BREAKING NEWS: Patrick McDermott Found (Or is he?)

Philip R. Klein claims to have found Patrick McDermott.

From Tabloid Baby, dated April 2, 2010:

P.I. claims "proof" Patrick McDermott lives

A private eye searching for Patrick McDermott, Olivia Newton-John's former boyfriend who vanished five years ago, says his hunt is over after he received "conclusive proof" he's alive.

McDermott was 48 when he disappeared from a fishing boat that set off from San Pedro on June 30, 2005. He was believed to have fallen overboard but his body was never recovered, and it wasn't long before it was revealed he had financial troubles and may have faked his death and was hiding out on Mexico's Baja coast.

Texas-based P.I. Philip Klein worked on the case for NBC''s tabloid show Dateline. He said yesterday that he had "concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. McDermott is alive."

He said his team was checking documents and voice recordings of McDermott that he and his lawyer had provided in return for detectives agreeing to leave him alone.

Said Klein: "Mr. McDermott's wishes, according to his counsel, is not to be 'hounded' any longer by investigators or the media."

He alleged that McDermott faked his death to escape mounting debts and to enable his teenage son to benefit from a $100,000 US life insurance policy

McDermott's disappearance wasn't made pubic for seven weeks, when a reporter linked his name to Newton-John. The Aussie songbird never reported him missing, despite claims they'd been involved in a nine-year romance. Newton-John later gave conflicting responses for the oversight, and finally said that she'd broken up with McDermott. The Coast Guard kept the case open. In 2008, Newton-John married someone else.

Tabloid Baby was the only news organization to remain on the story since 2005. Our reports kept the story alive, and led to reports of McDermott sightings and Klein's involvement last year.

Klein reported contact with McDermott in 2009, though he has not shown any concrete "proof of life" which he claims to have in possession. We do know he is writing a book about his search.

We'll withhold huzzahs until he produces the live McDermott.

The emphasis is, of course, mine. Even more to the point is this posting from a syndicator of news content across the web, Associated Content,:

Patrick McDermott 'Found' Pending Confirmation

On March 30, 2010, Klein announced that he had ended his search for the missing lighting technician who was 48 years old when he disappeared on June 30, 2005, from a fishing charter boat off San Pedro, California: On his Patrick McDermott site, it says:

"... Investigators have concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. McDermott is alive. We have received both documentation and voice imprints from McDermott and from a "lawyer" that states he represents him. Mr. McDermott's wishes, according to his counsel, is not to be "hounded" any longer by investigators or the media. In return for our agreement to end our search - McDermott and his lawyer have sent our firm "proof of life." As we are now in the process of confirming the information provided to us this week - we will hold our investigation. If we find truth to what we have been provided - we will announce such."

If the information can be confirmed, here's what they plan to do:

"This firms intentions, if the information is found true, will produce such to his family first, the US Coast Guard second, and lastly we will produce to the public in the form of a upcoming book : THE HUNT FOR PATRICK KIM MCDERMOTT - THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MAN."

I don't know who Klein works for or if he has taken this investigation on of his own accord, but reports last year had indicated McDermott was wanted for questioning in Texas in connection with the issue of his life insurance policy. Now the website is saying that McDermott "is not and has not been accused of a crime. He simply is wanted for questioning regarding his disappearance."

For my part, I'm just guessing, but I'd say they have bupkis. Why bother to come out with the story before confirming that the "evidence" you are satisfied with is the real thing?

The whole world is catching on to Philip R. Klein (snicker). I'll be watching for "Beyond the Sea (The Sequel)" soon on MSNBC.

Note to Philip: I'm especially looking forward to your book  Can I get on your review list so I don't have to actually pay for a copy?