The Disappearance Of Olivia Newton-John’s Lover

On June 30, 2005, Korean American cameraman Patrick McDermott went missing from an overnight fishing trip off the coast of Los Angeles. 

Initial investigations proved difficult with no other passengers or crew members having noticed his disappearance, but when the media realised that the missing man was also the on-again off-again boyfriend of superstar Olivia Newton-John, a whirlwind of speculation began. 

Did Patrick fall overboard? Was he murdered? Did he take his own life? Or, as has been rumoured for the past 17 years, did he fake his own death to start a completely new life?

CREDITS

Guest: Poppy Damon

You can listen to her podcast Casefile Presents: Pseudocide here.

Host: Gemma Bath

Executive Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Rhiannon Mooney

GET IN TOUCH:

Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at [email protected]  

Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link https://bit.ly/tcc-group 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Just by reading or listening to our content, you’re helping to fund girls in schools in some of the most disadvantaged countries in the world - through our partnership with Room to Read. We’re currently funding 300 girls in school every day and our aim is to get to 1,000. Find out more about Mamamia at mamamia.com.au 

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.