The sudden drowning of movie star Natalie Wood in 1981 has remained an enduring mystery for over 40 years. While her death off California’s Catalina Island was initially ruled accidental, the bizarre circumstances surrounding that fateful Thanksgiving weekend boat trip with her husband Robert Wagner and friend Christopher Walken have fueled consistent speculation of foul play. The case was reopened in 2011 to re-examine the contradictory witness accounts and evidence suggesting Wood’s death may have been more than a tragic accident. This article dives into the various theories around what happened onboard the yacht Splendour the night a beloved actress was found floating lifeless in dark waters, cut down in her prime and without clear explanation.

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