. >> dennis davern was a member of their family. he was both a bodyguard and a confidant of natalie's and i think it was very hard for him to tell this story. >> i just didn't want my whole life to go by without having the truth come out. >> dennis davern's stories has changed and he has even sold it. some people question his motives. but others believe he holds a dangerous truth. >> i believe natalie wood was left to die. my name is marty rulli. i'm a long time friend of dennis davern and for close to 20 years i have investigated natalie wood's death. >> that investigation has led to a stunning development in one of hollywood's most enduring mysteries. the l.a. sheriff's department has officially reopened the case. >> natalie wood deserves the truth attached to her legend. >> joining us now is sam kashner of "vanity fair" magazine. good to have you with us this morning. >> thanks for having me. >> there was a story out at the time that pretty much was all we heard. but in 2000 you spoke with the captain of the boat. he gave you a d

they've yet to really reinterview dennis davern, the captain of the boat. you'd think that they would have done something of an investigative nature before making this big announcement when all we really here is that robert wagner is not a suspect. one thing i thought was interesting in the timing, if you google l.a. county sheriff's department today, all you will see is this investigation. but coincidentally, today is also a day that a seven-person commission is investigating alleged sheriff's department abuse of inmates at the l.a. county jail. the sheriff's department could have announced this on the anniversary or after this special if new information did indeed come out that they deemed credible. so i just thought the whole -- the whole aura of the event seemed odd to me. >> what are some of the big things, sam, about we don't know about what happened on that boat? because allegedly there was a fight and robert wagner acknowledges that he fought with her that night. the presumption is she got into a dinghy and then her body was found a distance away. >

and where dennis, to his credit, i think, dennis davern -- >> the boat captain. >> yeah, the boat captain, does admit that he allowed himself to be constrained by robert wagner from calling the authorities. >> why didn't robert wagner want the authorities called? >> i think because he was robert wagner and it was natalie wood that was missing. and in a way, i think this is a lesson too about how celebrity, a certain level of fame can compromise judgment. you try to manage -- you know, stage manage, at least a tragic accident. we saw that with chappaquiddick on some level too. >> jim, for you, what are the big questions you want answered? >> well, i mean, i think if denver davern has a problem with his conscience, i wish it had occurred before he wrote a book. that's one of my problems with this. i agree, this has been a mystery for years. there have been questions about this death for years. even though it was ruled an accident, natalie wood's sister has raised questions, certainly saying that her sister was terrified of water. so it would be nice to finally, i agree, put some closure to

>> no. >>> my interview earlier this morning with dennis davern and marti rulli. come up next, the story behind the split of demi moore and ashton kutcher. next. i'd never ride without one now. and since my doctor prescribed lipitor, i won't go without it for my high cholesterol and my risk of heart attack. why kid myself? diet and exercise weren't lowering my cholesterol enough. now i'm eating healthier, exercising more, taking lipitor. numbers don't lie. my cholesterol's stayed down. lipitor is fda approved to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who have heart disease or risk factors for heart disease. it's backed by over 19 years of research. [ female announcer ] lipitor is not for everyone, including people with liver problems and women who are nursing, pregnant or may become pregnant. you need simple blood tests to check for liver problems. tell your doctor if you are taking other medications, or if you have any muscle pain or weakness. this may be a sign of a rare but serious side effect. [ man ] still love that wind in my face! talk to yo

and where dennis, to his credit, i think, dennis davern -- >> the boat captain. >> yeah, the boat captain, does admit that he allowed himself to be constrained by robert wagner from calling the authorities. >> why didn't robert wagner want the authorities called? >> i think because he was robert wagner and it was natalie wood that was missing. and in a way, i think this is a lesson too about how celebrity, a certain level of fame can compromise judgment. you try to manage -- you know, stage manage, at least a tragic accident. we saw that with chappaquiddick on some level too. >> jim, for you, what are the big questions you want answered? >> well, i mean, i think if denver davern has a problem with his conscience, i wish it had occurred before he wrote a book. that's one of my problems with this. i agree, this has been a mystery for years. there have been questions about this death for years. even though it was ruled an accident, natalie wood's sister has raised questions, certainly saying that her sister was terrified of water. so it would be nice to finally, i agree, put some closure to

doesn't that corroborate dennis davern saying leave her in the water we'll teach her a lesson. arthur, i will ask you that one. >> you are the d.a. if your detectives brought you you a case that is 30 years old and the best that you have got is the contents of food in her stomach and how long to take to be digested you can't make a leap in front of a jury that means he pushed her as opposed to her accidentally falling in. >> judge jeanine: 30 years later what are the chances legally? >> in the state of california only first-degree murder, intentional murder has zero statute of limitations. if they found that buy accident he pushed her or -- by accident he pushed her wanted to scare her and threw you her in the water and she died, the statute of limitations is gone. >> judge jeanine: and that means he can't be prosecuted for anything other than intentional murder. todoctor? >> i respectfully disagree with the famous attorney aidala. as he said we can't tell from all of this discussion whether she was pushed or whether she fell accidentally and we can't tell that any more than we

