Olivia Newton-John's boyfriend missing

[WelshWitchPMD]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/21/oli...ing/index.html


Search for Newton-John's boyfriend
Man last seen boarding a fishing vessel in California

Monday, August 22, 2005; Posted: 7:30 a.m. EDT (11:30 GMT)

CNN) -- U.S. authorities are investigating the mysterious disappearance of the longtime boyfriend of singer Olivia Newton-John, the Australian Associated Press reports.

Patrick Kim McDermott, who has been in a nine-year relationship with the Australian singer, failed to return from an overnight fishing trip off the Californian coast.

The 48-year-old McDermott boarded a fishing vessel on June 30 at a port south of Los Angeles, but failed to return when the boat docked 24 hours later.

He was reported as a missing person to the U.S. Coast Guard by his family on July 11.

The Coast Guard is not ruling out the possibility of foul play but concede they have few leads.

"It's a really strange one," Coast Guard investigator Dennis Nebrich told AAP.

"Each time you think you know what's going on, it doesn't go that way."

"It was a boat where you pay your money, you go overnight," Nebrich said, according to AAP.

McDermott's family first became concerned for his whereabouts on July 6 when he did not turn up to a family gathering.

They then searched for his car which was found in the marina car park and his backpack, fishing rod and tackle box were still on the boat when it returned to shore.

Newton-John, 56, shot to fame in the 1970s as a middle-of-the road artist but really cemented her place in the pop pantheon with her appearance as "Sandy" in the 1978 movie "Grease," playing opposite John Travolta.

McDermott's link to Newton-John was made public by the police on Sunday in a bid to generate media exposure that in turn could unearth new leads.