BEVERLY HILLS—Last week readers emailed me about the famed author Marti Rulli, yacht captain and friend of Natalie Wood’s, Dennis Davern, and they wanted to ask Marti more questions about the mission she and Dennis have been on, to make sure that Natalie Wood is never forgotten, but more importantly, that her death investigation be reopened and looked at properly. Rulli and Davern also authored the bestseller “Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour” which is available now in eBook. I sat down with Rulli, who spoke exclusively with me and with CBS’s “48 Hours” to ask the burning questions of the day, or rather, the questions fans of Natalie Wood wanted me to ask the author.
Natalie Wood Died In 1981, But Lives On In Rulli's Biography |
Q-Marti, everyone has asked me to ask you, how did you get involved with the case of Natalie Wood’s death and write this amazing story?
A-“It was a middle of the night phone call from Dennis Davern in 1983 that got me started on seeking justice for Natalie Wood. Dennis was distraught and wanted to unburden himself as he revealed information about Natalie’s death that was never told. I wanted to help my friend who trusted me so I promised Dennis confidentiality and support. Then I got right down to business and was surprised mainstream media seemed hands-off regarding Natalie’s death. That phone call from Dennis turned into a journey that continues to this day with the submission of a petition and witness statements to the LA County Sheriff with testimonial pleas to reopen Natalie’s case.
“After decades of compiling information, reports, and facts, I believe Natalie’s death was one of the most outmaneuvered investigations in this nation’s history. Lawyers have told me “Goodbye Natalie Goodbye Splendour” (GNGS) should be in every criminal law classroom as a guide on how not to handle a case. Nothing was done by the book. It was a case of how celebrity, death scene confusion, and the attorney-requested silence of three surviving cruise members became a controversial, mysterious, theorized death.
Q-Marti, my readers want to know what makes your book different from all the other books on Natalie out there? I know the answer, but please tell everyone.
A-“Lana Wood first authored a poignant sister memoir, then Warren G. Harris gave us “Natalie and RJ” which basically is a story of their celebrity. Not until “Natasha” by Suzanne Finstad was Natalie’s death addressed by offering the first valid timeline of her final weekend: something the authorities never established. Dennis, however, was not interviewed by Finstad, but she did focus on other valuable witnesses in her detailed biography. Then came a book I call pure agenda by the late author, Gavin Lambert, who worked with Robert Wagner for a portrayal of Natalie that is at once insulting. Lines like
Natalie was known to swish her tail insinuates Natalie deserved trouble for flirting with Walken the night she died. In GNGS, truth and reason prevails.
“The Wagner couple always entertained co-stars aboard their yacht, and the Thanksgiving weekend of 1981 was no different than any other social cruise where Natalie always showered her guests with attention. On the cruise with Walken, however, it was Natalie’s husband’s insecurities or maybe something even worse that destroyed the ambiance and intention of the weekend, which was to do some early holiday shopping in Avalon and pass the weekend with a pleasure cruise until filming on Brainstorm (Natalie’s final movie , co-starring Walken) would resume the next week. From the start of the cruise, Wagner stomped on the upbeat mood Natalie intended, and that is why Natalie spent the Friday night of the cruise in an Island hotel room with her friend and boat captain, Dennis. The entire weekend, from the moment Natalie, RJ, and Christopher stepped on board is covered in GNGS.”
Q-What type of mistakes were made during the investigation?
A-“Christopher, RJ, and Dennis were never properly questioned or physically examined. The three men were sent home and then everything was handled by their attorneys. RJ had hired an attorney for Dennis. Even the physical evidence was bungled. Splendour was not properly secured, shattered glass from a wine bottle Wagner smashed in anger was never questioned, and the detectives resented the coroner. Coroner Noguchi claimed Natalie’s down jacket “weighed her down” in the ocean. It was my friend Carol Lallier who realized down jackets, such as Natalie was wearing when found floating, are buoyant. To prove it, I considered the ocean and the nearby Delaware River to test a down jacket’s buoyancy, but I admit I was frightened of strong currents. Noguchi’s theory that Natalie’s down jacket became waterlogged and prevented her from mounting a dinghy is also how he assumed she acquired bruises. Dennis had already told me about an argument in the master stateroom that had sounded physical, so I suspected that’s when and how Natalie acquired the more than 25 bruises indicated on her autopsy report. I donned a down jacket and conducted my experiment in a pool with air and water temperature close to the night Natalie drowned. I would not be afraid to test one is an ocean after discovering down serves as a life preserver, and also offers warmth.
“Natalie most likely lived in terror in the dark ocean that night, possibly for many hours. It wasn’t until after GNGS was published that I learned from Coast Guard Captain Roger Smith that he also believed Natalie lived through the night. Natalie’s wool socks were an important overlooked clue as well. If she had attempted to mount a dinghy, she would never have been found wearing socks. A simple test while wearing socks in water proves how easily they slip off, but ironically, when wearing a down jacket and socks, the buoyancy of the jacket keeps you rather still. You literally become a floating victim of currents, but you do not sink at all. Sadly, the ocean currents the night Natalie died carried her away from the shoreline.”
Q-In reading your book, you have such distinct questions being answered. That night, it seems the authorities locked themselves into an easy to solve theory. Did the investigators look into the possibility Natalie drifted alone, with no dinghy?
