Natalie Wood's death has been a source of speculation for decades, and that has not changed, but her official cause of death has changed. The beautiful actress was just 43 years old when she perished in the water off Santa Catalina Island. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning by former coroner Dr. Thomas Noguchi, but that ruling has recently been modified by coroner Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran, according to a Jan. 14, 2013 report by The Los Angeles Times.
"Citing bruises found on the actress' body, the medical examiner questions the original findings and revises the cause from an accident to 'drowning and other undetermined factors.'"
Wood's husband Robert Wagner and her "Brainstorm" co-star Christopher Walken were both on board The Splendour at the time of Natalie Wood's death. The Splendour was the 60-foot yacht where the brunette was last seen alive more than three decades ago. Wood died after falling or otherwise leaving the yacht and entering the water. Unconfirmed reports alleged that she and Walken may have been romantically involved.
Sathyavagiswaran said that bruises on Wood's left wrist, right knee and forearm happened before she hit the water. Likewise, a scrape on her forehead and a scratch on her neck may be indications that she was assaulted prior to her death. Even with her cause of death being updated to "drowning and other undetermined factors," Natalie Wood's death has remained largely a mystery since she died on Nov. 28, 1981.
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