Viraldice: Investigators Have Named a New ‘Person of Interest’ in Natalie Wood’s Mysterious Death

"I’m frightened to death of the water,” Natalie Wood once said. "I can swim a little bit, but I’m afraid of water that is dark."

On the morning of November 29, 1981, Wood's body was found floating in facedown in the Pacific Ocean wearing only a flannel nightgown, red down jacket, and blue wool socks.

The specific circumstances surrounding her death have been shrouded in mystery for nearly four decades. The case was officially reopened in 2011, and now, there's a new person of interest.

Wood’s acting career started at a very young age.

Just a few weeks before her fifth birthday, she made her debut in a 15-second scene of the film Happy Land. Her mother, desperate to make little Natalie into a movie star, moved the family to Los Angeles shortly thereafter. Natalie’s breakout role was the 1947 film Miracle on 34th Street.

She went on to star in West Side Story, Rebel Without a Cause, and Splendor in the Grass — the role for which she received nominations for an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Award.

On the evening of November 28, 1981, Natalie Wood and her husband Robert Wagner met up with Christopher Walken for dinner on Catalina Island. At the time, Wood was filming Brainstorm and Walken was her co-star.

The three of them went to dinner at Doug’s Harbor Reef & Saloon prior to boarding Wood and Wagner’s yacht.

It was Wood’s final meal.

After dinner, Wood, Wagner, and Walken boarded The Splendour.

The yacht’s captain, Dennis Davern, was also aboard.

At 8:00 a.m. the next morning, Wood’s body was found one mile away from The Splendour. A small inflatable dinghy, named the Valiant, was found beached nearby.

The autopsy report revealed that Wood had bruises on her body and an abrasion on her left cheek. At the time, Wood’s death certificate listed the cause of death as “accidental drowning.” But in 2012, the Los Angeles Coroner’s office amended the cause of death to “drowning and other undetermined factors.”

Now, investigators with the Los Angeles County Sherrif’s Department have told CBS’ 48 Hours about a new person of interest…