‘YOU HAVE TO LET GO’
Olivia Newton-John ‘never found peace’ after ex mysteriously vanished on fishing trip amid claims he faked his own death
OLIVIA Newton-John admitted she was never able to "find peace" after her on-off boyfriend vanished mysteriously while at sea.
The Grease star - who died on Monday at the age of 73 - spent her later years haunted by the disappearance of her ex, Patrick McDermott, amid chilling claims he faked his own death.
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Cameraman McDermott, who Olivia had on-off romance with for nine years following her divorce from Matt Lattanzi in 1995, vanished while on an overnight fishing trip on June 30, 2005.
He and 22 others set sail off the coast of Los Angeles - yet no one noticed when the boat, "Freedom", returned to land without him.
With no head count, it was several days until anyone noticed McDermott was missing when he failed to turn up to a family event on July 6.
By the time cops were called on July 11, investigators were faced with a cold trail.
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Some of his personal belongings - including his keys and passport -were discovered on the boat, and his car was found parked near the marina.
But almost a year after he vanished, the Coast Guard Investigative Service probe was closed and "did not find any evidence of criminal action, suicide, accident or hoax".
It concluded the 48-year-old was likely lost at sea.
His disappearance remains shrouded in mystery after more than 17 years, with unsubstantiated rumours swirling that he faked his death and hid in Mexico to avoid a mountain of debt.
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Repeated manhunts by cops, private detectives and even the media have each time drawn a blank - despite eye-witnesses claiming to have seen him living on a yacht off the coast of Sayulita and Acapulco.
Amid rumours over his disappearance, it was suggested McDermott had forged a new life in a bid to get away from thousands of pounds worth of debt.
He had been briefly married and had a son, and a court had ordered him to pay $8,000 (£6,600) in backdated child support.
McDermott then filed for bankruptcy with debts of more than $30,000 (£25,000).
Although she went on to marry film producer John Easterling in 2008, Olivia admitted she was never able to get over his disappearance as she lacked closure.
She told Australian Women’s Weekly magazine: "I don't think I will ever really be at peace with it.
"I think there will always be a question mark."
Olivia said she had "let go" during an interview in 2016, but said she still questioned what happened to her former lover.
'ACCEPT AND LET GO'
She told 60 Minutes: "He was lost at sea, and nobody really knows what happened.
'It's human to wonder. Because whenever you go through difficult times, there's always those concerns.
"Those are the things in life you have to accept and let go. Of course questions always come up and that's human.
"But you know, I live on."
Four-time Grammy Award-winner Olivia died on Monday morning at her ranch in Southern following a 30-year battle with breast cancer.
Just days before her death, the beloved actress shared a heartbreaking final post with her husband, John Easterling.
Leading tribute to the star, John Travolta said they would be "together again soon" as he praised the legendary singer.
He wrote on Instagram: "My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better.
"Your impact was incredible. I love you so much.
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"We will see you down the road and we will all be together again.
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"Yours from the moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!"
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