Authors: Suzanne Finstad
NATALIE’S OUTFIT
: Police statements of Christina Quinn, Michelle Mileski, bartender Ted Bauer
DOUG’S A PARTY SPOT; ACTION MOVED INSIDE
: Michelle Mileski to SF, 10/26/99; Christina Quinn to SF
NATALIE AND WALKEN DRANK AT BAR
: Christina Quinn to SF; Michelle Mileski to SF [Mileski thought Wagner and Davern arrived first]; 3/00
Vanity Fair;
police statement of Ted Bauer [Bauer said all four drank at the bar from 3:30 until 7:30 or 8:00]
WAGNER BECAME AGITATED
: Davern’s tabloid accounts; Davern, “The Final Days”
R.J. AND DAVERN TOOK SHOREBOAT
: Wagner’s and Davern’s 2nd police statements
HAVING GOOD TIME; OUT OF IT
: Davern, “The Final Days”; 3/00
Vanity Fair
NATALIE WAS BUZZED
: Michelle Mileski to SF
WAGNER MADE RESERVATION AND ALL 4 DRANK: 2nd police statements of Wagner, Davern; Mileski and Quinn to SF; police statement of Don Whiting
DAVERN NOTICED A JEALOUS RAGE
: Marti Rulli to SF, 10/4/99
WALKEN AND DAVERN SMOKED JOINT; HIGHER THAN KITE
: 3/00
Vanity Fair
BROUGHT BACK 2 BOTTLES OF WINE FROM
SPLENDOUR
: Davern’s and Wagner’s 2nd police statement; Michelle Mileski to SF; Christina Quinn to SF; police statement of Don Whiting
ALL FOUR INEBRIATED, WAGNER IRRITATED WITH WIFE
: Police statement of Don Whiting
SEATING ARRANGEMENTS
: Michelle Mileski to SF
FROM LIGHT TO DARK, FUSSED ABOUT LIGHTING; NOT BEST MOOD
: Christina Quinn to SF; Quinn’s police statement
SENT MEAL BACK; DRINK HER MEAL
: Police statement of Michelle Mileski; Mileski to SF
PAIN IN BUTTS, STRANGE VIBRATION, HOLDING HANDS; EERIE; R.J. DETACHED, JEALOUS
: Michelle Mileski to SF
FLIRTING
: Personal notes made by Don Whiting
ALCOHOL CONSUMED
: Michelle Mileski to SF; Christina Quinn to SF; police statements of Mileski and Quinn; police statement of Don Whiting
RYAN OBSERVATIONS
: John Ryan to SF, 11/15/99 & 2/13/01
LAUREL PAGE COMMENTS
: Laurel Page Bowen to SF
NATALIE WAS MISSING HER DAUGHTERS
: Michelle Mileski to SF; Laurel Page Bowen to SF; Christina Quinn to SF
NATALIE WITH LITTLE GIRL IN BATHROOM
: Christina Quinn to SF; Laurel Page Bowen to SF, Dawn Powers Smith to SF, 9/28/01
BRAIDED HAIR AT TABLE
: Michelle Mileski to SF; police statement of Susan Bernard
ACCORDION PLAYER
: Susan Bernard’s police statement; Mileski to SF; “More Shock Waves from the Death of Natalie Wood,” James Bacon,
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
, 12/1/81
FOOLING AROUND, A SPAT; HARD TIME WALKING, PUT HIS COAT AROUND HER
: Mileski to SF
NATALIE THREW A GLASS
: Police statements of Mileski, Quinn, Whiting, Bernard; Quinn and Mileski to SF, Dawn Smith to SF
MADE A TOAST
: Walken’s 2nd police statement; statement of Ted Bauer
PROBLEM BETWEEN WAGNER AND WIFE, PRIVATE CONVERSATION; WAGNER WAS IRATE
: Rasure’s notes of Whiting’s statement; Hamilton’s notes of Whiting’s statement
RELUCTANT TO GO BACK
