Missing Man Has Money Problems

The longtime companion of singer Olivia Newton-John - whose disappearance is under police investigation - had filed for bankruptcy in 2000 and was embroiled in a legal dispute over child support.

That's according to court documents which show that Patrick Kim McDermott, 48, was taken to court this spring by his ex-wife over late child support payments for their 13-year-old son.

His ex-wife reported him missing in early July, about a week after he was last seen on an overnight fishing trip off the California coast. Newton-John drew attention to his disappearance earlier this week; she said she waited out of respect for his family.

According to the Coast Guard, McDermott was last seen on the fishing boat June 30, but no one saw him leave, and his wallet and other belongings were found onboard.

"For those of us who know and love him, it has been a truly heartbreaking experience and we have chosen to deal with it privately," Newton-John said earlier this week, as she made a public appeal for information on McDermott's whereabouts.

The Coast Guard is investigating his disappearance as a missing person case, but is also looking into all possibilities, including that McDermott might have staged his disappearance, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Henise.

"That's part of their investigation. Until the investigation is concluded, we can't really say anything about his (financial) situation," Henise said.

According to a 1994 divorce filing, McDermott owed $800 a month in child support for his son, and as recently as April was ordered by a court to make all outstanding payments.

It wasn't immediately clear how far behind he was in the payments. He had filed for bankruptcy in 2000 while owing about $31,000 to creditors.

Court documents also indicate that McDermott, a cameraman, and his ex-wife, actress Yvette Nipar, fought over visitation rights. Nipar alleged in a 2002 petition that McDermott had a "lack of parenting skills," encouraged their son to "play hooky" and had trouble controlling his anger.

Nipar has appeared in various roles in numerous movies and television shows, including soap operas, "CSI: Miami," "Crossing Jordan," and "The District."

Newton-John, one of the top entertainers of the 1970s and early 1980s, starred with John Travolta in the 1978 movie "Grease" and has been putting out records for 33 years. The most recent came last year, when one of her best-known songs - "Let's Get Physical" - turned up in the hit movie "Meet the Fockers."

McDermott and Newton-John have been together for nine years.