A-“No. The coroner commissioned an independent study of the ocean currents and various data. Later, the author of that report realized how wrong his theory was and retracted his theory, but no one ever paid attention. It was Dr. Lyndon Taylor, an avid boater moored near the Splendour the night Natalie died, who conducted drift tests for me exactly where Natalie drowned. He used a simulated body and a float-away dinghy and proved that Natalie and the yacht’s dinghy would end up exactly where each was found separately the next morning, indicating she was most likely not with the dinghy for long, if at all. Dr. Taylor composed a formula that calculated Natalie would have weighed no more than 6.25 lbs. of pure buoyancy while floating in her down jacket. These are calculations and tests the authorities should have investigated and presented. The going answer for Natalie’s death is the “banging dinghy” theory: easily proven invalid because the dinghy was tied with two lines and couldn’t have floated away on its own, as no one can untie two lines 12 ft. apart simultaneously. Someone released the dinghy. Walken was sleeping and Dennis was on the bridge.”
Q-What else did you do to validate your findings, Marti?
A-“I never doubted Dennis’s account, as it rings so true, but because I am his friend, I especially never let friendship to interfere with my objectivity. We commissioned an expert polygraphist to test Dennis, and he passed. I did everything I could by way of experimenting and testing to substantiate Dennis’s account, and I interviewed key witnesses who were never interviewed by the case detectives, and then I interviewed the case detectives as well. They listened but then never answered.
Q-Can you tell us how Dennis (Davern) met the Wagners?
A-“GNGS is not a biography, nor a memoir. Ironically, and appropriately, it found its own way into the true crime genre. Although I am the narrative voice for GNGS, it is Dennis Davern’s story, and a voice for Natalie Wood. It’s an actual representation of all the facts involved in Natalie’s death, plus tells the interesting story how Dennis cruised a yacht from Florida to California in 1975 the Wagners purchased, then hired Dennis to maintain and captain the boat. Dennis adored the Wagner family and became their friend who was trusted enough to baby-sit the young Wagner daughters. Dennis met many big names during pleasure cruises, including Sir Laurence Olivier, Sean Connery, and Sidney Poitier, and he always conducted himself respectably. He worked for the family for over six years, then Wagner kept him close after Natalie died, even got him a job as an actor on his series, Hart to Hart. RJ and Natalie were a loving couple, then one stormy night everything went awry and Natalie ended up dead, and her case was handled with celebrity justice. Wagner and Walken were provided a helicopter to be removed from the ugly scene as fast as possible, while Dennis was left to identify his beautiful friend, and also left to carry the burden of his friend’s death. Robert Wagner literally asked Dennis Davern to never tell the truth about what happened during Natalie’s final hour aboard the yacht, but Dennis couldn’t bear the burden and as soon as he escaped Wagner’s threats and influence, he spoke up.”
Q-Was it hard as a writer, an author to get “Goodbye Natalie, Goodbye Splendour” to being published?
A-“There has been no reaction from the Wagner base in regard to GNGS. For years, we were threatened a lawsuit, and publishers were put on notice, my attorney received letters from Wagner’s attorney, interviewers faltered, and most seemed afraid of our honest book. Truth not only hurts, it sometimes also scares. Well, GNGS scared away many, and then, finally, along came Michael Viner, the late president of Phoenix Books and Audio. Michael was known for risk-taking in the publishing world, and had known Natalie. Sadly, Michael Viner passed away just weeks before GNGS was released. Six months later, Phoenix closed its publishing end of the business, and released authors. E-Reads, in NY, picked-up our floating book and allowed an epilogue to include new information uncovered for the e-versions and paperback. But while in limbo, GNGS lost momentum, although it remains the story that will never go away, and one that needed to be told. Robert Wagner has never denied GNGS or even commented, and we certainly weren’t sued. It’s difficult to sue when truth is a defense. I’m proud that GNGS is available for anyone who cares about a compelling story of how such an important historical case could go so wrong. Robert Wagner cared about his image while his wife floated in the unforgiving sea, and he refused to allow Dennis to call for help. Instead he led Dennis to believe Natalie would return to the yacht. But having to identify Natalie’s body will never leave Dennis. Robert Wagner argued with Natalie up until she left the yacht. It’s not too late for authorities to ask him a few questions.”
Q-You and Dennis are on a quest now, not only with this book, but including this book, as well as trying to lobby the LASD and others to take a look into the case. That’s all you are asking, is that correct?
A-“Thanks, Tommy. Your help and everyone else’s help has been invaluable. However, through Dennis, GNGS shows an interesting part of Natalie’s personal life, but her tragic death is scrutinized. Everything is based on facts and eye and ear witness accounts. GNGS will put a reader in investigator mode throughout the compelling saga of decades of effort to bring truth to the memory of a classic actress. I hope people will watch the segment of 48 Hours Mystery on November 26 this Thanksgiving weekend, the anniversary of the Saturday night 30 years ago when Natalie Wood, a beautiful, iconic actress, mother of two, lost her life to the dark water she had always feared.”
Photographs Courtesy: Marti Rulli and are exclusives for Canyon News and San Francisco News only