: 3/00 Vanity Fair
HIT TIKI POLE, CALLED AHEAD
: Mileski to SF
CALLED AHEAD BECAUSE INTOXICATED
: Whiting’s police statement
CALL FROM WHITING, ALL DRUNK, NATALIE UNHAPPY: Police statement of Kurt Craig; Duane Rasure to SF
NATALIE YELLED AND STUMBLED
: Police statement of William Peterson; Peterson to SF
GIGGLING AND R.J. HAD TO EXPLODE
: Davern, “The Final Days”
ALL IN SALON
: Police statements of Wagner, Walken, Davern
MORE WINE, SCOTCH, CANDLES
: 3/00
Vanity Fair;
Davern tabloid accounts; Davern to Lana Wood, 3/24/01 (scotch); Davern’s statement to R. W. Kroll at 8:30 A.M., 11/30/81 (continued to drink on boat)
SMALL BEEF
: Walken’s 1st police statement
RATHER NOT SAY
: Davern’s 1st police statement
DETAILS OF THE BEEF
: Walken’s 2nd police statement, from Rasure’s notes
ASSHOLES
: Walken’s 2nd police statement, from Hamilton’s notes
DISCUSSION OF NATALIE BEING GONE
: Davern’s 2nd police statement, from Rasure’s notes
DISCUSSION OF NATALIE AWAY FROM KIDS
: Wagner’s 2nd police statement, from Rasure’s notes
FUCK MY WIFE; I’M NOT STANDING
: Davern, “The Final Days”; 3/00
Vanity Fair
KROLL’S REPORT
: Kroll’s Complaint Report #81-15167, Sheriff’s Department archives
BACK ON
SPLENDOUR
BETWEEN 10 TO 10
:30: statement of harbormaster Kurt Craig
WAGNER’S, WALKEN’S AND DAVERN’S 1ST AND 2ND STATEMENTS
: from Rasure’s notes [NOTE: Wagner and Davern each told Avalon Det. R. W. Kroll they noticed Natalie missing before midnight and made their first search attempt at 1:30 A.M. by radio to “Isthmus employees”]
ARCHER RADIOED, HEARD NATALIE AND R.J. FIGHT
: From handwritten telephone notepad and from Rasure’s notebook in the Natalie Wood file, Sheriff’s Department records
ARCHER SAW DINGHY
: William Peterson’s police statement
PAYNE HEARD A WOMAN
: Sheriff’s records of Payne’s call to police 11/30/81; Rasure’s interview with Payne; Marilyn Wayne to SF
WAYNE SLEPT WITH WINDOWS OPEN, HEARD WOMAN
: Marilyn Wayne to SF
CALLED TO SON, 11
:05: Marilyn Wayne to SF; Anthony Sakal to SF, 11/29/99
ALL 3 HEARD WOMAN CRY AND DRUNKEN MALE VOICE
: Police report of John Payne; sheriff’s notes of Wayne’s calls, 11/30/81; Marilyn Wayne to SF; Anthony Sakal to SF
WAYNE’S ACCOUNT
: Marilyn Wayne to SF
SAKAL’S ACCOUNT
: Anthony Sakal to SF
PAYNE HAUNTED BY QUESTIONS
: John Payne to SF, 11/18/99
R.J.’S FIRST DISTRESS CALL WAS AT 1:30 TO WHITING: Wagner’s and Davern’s 11/30 statements to Det. Kroll (first call at 1:30); Wagner’s 2nd police statement (first search attempt was to radio Isthmus employees); Don Whiting’s police statement; Whiting’s personal notes
SLURRED VOICE; WAGNER SOUNDED DRUNK
: Police statements of Whiting and Wintler; Whiting and Wintler to SF; Whiting’s personal notes
STRANGE
: Whiting’s police statement
THOUGHT SHE TOOK DINGHY TO THE BAR