. >> dennis davern was a member of their family. he was both a body guard and a confidant of natalie's. i think it was very hard for him to tell this story. >> i just didn't want my whole life to go by without having the truth come out. >> dennis davern's story has changed. he's even sold it. some people question his motives. but others believe he holds a dangerous truth. >> i believe natalie wood was left to die. my name is marty really, i'm a long-time friend of dennis davern and for close to 30 years i investigated natalie wood's death. >> that investigation has led to a stunning development in one of hollywood's most enduring mysteries. the l.a. sheriff's department has officially reopened the case. >> natalie wood deserves the truth attached to her legend. >> joining us now is sam cashner, contributing editor for "vanity fair" magazine. good to have you with us this morning. >> good to be here. >> as all of this is coming up, there was the story that was out at the time that was pretty much all we heard. but in 2000, you actual

dennis davern, thank you very much. marti ruli, thank you. >> thank you. >>> here's ann. >> thanks. another prestigious college sports program is being hit with allegations of abuse by one of its long-time coaches. this while more victims are coming forward claiming they suffered sexual abuse at the hands of a former penn state assistant coach named jerry sandusky. nbc's peter alexander is in state college with the latest on this story. peter, good morning. >> reporter: ann, good morning to you. police in syracuse, new york are investigating whether the men's assistant basketball coach there molested a boy, beginning in the mid 1980s, for more than 12 years. we'll have more details on that in just a moment. but here at penn state university, the man initially named acting president has now officially taken over that title. his name is rodney erickson. and today we're learning new details about the case here, and about a federal investigation, as well. several lawyers tell nbc news that more young men are coming forward to say they're victims of jerry sandusky. many of them empowered

they won't confirm if the boat captain dennis davern was one of those people. in the past he said that wood's death was a direct result of a fight with wagner onboard his fight. listen to what davern told "today" show this morning. >> you're saying that wagner did not do everything he should have done to look for her after she went missing. >> exactly. >> was he responsible for her death in some way? >> well, like i said, i think we all made mistakes that night and -- >> that wasn't my question. was he responsible for her death? i am not asking about your story. >> yes, i would say so, yes. >> robert wagner's publicist gave cnn this statement. wagner's family, "fully supports the efforts of the l.a. county sheriff's department and trust they will evaluate any new information relating to the death of natalie wood wagner is valid and comes from credible source or sources other than those simply trying to profit from the 30-year anniversary of her tragic death." authorities have scheduled a news conference scheduled for 2:00 p.m. eastern time today. let's talk to

he, wagner, according to the captain, what's his name, dennis davern wagner smaches a wine bottle and is furious that they are having this beef, r.j. goes storming off, christopher walken goes to his captain. natalie wood goes out on deck. that's the story. something happens to natalie wood. it's later reported that she drowned. okay, now dennis davern is saying when i interviewed him on the 10th anniversary, now we are at 30th anniversary he said there was an argument fan tail on the boat he heard after walken go to bed. natalie and r.j. arguing on the back of the boat. he hears shouting and the next thing he knows natalie wood is missing. the captain says natalie wood is missing. r.j. doesn't know anything purportedly what happened. the story is did she drown? was she -- she definitely drowned. was she pushed? how did she get in the water? >> bill: well, the authorities have categorized it as an accident. >> and i thought at the time that was a kind of rush to judgment. here is an accident but, indeed, why was natalie wood, a woman afraid of going in the water? a woman deathly afrai

dennis davern now blames wood's husband robert wagner for her death. after a night of heavy drinking with actor christopher walken, davern says wagner and woods had a fight shortly before she disappeared into the water near catalina island. >> i just didn't want my whole life to go by without having the truth come out. >> reporter: the coroner's office ruled wood's death a drowning accident back in 1981. but the l.a. county sheriff's office has now decided to take another look. >> we are going to follow up on the leads we have. we are going to interview -- reinterview some people, interview some new people, talk to people and reevaluate some of the evidence. >> reporter: wood was 43 years old when she died. a three-time oscar nominee who started in such classics as miracle on 34th street, rebel without a cause, and "west side story." >> i feel pretty ♪ >> reporter: she had a stormy relationship with wagner. they divorced and remarried. a spokesman for wagner says he fully supports the new investigation. authorities say wood's husband robert wagner is

