Did husband lie? Hacking not accepted to med school

Mark Hacking, the husband of missing jogger Lori Hacking, has not been accepted at medical school and never graduated from college, his father said Wednesday.

Mark Hacking had said the couple was ready to move to North Carolina so he could enter medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. But his father, Douglas, said at a press conference Wednesday that police had confirmed his son had never even applied to school.

In fact, Hacking never graduated from the University of Utah and hadn't attended the U. in nearly two years, even though his family believed he had graduated with honors with a degree in psychology.

The University of Utah confirmed Wednesday that Hacking was a student from 1999 into the fall 2002 and majored in intermediate psychology but never graduated. He works at the University Neuropsychiatric Institute at the U. Research Park.

Also Wednesday, KSL-TV said Hacking was admitted to the University of Utah psychiatric unit earlier this week after his wife's disappearance. His family has only said that Mark was "resting" with his father and brothers.

Salt Lake police would not comment about Hacking's whereabouts or confirm he was admitted for psychiatric care, although detective Kevin Joiner said, "We know where he is."

Lori Hacking, 27, has been missing since Monday morning, when she allegedly went to jog before work in Memory Grove between 5:30 and 6 a.m. She was supposed to be at work at 7 a.m. Her car was found parked near the park's gates.

Lori Hacking was reported missing to police at 10:49 a.m. Family members said she was five weeks pregnant.

Startling news

News of Mark Hacking's academic record came from the Associated Press just minutes before a scheduled afternoon news conference involving both of Mark and Lori Hacking's parents. The news conference was delayed as all four parents heard the news about Mark Hacking's record for the first time and needed time to prepare a statement.

"I have no explanation for this new development," said Douglas Hacking, Mark's father. "I just can't understand it."

Before Wednesday, the Hackings had characterized their son as a good student with a happy marriage. His father said he planned to drive with Mark and Lori Hacking to North Carolina to help them move into their new apartment. The movers were reportedly scheduled to pick up their boxed belongings today.

Douglas Hacking said the family believed Mark had passed the medical school entrance exam with flying colors and had been accepted at North Carolina, his first choice. He called the new revelation "shocking," saying it only added to the family's stress.

Douglas Hacking said he didn't have additional information and needed to talk to Mark before he said anything more.