Newton-John's missing boyfriend was mired in debt, child payments

Thursday, August 25th 2005, 8:37 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ The missing boyfriend of singer Olivia Newton-John filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and was recently embroiled in a legal dispute over late child support payments, according to court documents.

Patrick Kim McDermott, 48, was taken to court in April by his ex-wife, actress Yvette Nipar, over payments for the couple's 13-year-old son, documents showed.

McDermott, of the Van Nuys area of Los Angeles, failed to return from a June 30 overnight fishing trip off the California coast. He was reported missing a week later by Nipar, who became alarmed when he didn't show up for a family event.

The Coast Guard has been investigating his disappearance as a missing person case. A spokesman said investigators were looking into all possibilities, including that McDermott had staged his disappearance.

``That's part of their investigation. Until the investigation is concluded, we can't really say anything about his (financial) situation,'' said Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Henise, a Coast Guard spokesman.

In a March 2000 filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, McDermott said he owed nearly $31,000 to creditors ranging from Home Depot to Fleet Bank. He listed his 1995 Toyota 4Runner as his most valuable property at $4,500.

As a result of the April court action, McDermott was ordered to make all his outstanding payments to Los Angeles County's child services department instead of to Nipar. It wasn't immediately clear how far behind he was in the payments.

Nipar, who has appeared in a number of films and TV shows, had regular roles on the soap operas ``General Hospital'' and ``Days of Our Lives'' and the TV series ``Robocop'' and ``21 Jump Street.''

McDermott signed the passenger manifest of the ship ``Freedom'' when he went on board and was last seen eating in the galley, according to the Coast Guard. His wallet and other belongings were found in a fanny pack on the boat. Investigators say no one saw him get off the vessel.

Newton-John, 56, appeared opposite John Travolta in the 1978 movie ``Grease'' and is best known for songs such as ``I Honestly Love You'' and ``Physical.''