Natalie Wood was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars when her body washed up on a beach Thanksgiving weekend, 1981. The Los Angeles County coroner quickly concluded the 43-year-old actress died of an accidental drowning. However, the death certificate was revised in recent years with the cause of death listed as “undetermined.” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators reopened the case after revelations brought to the public thanks to the work of the Cold Case Research Institute and others.

Robert Wagner, also a huge star, has acknowledged that he and his wife argued before she disappeared off their yacht, which was anchored in a Catalina Island, California, harbor.

Crime Stories is presenting a series of interviews with those responsible for re-heating this cold case. The first episode in our series is with Sheryl McCollum, head of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute.

Also read McCollum’s story for Crime Online: Natalie Wood’s undetermined & unacceptable death

[Feature Photo: AP]