dennis davern talked exclusively to nbc this morning. >> why now, you say? because i've been trying to tell information about this for many, many years. and there wasn't really anyone listening until now. >> what is the information that you're relaying now? >> the information i'm relaying now is i just want a thorough investigation. >> was he responsible for her death? i'm not asking about your story. >> yes, i would say yes. >> how so? >> i really don't want to get involved in answering that question. >> how can you come on national television, sir, and accuse him of something like that, but not back it up? >> that's up to the investigators. >> a spokesman for robert wagner says he fully supports the l.a. county sheriff's department investigation, but wonders if davern is simply trying to profit from the 30-year anniversary of woods' tragic death. we want to mention that right now a news presser is happening in l.a. with homicide detectives being streamed online. check it out on nbcbayarea.com. >>> time now to check in with meteorologist christina loren. we

dennis davern is with us along with marti rulli who worked on the book. good morning to both of you. dennis, the obvious question is, why now? after 30 years, what is the new information that investigators are zeroing in on? >> well, you say why now. why now is because i've been trying to tell information about this for many, many years, and there wasn't really any one listening until now. >> what is the information that you're relaying now? >> the information i'm relaying now is i just want a thorough investigation and that information will be brought out by the investigators. >> again, the question stands, why now? what is the information? what has changed? what has come to light you have brought to light some 30 years later that would lead the sheriff's office to reopen an investigation? >> i think right now this point in time someone is actually listened, i've been trying to get somebody to listen for a long time. now somebody is listening and they are going to carry on with this investigation. >> i'd like to try one more time. what is it that they ar

. >> and that new information comes from dennis davern. he captained the yacht woods was on when she died. he said he lied to investigators about what happened that night. he claims wood and robert wagner gotbo a fight, the fight led to her death. today, police say wagner is not considered a suspect in his wife's death. >>> police in ohio said answering a help wanted ad on craig's list may have led to two separate attacks. they believe the two men were lured in the area. one man was found dead and the other shot in the arm close to where the victim's body was found. >> he turned to see a gun pointed at his head and deflected the gun and ran. as he was running from the gunman, he was shot in the arm. the gunman continued to shoot as the victim ran. the victim successfully hid in the woods the next seven hours before making his way to a house to call for help. >> so far, no suspects were named in that investigation. >>> the self-help guru at the center of the arizona sweat lodge deaths will spend two years in prison. he was found guilty of n

. >> reporter: based on new information from the boat's captain, dennis davern. he spoke to david gregory on the "today" show and was asked about robert wagner. >> was he responsible for her death in some way? >> yes, i would say so, yes. >> reporter: in a book published two years ago davern said after natalie wood went missing, wagner ordered him not to search for her or alert authorities immediately. the sheriff's department said wagner is not a suspect. the actor's publicist said the wagner family welcomes the investigation as does natalie's sister. >> the truth for natalie. that's all that matters. nothing else matters. >> reporter: her life was the stuff of legend. now her death will be the subject of a new investigation to separate fact from fiction. george lewis, nbc news, los angeles. >>> there is a big decision to report tonight about a drug for breast cancer that some women contend saved their lives. tonight though the government says the science tells a different story. so the fda is revoking the approval of the drug avastin as a breast cancer treatmen

captain dennis davern told his story in a 2009 book and just last week he was talking again in the "cnn newsroom." >> christopher and natalie were sitting on the sofa and within a split second robert wagner picked up a wine bottle and smashed it on the coffee table and yelled out "what are you trying to do? blank my wife?" cnn's kareen wynter with me now from los angeles. why are they reopening this case? do we really know? >> reporter: well, they have obviously, t.j., explosive new information. as you mentioned, we are await tag press conference. it will take place behind me at the top of the hour. so far officials haven't said exactly who this information could be coming from. you heard from the former captain of that yacht that natalie wood, robert wagner, one of woods' co-stars, christopher walkin was on back in 1981 the night that she died. but could it have to do with these explosive new claims? here's what's interesting. davern has come forth before to basically shed light on what happened that night and while investigators back in 1981 ruled this death accidental, it's always be

. >> yacht captain dennis davern was there the night wood drowned while boating off catalina island in 1981. the bay area native's death was ruled an accident but davern has now come forward saying he heard wood fighting with husband robert wagner just before she vanished. detectives are now re-opening the case citing several new unnamed sources. >> people who have remembered things from back then or back then didn't talk to the police and now want to tell their story so already, people are coming forward and want to talk to us. >> investigators say wagner is not a suspect. "48 hours: mystery" will have more on the night natalie wood drowned tomorrow night at 10:00 here on cbs 5. >>> arnold schwarzenegger was injured on the set of his newest movie. the former governor didn't say how, but look at the gash on his forehead. he tweeted this picture. he says that he resumed filming in new mexico an hour later. of course he did. this is schwarzenegger's first starring role since leaving office. >>> black friday is still a week away but those with a passion for fashion are already lining up.

