Twenty years. It has been two full decades since a cameraman named Patrick McDermott stepped onto a fishing boat called the Freedom in San Pedro, California, and seemingly evaporated into the Pacific mist. If you’re asking is Patrick McDermott still alive, you’re walking into one of the most polarizing rabbit holes in Hollywood history.
Honestly, the story sounds like a discarded script for a noir thriller. A man with mounting debts, a famous girlfriend, and a sudden disappearance from a crowded boat where nobody—literally not one of the 22 other passengers—saw him go overboard.
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It's weird. It's frustrating. And for the late Olivia Newton-John, it was a "traumatic" mystery that haunted her for years before she eventually found peace with her second husband, John Easterling. But even now, in 2026, the internet refuses to let this ghost rest.
The Night Everything Changed
June 30, 2005. That was the date. Patrick McDermott, who had been dating the Grease star on and off for nine years, booked an overnight fishing trip. He was a regular. He knew the ropes.
When the boat returned to the marina, Patrick’s car was still in the parking lot. His wallet, his keys, and his passport were all still sitting in his cabin on the boat. He just wasn’t there.
The crazy thing is that nobody noticed he was missing for a week. It wasn't until he failed to show up for a family event on July 6 that the alarm bells started screaming. By then, the trail was already getting cold.
The U.S. Coast Guard did their thing. They searched. They investigated. In 2008, they basically threw up their hands and suggested he was "lost at sea." They didn't find proof of a hoax, but they didn't find a body either.
Why People Think He’s Still Out There
So, why are we still talking about this? Because the "lost at sea" theory has holes big enough to sail a yacht through.
First, there’s the money. Patrick had filed for bankruptcy in 2000. He was reportedly drowning in debt, including thousands in back child support. For some, the math was simple: disappear, let the $100,000 life insurance policy pay out to your son, and start over where nobody knows your name.
Then come the "sightings."
- The Dateline Investigation: In 2009, Dateline NBC sent private investigators, led by Philip Klein, to track him down. They claimed they found a cluster of IP addresses in Mexico that were constantly checking a website dedicated to finding Patrick.
- The Sayulita Theory: For years, tabloids like Woman's Day and New Idea have insisted he’s living a quiet life in Sayulita, Mexico. They even published "proof" photos of a man lounging on a beach with a mystery woman.
- The False ID: In 2018, a man from Manitoba, Canada, named Wes Stobbe had to come forward and say, "Hey, that's me in the photo, not Patrick." It was a massive blow to the "found alive" camp.
Is Patrick McDermott still alive in Mexico?
If you ask Philip Klein, he’ll tell you he’s "concluded beyond a reasonable doubt" that McDermott is alive. He even claimed to have been in contact with a representative for Patrick who said the man just wanted to be left alone.
But here is the reality check: No one has ever produced a DNA sample. No one has a clear, high-res photo that hasn't been debunked. Patrick’s ex-wife, Yvette Nipar, has been vocal about her disdain for these theories, calling Klein a "serial liar" and begging people to let the family grieve in peace.
The Olivia Newton-John Factor
Before her passing in 2022, Olivia was often asked about Patrick. She was always incredibly graceful about it, but you could tell it left a mark. She told 60 Minutes that she would probably never really know what happened.
"It's human to wonder," she said. But she also noted that you have to let go to survive.
What We Actually Know in 2026
The official status hasn't changed. According to the California Department of Justice, Patrick Kim McDermott is still listed as a missing person.
The Coast Guard case is closed. They haven't found a reason to reopen it because "new evidence" has usually turned out to be grainy photos of Canadian tourists or unsubstantiated tips from "representatives" who never show their faces.
Could a man survive 20 years in a small Mexican fishing village without being officially identified? Sure. Is it likely? That’s where things get murky. Most experts in missing persons cases suggest that faking your death is much harder than the movies make it look, especially when your face is plastered across every tabloid in Australia and the U.S.
Actionable Insights for Mystery Followers
If you're following this case, it's important to separate the tabloid noise from the legal facts. Here is how to look at the situation today:
- Check the Source: Most "found alive" stories come from Australian gossip magazines. They often reuse the same debunked photos from 2017.
- Official Status: Always refer to the California Attorney General’s Missing Persons database for the legal standing of the case.
- The IP Address Myth: While the Dateline IP tracking was a huge lead at the time, it’s not "proof of life." It only proves someone in that area was looking at the site.
- Respect the Family: Remember that there are real people—including Patrick’s son—who have had to deal with these headlines for two decades.
Whether he’s at the bottom of the ocean or sipping a Pacifico in a hidden cove near Puerto Vallarta, Patrick McDermott remains one of the greatest disappearances of our time. Without a body or a confirmed sighting, the question of whether he is still alive remains a matter of what you choose to believe.
To get the most accurate updates, stick to primary law enforcement statements rather than "exclusive" tabloid reveals that haven't delivered a single piece of verified evidence since 2005.