Los Angeles ( CNN ) -- The Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Office is reopening its investigation into the death of movie star Natalie Wood , who drowned in 1981 while boating off Catalina Island near the California coast , authorities said Thursday . Homicide investigators are taking a new look at one of Hollywood 's most enduring mysteries after they were contacted by people who claimed they had `` additional information '' about the drowning , the sheriff 's department said in a statement . Authorities did n't provide further details late Thursday and said a news conference on the matter will be held Friday at 11 a.m. ( 2 p.m . ET ) . Last year , the actress ' sister , Lana Wood , and the captain of the yacht on which Wood sailed with her husband , actor Robert Wagner , had asked the sheriff 's office to reopen the case . On Thursday , L.A. County Sheriff 's Deputy Benjamin Grubb could n't say whether the sister and the yacht captain have prompted the renewed investigation . `` I do n't know if that 's related , but that 's what the press conference is about tomorrow , '' Grubb told CNN . Natalie Wood once said in a televised interview that her greatest fear was of dark seawater . On November 29 , 1981 , she drowned in the Pacific Ocean off the isthmus of Catalina Island . Wood 's body was found floating in the water about a mile away from the yacht . According to police reports , Wood was found wearing a long nightgown , socks , and a down jacket . The autopsy report shows Wood had two dozen bruises on her body , including a facial abrasion on her left cheek , and bruises on her arms . `` My sister was not a swimmer and did not know how to swim , and she would never go to another boat or to shore dressed in a nightgown and socks , '' said Lana Wood . Although the county coroner 's office ruled that Wood 's death was an accident , others say the case has n't made sense . In 2010 , Lana Wood told CNN she believes a highly charged argument between her sister and husband on the yacht 's back deck preceded Wood 's drowning . She told CNN last year she does not suspect foul play . `` I just want the truth to come out , the real story , '' she said last year . Dennis Davern , the former captain of the yacht Splendour broke his long silence with a detailed account in `` Goodbye Natalie , Goodbye Splendour , '' a book he wrote with his friend Marti Rulli . It was published in September 2009 . Davern has said he believes Wood 's death was a direct result of the fight with Wagner . Lana Wood and Davern could n't be reached immediately for comment Thursday . Wagner 's publicist Alan Nierob issued a statement saying the actor 's family `` fully support the efforts of the LA County Sheriff 's Dept . and trust they will evaluate whether any new information relating to the death of Natalie Wood Wagner is valid , and that it comes from a credible source or sources other than those simply trying to profit from the 30 year anniversary of her tragic death . '' Nierob said no one from the sheriff 's department has contacted Wagner or anyone in his family about the case . In a lengthy interview with CNN in 2010 , Davern said he now believes the investigation of Wood 's death was incompetent and suggested there was a cover-up . He said he regrets misleading investigators by keeping quiet at Wagner 's request . Wood and Wagner married in 1957 , divorced in 1962 , then remarried in 1972 . They often sailed their yacht off the coast of California and they invited Wood 's `` Brainstorm '' co-star , Christopher Walken , to join them on a sail on Thanksgiving weekend in 1981 . Walken and Wood had been filming `` Brainstorm '' at the time and the Hollywood rumor mill was abuzz with speculation that Wagner was jealous over Walken , but authorities have said Walken witnessed only the events leading up to an argument between the couple . Walken could n't be reached immediately for comment Thursday . Wagner admitted his jealousy in his book `` Pieces of My Heart , '' also published in September 2009 . He acknowledged that there had been a fight with Wood , writing that he smashed a wine bottle on a table . After Wagner argued with Walken and broke the wine bottle , Wood left in disgust and went to her stateroom , Davern told CNN last year . Walken also retired to a guest room , Davern added , and Wagner followed his wife to their room . A few minutes later , Davern said , he could hear the couple fighting . Embarrassed , Davern said he turned up the volume on his stereo . At one point , Davern recalled , he glanced out of the pilot house window and saw both Wagner and Wood on the yacht 's aft deck . `` They 'd moved their fight outside ... you could tell from their animated gestures they were still arguing , '' he said . A short time later , Wagner , appearing to be distraught , told Davern he could n't find Wood . Davern searched the boat but could n't find her . He noticed the rubber dinghy also was missing . Wagner shrugged and poured them both drinks , Davern said . He suggested his wife had probably gone off in a temper . Wagner 's story , as told in his book , differs from Davern 's . He maintains that after the argument with Walken , Wood went to her room and prepared for bed while he and Walken sat on the deck , cooling off . Wagner writes that he went to check on Wood , but she was n't there . He maintains that he and Davern searched the boat and noticed the dinghy was missing . Wagner wrote that he assumed his wife had gone ashore on her own . He radioed the restaurant on shore where they 'd had dinner and called the harbor master to see if anyone had seen Wood . The dinghy was found about a mile away from the yacht , and a mile from where Wood 's body was found . Wood 's first starring role was as a child in `` Miracle on 34th Street '' in 1947 , and she played alongside some of Hollywood 's top leading men -- James Dean in `` Rebel Without a Cause '' and Warren Beatty in `` Splendor in the Grass . '' She was nominated for Oscars in both of those films , as well as for `` Love With the Proper Stranger '' ( 1963 ) , according to IMDb . One of her more memorable roles was as Maria in `` West Side Story . '' Wagner 's striking good looks landed him roles in dozens of films in the 1950s and '60s before he hit it big in television . He starred in two popular series , `` It Takes a Thief '' ( 1968-70 ) and `` Hart to Hart '' ( 1979-84 ) , and more recently as Number Two in the `` Austin Powers '' spy spoofs . CNN 's Rupa Mikkilineni and David Daniel contributed to this report .
The Los Angeles County sheriff 's office reopens the case . Persons with additional information have approached investigators . Natalie Wood drowned off Catalina Island near Los Angeles in 1981 . Comment: