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Actress Natalie Wood's 1981 Death Now Homicide Probe

LOS ANGELES (CBS SF) -- The investigation into the mysterious 1981 death of San Francisco-born actress Natalie Wood is being re-opened as a homicide case, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office said Thursday evening.

In a statement, homicide detectives said new details had surfaced about her death.

Detectives were recently contacted by "persons who stated they had additional information about the Natalie Wood Wagner drowning," the sheriff's statement read.

Wood was boating with her husband, Robert Wagner and fellow actor Christopher Walken on Thanksgiving weekend 30 years ago when she went overboard near Catalina Island.

When her body was found, Wood was wearing a parka that authorities said had filled with water, causing her to drown.

The coroner had ruled her death was an accident, and investigators at the time called rumors of foul play unsubstantiated.

Authorities on Thursday evening declined to elaborate on what new information they were privy to, but scheduled a news conference for Friday.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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