Natalie Wood Death Probe: Only Feds Can Crack The Case!

The federal government — including the FBI and the Coast Guard — should launch a fresh investigation into the 1981 death of Natalie Wood.

That’s the claim of top law enforcement sources after Dennis Davern, the captain of Natalie’s death yacht, accused the Hollywood beauty’s husband, Robert Wagner, of murdering her.

“It’s a fatality on navigational waters and the Coast Guard has jurisdiction!” said attorney Peter Gleason, a retired lieutenant with the Coast Guard Reserve.

“This is not something that should have been handed over to local authorities because it’s Los Angeles,” continued Gleason.

“The police going after someone in the movie industry is like law enforcement in Las Vegas going after casinos!”

But there is no statute of limitations on murder — and the Coast Guard and FBI have renewed reason to assume control of the case after Davern dropped his bombshell.

As RadarOnline.com recently reported, when the ex-skipper was asked in a new interview, “Do you think Robert Wagner murdered Natalie Wood?” he answered without hesitation: “Yes, I do!”

Wagner has denied any wrongdoing.

Nora V. Demleitner, a law professor, agreed that the Coast Guard can take over the case — and bring in the FBI for investigative assistance.

“They have the jurisdiction to conduct an investigation because it occurred within U.S. maritime waters,” she said.

Gleason was assigned to the anti-terror task force at the Coast Guard station in Long Beach during the 1984 Olympics and said of his shipmates: “I worked with guys that were at the scene and they were all wondering why Natalie’s case wasn’t given the full court press that it deserved!”