: Whiting and Wintler’s statements; Wintler to SF; Whiting’s notes; Wagner and Davern’s statements to Kroll; Wagner’s and Davern’s 2nd police statements
WAGNER’S ODD, CONTRADICTORY EXPLANATIONS
: Told Whiting at 1:30 A.M. Natalie took the dinghy to the bar; told Wintler at 2:00 A.M. they had a fight and she took the dinghy; told Oudin at 2:45 A.M. she would never take the dinghy alone, no reason she’d go to shore and she was in her nightgown; told Whiting at 3:00 A.M. she might have gone to the mainland; told Kroll at 6:30 A.M. she took the dinghy to the bar; told Rasure at 10 A.M. and on 12/4 Natalie often took the dinghy alone and he thought she went to the bar; told Lana 12/1 it was an accident and she must have fallen in; issued a press release 11/30 Natalie took the dinghy for a ride; told press 12/27 she was trying to retie the dinghy and fell in
WHITING’S ACCOUNT
: Whiting’s private notes
WINTLER’S ACCOUNT
: Paul Wintler’s police statement
FIGURED OUT WHICH WAY; R.J. AGITATED, NEVER TOLD HIM, WINTLER WANTED TO CALL FOR HELP
: Paul Wintler to SF
NEEDED GUIDANCE, GOT OUDIN, WAGNER DID NOT WANT COAST GUARD
: Whiting’s and Wintler’s police statements; Wintler to SF; Whiting’s personal notes
OUDIN’S ACCOUNT
: Doug Oudin to SF [Note: Rasure never questioned Oudin]
DAZED, THOUGHT WENT TO MAINLAND
: Whiting’s statement to police, from Hamilton’s notes
COAST GUARD CALLED AT 3
:30: Oudin to SF; Sheriff’s records
CALL TO LIFEGUARDS
: Det. Kroll’s report; Roger Smith to SF; Jean-Claude Stonier to SF
WAGNER’S STATEMENT TO KROLL
: Kroll’s Complaint Report, Sheriff’s records
WHITING AND COLEMAN FOUND DINGHY
: Whiting’s and Coleman’s police statements
SMITH TOOK DINGHY OUT; SMITH HELPED WITH BODY
: Roger Smith to SF
BOMBARD’S ACCOUNT
: Doug Bombard to SF [Note: Police never questioned Bombard]
LOCATION OF BODY: Avalon Sheriff’s Detective R.W. Kroll’s Complaint Report states that Natalie was found 250 yards north of Blue Cavern Point
BOMBARD COMMENTS
: Doug Bombard to SF
SMITH COMMENTS
: Roger Smith to SF [Note: Smiths partner, Stonier, concurs]
RASURE COMMENTS AND POLICE STATEMENTS
: Duane Rasure to SF, Rasure’s notes
R.J. ASKED DAVERN TO IDENTIFY THE BODY
: Marti Rulli to SF;3/00
Vanity Fair
WHISPERS OF MURDER; RUMORS OF FOUL PLAY
:
Coroner
, Thomas T. Noguchi, M.D., with Joseph DiMona, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1983
R.J.’S CALLS
: Bombard to SF
MUD AND LANA HEARD
: Maria Gurdin to Phyllis Quinn; Lana Wood to SF
OLGA FLEW; R.J. TOTALLY BROKEN
: Olga Viripaeff to SF
WAGNER’S PRESS RELEASE
: Published, among other places, in “Natalie Wood Found Dead Off Catalina,” Ted Thackrey, Jr.,
Los Angeles Times
, 11/30/81
PRESS CONFERENCE
: As reported in “Some Drinks, a Fight, a Death,” Mark Schorr and Andy Furillo,
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
, 12/1/81
EXTRAORDINARY INTEREST; NOGUCHI CONFERRED
