Patrick McDermott

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Patrick Kim McDermott is a cameraman who was a long time boyfriend of Olivia Newton-John until he disappeared from a fishing charter boat off San Pedro, California, on June 30, 2005. 48-year-old McDermott was a passenger on the fishing boat Freedom which had left from the San Pedro marina for an overnight fishing trip. Twenty-two passengers and three crew members onboard gave contradicting reports of whether he was actually on board or had left at the conclusion of the trip. His absence was apparently unnoticed until July 6 when he failed to attend a family event.

An extensive search and investigation has failed to explain the disappearance but the circumstances has fueled speculation that he faked his own suicide.

McDermott had previously filed for bankruptcy and had received a court order to pay overdue child support to his former wife, actress Yvette Nipar. Nipar and McDermott were married on March 1, 1992 when Nipar was four months pregnant. They divorced 15 months later on June 30, 1993.

Fox News Network reported on June 4, 2006, that some witnesses claim to have seen McDermott alive and well in Mexico. The prevailing theory is that he staged his disappearance in order to avoid court proceedings brought by an ex-wife concerning child support payments.