In 2005, Olivia Newton-John’s long time lover Patrick McDermott, mysteriously disappeared from an overnight fishing trip. The couple were together for over nine years and the singer was reported to be devastated when he vanished. Rumors swirled around his strange disappearance, including he may have committed suicide, or maybe he jumped off board to escape his financial responsibilities.

A friend of McDermott’s told investigators he was sad after breaking up with Newton-John. “I know he was sad, but he didn’t seem despondent,” the friend, whose name was blacked out in the Coast Guard report, said.

Australian News Reports:

“The evidence suggests McDermott was lost at sea,” the Coast Guard report concluded.

McDermott’s disappearance created world headlines in 2005, with unfounded sightings of the 48-year-old in Mexico and Europe. He was last seen aboard the vessel Freedom on July 1, 2005, during an overnight fishing expedition off the coast of Los Angeles with 22 other passengers.

The Coast Guard report said the owners of the Freedom had no documentation to show McDermott disembarked the vessel upon its return to Los Angeles Harbour.

His bum bag, wallet, mobile phone, car keys and fishing poles and tackle box were found aboard. McDermott’s car remained at a parking lot near the harbor.

Olivia Newton-John is a Libra, a cancer survivor, and she recently married health guru John Easterling. Tragically, she will never know exactly what happened to Patrick McDermott.