuring her that tensions would have subsided.
However, on the night of her disappearance, another heated argument ensued, prompting Wood to retreat to her room.
Reportedly, Walken also left to his cabin, while Wagner remained behind, engaging in drinks with Davern.
Subsequently, a scuffle between Wagner and Wood occurred, as recounted by Davern.
When Davern noticed Wood missing and initiated a search, Wagner allegedly dissuaded him, opting instead to continue drinking.
Davern now believes that Wood was murdered and disposed of overboard.
Following the discovery of Wood’s body near the dinghy, Wagner and Walken departed by helicopter, leaving Davern to identify her remains.
At Wood’s funeral, Davern claims to have encountered Walken’s attorney, sparking speculation about efforts to silence him.
Despite discrepancies between Davern’s recent statements and his initial police testimony, he has reportedly passed multiple lie detector tests.
The case surrounding Wood’s death was reopened in 2018, with Wagner identified as a suspect but refusing to cooperate with authorities.
Renowned for his roles in films like The True Story of Jesse James and The Pink Panther, Wagner faced allegations of foul play in Wood’s accidental drowning.
The official cause of death was attributed to her efforts to board the dinghy, compounded by elevated blood alcohol levels at the time.
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