Sister wants Wood death case re-opened

LOS ANGELES, March 10 (UPI) -- Natalie Wood's sister told CNN she has asked the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office to re-open the case of the Hollywood actress' 1981 death.

The star of "Miracle on 34th Street," "Rebel Without a Cause," "Splendor in the Grass" and "West Side Story" drowned at age 42 while she was yachting with her husband, actor Robert Wagner, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Catalina Island, Calif.

The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office ruled her death an accident and the sheriff said the case is closed. Investigators concluded that Wood, who couldn't swim, got up in the middle of the night, tried to re-tie a dinghy banging against the side of the yacht and fell into the water with her night clothes and jacket dragging her down.

Although Lana Wood, Natalie's sister, told CNN she doesn't suspect foul play, she said she thinks a heated argument between the actress and Wagner preceded the drowning.

"I just want the truth to come out, the real story," Lana Wood said.

Dennis Davern, the former captain of Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner's yacht, told CNN he believes the investigation into the actress' death was incompetent and said there may have been a coverup.

Authorities have not yet addressed Lana Wood's request, CNN said.