Investigators looking into the disappearance of Olivia Newton-John's ex-boyfriend are convinced he staged his own death because he gave her flowers and ended their relationship on the day he vanished.
Experts say such an act — along with organising a secret destination and creating a false name — fits into a typical pattern of people who are planning to go into hiding, private investigator Philip Klein says.
And in the case of Patrick McDermott, who disappeared after an overnight fishing trip on June 30 2005, the formerly-bankrupt light technician allegedly followed all three steps.
"On the day of his disappearance he arrived at Olivia Newton-John's house," Mr Klein told TODAY this morning.
"He brought her some flowers and a funny card … he broke up with her and the next day he went missing."
Mr Klein's agency set up a "spider site" titled findpatrickmcdermott.com — an online trap that secretly tracks down users who access the page.
He says a number of early hits came from a mobile computer that he believes was on board a boat travelling along the Mexican coastline, near where several McDermott sightings were reported.
"There's no doubt in my mind [that he is on the run]," Mr Klein said.
The investigator also says that McDermott's $150,000 life insurance policy is yet to be paid to his 16-year-old son Chance.
"An inquiry has been made," Mr Klein said.
"There is a very big mystery that the insurance policy has been paid up-to-date … by an anonymous person from somewhere.
"[This] leads us to the possibility — and I want to emphasise the possibility — that this may be an insurance fraud case."
Newton-John married John Easterling, founder and president of natural remedy firm Amazon Herb Company, in June.
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