Jett Travolta....John Travolta's son, Dies

[prolific]

These people are just buzzards. I hope they have the book thrown at them. They are evil to the core. The poor Travoltas. My heart goes out to this poor family. I can't imagine the horrible grief they must be feeling.

I agree chance...how despicable that anyone would do this to people who are at the lowest point in their life...just disgusting.

[olympic]

I agree chance...how despicable that anyone would do this to people who are at the lowest point in their life...just disgusting.

happy belated b-day prolific wishing you simply the best!...

what did these 3 have that they thought was such a jackpot?

why didn't they just release it, without extortion...

[prolific]

happy belated b-day prolific wishing you simply the best!...

what did these 3 have that they thought was such a jackpot?

why didn't they just release it, without extortion...

Thank you olympic, I appreciate it!

I don't know...

Hard to fathom what they had that they thought they could extort that kind of money from the Travolta's...if they wanted money they probably could have tried to sell whatever it was to some tabloid rag...I think they had nothing that showed anything illegal on the part of the Travolta's, imo, probably just private things.

Whatever it was they are lower than low....scumbags.

[gwen]

Close Travolta Contacts Detained in Extortion Plot
Prominent Officials and Paramedic Arrested in Bahamas
By LUCHINA FISHER
Jan. 26, 2009

Two of the three people arrested in the Bahamas last week in connection with an alleged extortion scheme targeting John Travolta claimed to have been by the Travoltas' side in the moments leading up to and right after the death of their son, Jett.

Bahamian authorities have said little this morning about the alleged extortion scheme that targeted John Travolta. But, according to previous media reports, a group of people wanted as much as $20 million in exchange for a cell phone picture taken of Jett on the way to the hospital minutes before his death from a seizure Jan. 2.

Two prominent Bahamian citizens and a paramedic were detained last week in the Bahamas in connection with the alleged plot. One was Tarino Lightbourne, the paramedic who drove the ambulance to the hospital after Jett collapsed.

"It was me, him and Jett," Lightbourne told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Jan. 5. "I'll never forget this day. I saw him lean over and hug his son and kiss his son and tell him he loved him and I did everything I could. I saw love in his eyes, I saw love. [Travolta] hugged him, put his arm around him, kissed him on the forehead and the cheek and told him he loved him. He then turned to me and gave me a hug and said, you guys did a wonderful job."

Lightbourne was detained Friday for attempted extortion and, according to news reports, was still in custody Sunday. Last Thursday, police arrested local lawmaker and attorney Pleasant Bridgewater, a Bahama senator, and charged her with "conspiracy to extort." She has denied the charges and was released on $40,000 bail Friday. Her connection, if any, to the Travolta family is unknown.

But perhaps most surprising is the arrest of former Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe, who said he was a close friend of the Travolta family. In the days after the tragedy, he even called himself the "family spokesman."

On Jan. 5, he described to ABC's "Good Morning America" in great detail his time with the Travolta family in the hospital the day Jett died.

"They came out, and John gave me a real hug, a bear hug, and that was an expression of how he was feeling at the time," Wilchcombe said. "He sat with police authorities and talked to them about the circumstance, and they escorted him into the room where his son was and glass separated them. And he was asked to identify his son and his words were, 'That's my son.'"

The Senator Resigns
Wilchombe was arrested and released without being charged with any crimes. Bridgewater resigned from her post and told reporters this is all a "nightmare" and that her "innocent actions" were misconstrued.

Wilchcombe told US Weekly that he "did a noble thing" in trying to help the Travolta family after he was approached last week by Bridgewater. She alerted him that "someone was doing something untowards," he said. "She knew I was close to the Travoltas. She wanted to bring something to my attention."

Wilchcombe said he passed that information to Travolta's lawyers, Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott. He added that investigators later questioned him about the information.

Travolta's attorneys did not respond to repeated requests for comment. His publicist told ABCNews.com Sunday that there were no plans to release a statement.

When US Weekly asked Wilchcombe if he'd ever sought any compensation from the Travoltas, he replied: "Never once, asking for anything. Never once, expecting anything. This is ridiculous and absurd. The Travoltas are suffering, it's just outright foolish. Never did I ask for anything, no one can say that. We had a friend in my country who lost a son. It was one single individual [who tried to take advantage of the family]. The Bahamian people have been very kind to the Travoltas."