: Dr. Thomas Noguchi to SF, 11/16/99
TRYST
: Robert Hyatt to SF
MILESKI COMMENTS
: Michelle Mileski to SF
WHITING AND COLEMAN THOUGHT
: Mileski to SF; Roger Smith to SF
R.J. SEQUESTERED
: Olga Viripaeff to SF; Lana Wood to SF; Faye Nuell Mayo to SF; 3/00
Vanity Fair;
Duane Rasure to SF
THERE’S HIS WIFE’S
: Katie Wagner, A&E biography of Robert Wagner
MUD WENT TO SEE
: Maria Gurdin to Phyllis Quinn; Lana Wood to SF
TOLD LANA AN ACCIDENT
: Lana Wood to SF;
Natalie
, by Lana Wood
OUT FOR A SWIM
: “The Final Laughter-Filled Night When Natalie Died,” Douglas Thompson,
London Daily News
, 12/1/81
ARCHERD’S COLUMN
: “Just for Variety,” Army Archerd,
Daily Variety
, 12/1/81
WAGNER WAS NOT ALARMED
: “‘I’m Terrified of Deep, Dark, Water,’ ” Paul Connew,
London Daily News
, 12/1/81
WE’LL HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS
: “Dispute Before Wood’s Death Now in Doubt,” Jack Jones and Ron Harris,
Los Angeles Times
, 12/2/81
PALLBEARERS
: 12/3/81
Daily Variety
MANULIS COMMENTS
: Martin Manulis to SF, 6/10/99
NATASHA WAS HYSTERICAL, THEN CALM; WROTE NOTE; COURTNEY IN DENIAL: Peggy Griffin to SF; Evan Smedley Maldonado to SF, 3/2/01
WEREN’T WE LUCKY
: 9/30/83
Los Angeles Times
IMPOSTOR NATASHA
: Robert Hyatt to SF; George Liuzunie to SF; Lana Wood to SF
CARRIED ON CONVERSATIONS
: Randal Malone to SF
RASURE COMMENTS
: Duane Rasure to SF
WAYNE COMMENTS
: Marilyn Wayne to SF
WAYNE TOLD A FEW REPORTERS THEN
: e.g., “Heard Cries for Help Near Wagner Boat, Woman Says,” Keith Love and Jan Klunder,
Los Angeles Times
, 12/3/81
WAYNE CONTACTED NOGUCHI
: Marilyn Wayne to SF; Dr. Noguchi to SF
SMITH DISHEARTENED
: Roger Smith to SF; “Lifeguards Join Search - Too Late,” Ann Japenga,
Los Angeles Times
, 12/31/81
JUST TOOK STATEMENTS
: Christina Quinn to SF
SALERNO COMMENTS
: Frank Salerno to SF, 10/26/99
DROWNING AND HYPOTHERMIA
: Dr. Noguchi to SF; Dr. Joseph Choi to SF, 11/21/99; autopsy report
CHOI’S COMMENTS
: Dr. Choi to SF
NOGUCHI’S COMMENTS
: Dr. Noguchi to SF
ISAACS’ COMMENTS
: Godfrey Isaacs to SF, 11/16/99
FRIENDS OF WAGNER
:
Coroner
, by Noguchi
HAMILTON’S AND WILSON’S DENIALS
: As reported in “Dispute Before Wood’s Death Now In Doubt,”
Los Angeles Times
, 12/2/81
SINATRA INSTIGATED REMOVAL
: Dr. Noguchi and Godfrey Isaacs to SF
CASE CLOSED
: As reported in “Natalie Died by Accident,”
London Daily Mirror
, 12/5/81
DAMBACHER COMMENT
: Robert Dambacher to SF, 11/13/99
R.J.’S 2ND PRESS STATEMENT
: e.g., “Wife Fell Trying to Secure Dinghy, Speculates Wagner,”
Daily Variety
, 12/28/81, reporting from a
New York Daily News
copyrighted story
NOGUCHI’S MEMOIR VERSION
: From
Coroner
, by Noguchi
MILLER’S COMMENTS
: Paul Miller to SF, 2/2/00
GRIFFIN’S COMMENTS
: Peggy Griffin to SF
WOULD HAVE CALLED OUT
: Robert Jiras to SF
CANEVARI COMMENTS
: Ed Canevari to SF
BLAKE’S COMMENT
: Robert Blake outtakes