Glenn Miller, an iconic American big band leader and musician, disappeared on December 15, 1944, during World War II. He was en route from England to France to entertain U.S. troops when his aircraft, a single-engine UC-64 Norseman, vanished over the English Channel. Despite extensive search efforts, neither the plane nor its occupants were ever found, and the exact cause of the disappearance remains a mystery. None of the photos on this page belong to Haunting History Podcast. No
copyright infringement intended and are only used as enhancements to the
story told.
At times when reporting facts regarding a true crime, (and photos)
multiple sources use the same wording. Every effort is made to avoid
any copyright infringements and no single work was intentionally
plagiarized when reporting the facts of the crimes.
Below is a list of resources used during the research and telling of
this story. (partial)
Episode Sources
1. Books:
- Finstad, Suzanne. Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood. New
York: Random House, 2001.
- This biography is one of the most detailed accounts of
Natalie Wood’s life. It includes in-depth interviews with
her family, friends, and colleagues, and covers her complex
relationship with her mother, Maria, her marriage to Robert
Wagner, and her career highs and lows. This book provided
background on Natalie’s family, her early life, and the
pressures she faced, as well as details about her first and
second marriages to Wagner.
- Davern, Dennis and Rulli, Marti. Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye
Splendour. Medallion Press, 2009.
- Co-written by Dennis Davern, the captain aboard Splendour
during Natalie’s last weekend, this book provides Davern’s
account of the events surrounding her death, Wagner’s
involvement, and his later testimonies. It was a primary
source for understanding Davern’s relationship with the
couple and details of the fateful Thanksgiving weekend.
2. Articles and Websites:
- Vanity Fair: "Natalie Wood’s Fatal Voyage" by Sam Kashner,
March 2012.
- This in-depth article investigates Natalie Wood's life, the
influence of her mother, her relationship with Wagner, and
her final days. It provided insight into the challenges
Natalie faced balancing family and career in the years
before her death.
- The Los Angeles Times: “After 30 Years, Natalie Wood’s Death
Remains an Open Case” by Richard Winton, February 2018.
- This article covers the 2011 reopening of Natalie Wood’s
case, with statements from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s
Department and updates on Wagner’s status as a “person of
interest.” It was useful for understanding the ongoing
investigation and Wagner's relationship with the
authorities.
- Town & Country: “The Mystery Surrounding Natalie Wood’s Death”
by Sam Dangremond, February 2018.
- This article provides an overview of Natalie’s relationships
with Wagner, her family dynamics, and new witness statements
from people on Catalina Island that night, contributing
details about the Thanksgiving weekend on Splendour and
interactions between Natalie, Wagner, and Walken.
3. Documentaries and Media Coverage:
- HBO Documentary: Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind (2020)
- Produced by Natalie’s daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner, this
documentary offers a personal perspective on Natalie’s life,
her role as a mother, and her relationship with Robert
Wagner. It includes family interviews that gave context to
Natalie’s life in 1981 and her family’s evolving feelings
toward Wagner.
- CBS News – 48 Hours Special: Natalie Wood: Death in Dark
Water (2018)
- This news special includes interviews with witnesses, Dennis
Davern, and law enforcement involved in the reopened
investigation. It was a source for additional details on
Davern’s testimony, Walken’s role in the weekend, and
Wagner’s interactions with law enforcement.
4. Public Records:
- Los Angeles County Coroner’s Report on Natalie Wood’s Death
(1981, with updates in 2011 and 2012).
- Available in public archives, the coroner’s report was
crucial for understanding the official causes, injuries, and
suspicions surrounding Wood’s death. This report, along with
the revised statements from 2011, provided foundational
details about the circumstances of her death and the
inconsistencies that led to the case’s reopening.
-
and of course Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com, Newspaperarchives,
FamilySearch.org
This presentation is protected by US & International copyright laws.
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Ancestry.com, MyHeritage.com, Newspaperarchives, FamilySearch.org
This presentation is protected by US & International copyright laws.
Reproduction & distribution of the presentation without written
permission of the sponsor is prohibited.
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