Olivia Newton-John faced profound grief following the mysterious disappearance of her ex-partner, Patrick McDermott, in 2005. A biography by Matthew Hild titled A Little More Love revisits this unresolved case and its impact on Newton-John.
Hild explains that Newton-John was haunted by McDermott’s vanishing during a fishing trip off the California coast. He had failed to join family events, and his belongings and car were left behind, raising concerns.
Despite persistent rumors suggesting McDermott faked his death and sightings reported in Mexico, no concrete evidence confirmed these claims. Newton-John remained skeptical about the conspiracy theories and believed McDermott drowned.
Newton-John’s life was shadowed by her ex-partner’s disappearance, affecting her deeply. She hired security expert Gavin de Becker but found no trace of McDermott.
“It’s a really painful topic,” Newton-John noted in an interview. “It’s still under investigation…I love him very much.”
She issued public pleas for information, highlighting her hope for his safety and well-being.
Years later, Newton-John maintained close ties with McDermott’s family, including his ex-wife and child. Despite official statements from the U.S. Coast Guard concluding McDermott’s probable loss at sea, uncertainty persisted.
Newton-John’s resilience was evident as she continued her life and career, including participating in tap dancing classes to cope with stress. She remained protective of McDermott’s son and worried about unwanted publicity affecting them.
Although Newton-John found love again with her second husband, John Easterling, McDermott’s disappearance continued to weigh heavily. Her concern about the case extended beyond her lifetime, as seen in Hild’s portrayal.