>> dennis davern, the skipper. rj wagner you see him in commercials and people remember him in heart to heart. natalie wood was three-time academy award winner. splenled door in the grass, rebel without a cause, gypsy. goes on and on. "west side story." she was america's sweetheart. they were bigger than ashton kutcher and demi moore in their era. so she was huge. so here you have a story where they go on this boat, the spledour. like splendor in the grass. it is anchored off catalina island. at some point christopher walken, starring in a movie with her. they are getting chum my. rj sees them chummy and gets angry. he has a real fit. everything ensues from that. here is my interview with the captain dennis davern who is now speaking. this is the 10th anniversary of the 1981 death. we're talking about 30th anniversary. jon: this is sound from 20 years ago? >> sound from 20 years ago. 10 years after it happened. hear is the captain. >> i know natalie wouldn't voluntarily step in a dinghy and leave the boat. i fired

. >> reporter: dennis davern was the captain of the yacht. he says he lied to investigators about what really happened. >> if i could take that lie back -- it wasn't lying, it was just merely not telling them everything. >> reporter: in a book he co-authored two years ago, davern says wood and wagner had a fierce argument. >> robert wagner had taken a bottle of wine and smashed it on the coffee table. >> reporter: he says moments later, wagner told him natalie was missing, but he would not allow him to start a search. >> i said to robert wagner, let's turn on the search light, we'll see maybe if we can't see her out there. and he said, no, we're not going to do that at this time. >> reporter: in 2008, wagner told diane sawyer his version of that night. >> what we think is, that she went outside and slipped on the swim step, and hit her head. >> reporter: police found wood's body floating the next morning. the autopsy would show numerous bruises on her legs and arms. but, investigators insist wagner is not a suspect. his spokesperson tells abc

. >> reporter: dennis davern was the captain of the yacht. he says he lied to investigators about what really happened. >> if i could take that lie back -- it wasn't lying, it was just merely not telling them everything. >> reporter: in a book he co-authored two years ago, davern says wood and wagner d a fierce argument. >> robert wagner had taken a bottle of wine and smashed it on the coffee table. >> reporter: he says moments later, wagner told him natalie was missing, but he would not allow him to start a search. >> i said to robert wagner, let's turn on the search light, we'll see maybe if we can't see her out there. and he said, no, we're not going to do that at this time. >> reporter: in 2008, wagner told diane sawyer his version of that night. >> what we think is, that she went outside and slipped on the swim step, and hit her head. >> reporter: police found wood's body floating the next morning. the autopsy would show numerous bruises on her legs and arms. but, investigators insist wagner is not a suspect. his spokesperson tells abc n

. >> reporter: dennis davern says he was there that night as the captain of the "splendor" the yacht that carried actress natalie wood and her husband robert wagner out to sea on a thanksgiving weekend. rsr 30 years the story had been that wood fell overboard, no one knew how or when. but davern tells cbs' "48 hours" he believes wagner did know and andlittle to help. earchd to robert wagner "maybe i should turn on the searchlight" and he said "don't do that." >> reporter: the next day woods' body-- clothed in a nightgown and down jacket-- was found in the waters off catalina island. catcoroner ruled it an accident. wagner and the captain both told investigators the last time they saw wood, she was below decks in her stateroom getting ready for bed. but what's different about the captain's story now is he says wagner and wood had an argument. >> yelling, things being thrown hrown and then the fighting went back to the back of the boat and then it was quiet. >> reporter: l.a. county detective john corina says that and other leads were enough to reopen the case. >> this new information

