The Tragic Life of the Talented Natalie Wood

#38: Her Death Certificate Was Edited To Include Undetermined Factors

In 2012, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office changed her cause of death from “accidental drowning” to “drowning and other undetermined factors.” The update acknowledged inconsistencies in the original findings, including the bruises on her body and the uncertainty surrounding her entry into the water.

The change didn’t assign blame but confirmed that unanswered questions remained. It also validated years of skepticism from those who believed her death wasn’t fully explained. The amended report reflected an uncomfortable truth: despite modern forensics and decades of scrutiny, the exact events of that night might never be known.