Natalie Wood's drowning death reclassified by Los Angeles coroner

Report now raises possibility that actress who died in 1981 was assaulted before drowning and adds details to night's events


                                                 
Natalie Wood's death stunned Hollywood and made headlines around the world in 1981. Photograph: AP

 Los Angeles county coroners have reignited the mystery over Natalie Wood's death by concluding she may have been assaulted before drowning in the sea in 1981, a death which has haunted Hollywood ever since.


A report released on Monday showed that coroner's officials have raised the possibility of foul play because of previously overlooked bruises found on the actor's wrists and upper body.

The report, released after a "security hold" by sheriff's officials, stopped short of classifying the death as a homicide, saying key pieces of evidence were missing. Instead of accidental drowning Wood's death is now classified as "drowning and other undetermined factors".

 A sheriff's spokesman, Steve Whitmore, said the agency has known about the report since last year and that it did not change the status of the investigation, which remained open.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/14/natalie-wood-death-reclassified-coroner