In a revelation that has sent fresh shockwaves through Hollywood, Stefanie Powers, now 82, has come forward with explosive new claims about the mysterious death of her close friend Natalie Wood — and the secrets hidden within her long-suppressed autopsy report. In an emotional and unsettling interview with Variety, Powers revealed that after decades of silence, she could no longer “ignore what didn’t add up,” suggesting that key evidence from Wood’s 1981 drowning was redacted or intentionally omitted.
“Someone didn’t want the world to know Natalie struggled,” Powers stated gravely. “They just wanted to believe she fell.”
Her words have reignited one of Hollywood’s darkest and most enduring mysteries — the death of Natalie Wood, the luminous star of West Side Story and Rebel Without a Cause, whose body was found floating near Catalina Island on the night of November 29, 1981. Clad in a red nightgown and wearing a life jacket incorrectly, the 43-year-old actress’s death was ruled an accidental drowning, but the inconsistencies surrounding the case — missing evidence, conflicting witness statements, and a chilling silence from those aboard the yacht Splendour — have kept the speculation alive for over four decades.
For Powers, who co-starred with Robert Wagner in the beloved series Hart to Hart, the issue is deeply personal. She once called Wagner “a dear friend,” but her remarks now cast a shadow over that relationship. According to Powers, she obtained access to the full autopsy file in 2012 and was stunned by what she found — and what she didn’t. “Sections were redacted,” she explained. “There were photos missing, notes blacked out, and entries that didn’t match earlier reports. It wasn’t a mistake. It was deliberate.”
Her revelations align with long-standing doubts surrounding the investigation. Multiple witnesses claimed to have heard a woman screaming in terror from the yacht hours before Wagner reported Wood missing, and several items of evidence — including photographs and early police notes — were lost or sealed shortly after the incident. Adding to the unease, Captain Dennis Davern has repeatedly insisted that an argument between Wood and Wagner preceded her disappearance, and that Wagner delayed notifying authorities for nearly two hours.
When asked about Wagner — who has been officially named a person of interest in the reopened case since 2018 — Powers spoke carefully but firmly: “I think there’s a lot Robert never said. And maybe a lot he can’t.”
Her remarks have reopened old wounds and rekindled public fascination with one of Hollywood’s most haunting tragedies. The tangled love story of Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner — filled with passion, jealousy, and heartbreak — has long been seen as both romantic and tragic. But Powers’ statement suggests there’s still more to uncover — and perhaps, more to answer for.
Investigators have yet to comment on Powers’ claims, but the renewed public scrutiny has spurred calls for a fresh review of the case, particularly regarding the redacted autopsy findings and missing evidence. Former detectives familiar with the file describe it as “a story half-told,” and Powers’ comments have only intensified pressure for transparency.
For Powers, speaking out after decades of silence was both cathartic and painful. “Natalie was light,” she said softly. “She deserved the truth — not a cover story.”
As Hollywood reels from this latest revelation, the specter of Natalie Wood’s tragic death once again looms large. Powers’ courageous decision to come forward may finally force a reckoning with the secrets that have long haunted Tinseltown.
Forty-three years later, the questions remain as haunting as ever:
What really happened on that yacht? Who was Natalie Wood screaming for? And why has the truth stayed buried for so long?
With Stefanie Powers’ voice joining the chorus demanding answers, the mystery refuses to sink — and the legend of Natalie Wood lives on, shimmering just beneath the surface of Hollywood’s darkest waters.
https://youtu.be/_ITsHWDaX_E