. >> reporter: dennis davern was the captain of the yacht. he says he lied to investigators about what really happened. >> if i could take that lie back -- it wasn't lying, it was just merely not telling them everything. >> reporter: in a book he co-authored two years ago, davern says wood and wagner had a fierce argument. >> robert wagner had taken a bottle of wine and smashed it on the coffee table. >> reporter: he says moments later, wagner told him natalie was missing but he would not allow him to start a search. >> i said to robert wagner, let's turn on the search light, we'll see maybe if we can't see her out there. and he said, no, we're not going to do that at this time. >> reporter: in 2008, wagner told diane sawyer his version of that night. >> what we think is, that she went outside and slipped on the swim step, and hit her head. >> reporter: police found woods' body floating the next morning. the autopsy would show numerous bruises on her legs and arms. but investigators insist wagner is not a suspect. wagner's spokesperson tells

gentlemen, dennis davern was the boat captain on this boat where she miss tear yously slipped into the water and died. now he is recounting details as to what happened. richard, he's written a book but knew his details have prompted the l.a. sheriff's department to look into this one more time and reopen the investigation. his words alone, that's enough to reopen this investigation or is there more? >> fred, he's recounting and recanting. here we are on the 30th anniversary. he's just written a book and now he's trying to free his guilt ridden soul of the lies he told to enforcement 30 years and now he's going to come clean, on the eve of releasing his new book to tell a different story. police in l.a. did not interview wagner, did not interview any of the witnesses, the captain, anybody on that boat. they just have all of a sudden concocted from some fake phone call that they got, some anonymous phone call there's sufficient new evidence to open this case. it's ridiculous and it's a sham. this police force under major investigation right now. they are looking to shift the focus. this

dennis davern now blames wooppeds' husband -- woods' husband, robert wagner for her death. davern said they had a fight shortly before she disappearedded into the woods off catalina island. >> i just didn't want my life to go by without telling the truth. >> the l.a. sheriff's office is deciding to take a look. >> we're going to reinterview some people, interview some new people, talk to people and reevaluate others. >> reporter: wood was 43 years old when she died. a three-time oscar nominee, who starred in such classics as miracle on 34th street and west side story. ♪ [ music ] >> reporter: she had a stormy relationship with wagner. they divorced and remarried. a spokesperson for wagner says he fully supports the new investigation. in los angeles, bigad shaban, wjz eyewitness news. >>> police say wagner is not a suspect. hear more in a special 48 hours tomorrow. watch the "vanity fair" hollywood scandal here on wjz. >>> a frightening armed robbery at the university of maryland college park. monique griego has more on the suspects still at large tonight. monique? >> repo

captain davern. >> andrea: dennis davern >> eric: who is writing a book or proposing a book and trying to shop it out there to anybody who would take it for 15 years. now a bunch of people wrote to cops saying they are all loaded listening to this jerk go off and they send in a letter saying new information. from the same guy. he is a phony jerk. >> dana: he is probably dined off the story for 30 years. >> andrea: i agree in l.a., you think the l.a. sheriff doesn't have anything else better to do? >> bob: exactly. dabs but they want this, hollywood always needs a scandal or trial going on. two weeks ago we talked about michael jackson's doctor, he was found guilty. when we have that appeal to come forward. liz taylor on the tabloid papers every day. demi and ashton broke up. the world is spinning out of control. >> bob: if they want real serious to look at important crime, the great labor leaders of all time, jimmy hoffa, under route 10 in michigan. it'd like hi that pursued. >> eric: way back then they thought obama would be soft on crime? >> andrea: i cannot believe you brought the n

natalie wood, robert wagner the actor christopher walken and the captain named dennis davern. he came out today saying he lied to investigators 30 years ago, did not tell them the whole story and he believes that robert wagner was in fact involved in his wife's death. he wouldn't go into specifics about that nor would the sheriffs. if there were only four people on that boat they have not yet talked to christopher walken. robert wagner's family has not been notified of this at all. in fact we only have a couple other people, one of them is dead being natalie wood. they were all drinking on board that boat that night and the coroner's report said natalie wood slipped, fell, hit her face. that's how she apparently died, she fell into the water and then she drowned. that's not been disputed at all. what goes on next they have to talk to the different people involved and see what they couple with. very little information out of the sheriff's office. megyn: thank you trace. joining me now is geraldo rivera who did a lot of investigation into the case, including interviewing this ca

do you think it is this dennis davern, the captain? >> well, i'm not sure that is the only evidence. there is supporting evidence which by a nearby ship that was i think a hundred feet off the bow for the stern of splendor. but they might have already given the captain a polygraph and already given -- >> judge jeanine: i understand that they actually did give him a certified polygraph. dylon howard, i understand that you found a witness who was never interviewed by the police. can you tell us who that person is? >> mark fuhrman reports about the few witness. is marilyn wayne. she was 90 feet away from the splendor sunday a reporting and has signed a sworn affidavit that she heard screams from the splendor that night at the same time that natalie wood went missing. i spoke to her this afternoon. i asked the question of h her why she never was interviewed by police and she said that she was never questioned. they were not interested in her. and i have also ob be taped a 70-page document in which marilyn also provided an affidavit present