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Sto ... 403&page=2

[gwen]

Extortion plot unveiled


By BRENT DEAN,Guardian Staff Reporter

Police have confirmed the alleged plot to extort money from actor John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston included a request for $25 million so that a supposedly 'damaging' document would not be made public.

"All I can say here is that, you know, there was a complaint made by Mr. Travolta -- and those acting on his behalf -- that there was an attempt on behalf of a number of individuals to extort initially some $25 million from the Travoltas," said Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames yesterday in an interview with The Nassau Guardian.

"Acting on that complaint we initiated the investigation and it has brought us to this particular point."

There has been speculation as to what the alleged culprits used as leverage in their attempt to secure the large sum of money from the American actor, whose son Jett died in Grand Bahama on January 2 after reportedly suffering a seizure.

It has been suggested the alleged culprits were in possession of pictures of Jett in the moments before and after he died. But Dames said this is "incorrect."

He said the complaint alleges the conspirators approached the Travoltas with a document, that if released, would prove damaging to the Travoltas.

Dames said police have a copy of a document they have not been able to prove the authenticity of. The document, he said, is a refusal to transport document.

This, Dames explained, is signed by a party when refusing, for example, emergency medical services from trained personnel. Signing the document absolves the hospital of liability regarding an incident, he explained.

"In this context, a document like that does not apply because as we know young Jett was not... he did not have any minor injuries. He was very ill. And so the document does not come into play," Dames said.

The document is not the issue but rather "what they were trying to achieve," he added.

Police confirmed the complaint was made just over a week ago.

Police charged former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater on Friday with abetment to extort and conspiracy to extort money from the Travoltas after the death of their son. She will be arraigned on the charges in a Nassau magistrate's court tomorrow.

Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne was arraigned yesterday on the charges of attempted extortion and conspiracy to extort.

West End and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe was arrested by police in Grand Bahama on Friday. He was questioned that day and released pending further investigation. Bridgewater resigned from the Senate on Saturday.

Bridgewater, Wilchcombe and Lightbourne have all maintained their innocence.

"[January 23] is a day that will live in my memory as a nightmare," said Bridgewater on Saturday in a written statement. "In my capacity as a lawyer, I acted within the bounds of the law and within the bounds of my ethical responsibility to my profession."

She went on: "How these innocent actions can be so misconstrued, so perversely twisted to mean something other than it was, is a mystery. I assure the Bahamian people of my complete and total innocence and I am satisfied that when the full story comes out that I shall be fully vindicated."

And after his release on Friday, Wilchcombe told The Guardian: "I was the one who alerted everyone about it, which led to where we are today. I was asked questions and detained for two-and-a-half hours and I was just there giving evidence and answering questions. They questioned me about the initial phone call I would have made to alert the Travolta [family] of the circumstances of the situation. That was the basis of their discussions with me, but of course it's an ongoing investigation and there's not much I can say about it."

Dames, the officer in charge of Grand Bahama, would not comment on whether there are more people to be charged in the alleged plot. He also would not comment on whether wiretaps were used in the investigation.

He held a news conference yesterday in Freeport to update the public on the status of the complaint.

http://www.thenassauguardian.com/nation ... 243438.php

[gwen]

Man Enters Plea In Travolta Extortion Case
Paramedic Pleads Not Guilty To Charges

POSTED: Tuesday, January 27, 2009
UPDATED: 10:10 am EST January 27, 2009

NASSAU, Bahamas -- A paramedic has been charged in an alleged plot to extort $25 million from John Travolta after his teenage son suffered a seizure and died at the family's home in the Bahamas.

Magistrate Carolita Bethel said that 47-year-old Tarino Lightbourne pleaded not guilty Monday to attempting to extort and conspiracy to extort from the actor.

Details of the alleged scheme have still not been made public.

Prosecutor Bernard Turner is objecting to bail.

He said police are looking for a "certain document" and believe they may not find it if Lightbourne is released.

A Bahamian senator also accused of extortion has resigned and vowed to prove her innocence.

Travolta's 16-year-old son Jett died Jan 2.

http://www.clickorlando.com/entertainme ... etail.html

[gwen]

This whole thing is very suspicious to me. Travolta's people actually met with people before contacting authorities. The document must relate to the manner of death and must be something that Travolta does not want the public to know about.

[Hannie]

To me also, Gwen. This whole case stinks..

But then again, it's not our business right...

[resigned]

Maybe people should extort others more often to satisfy the public's "need to know"?

[gwen]

Maybe people should extort others more often to satisfy the public's "need to know"?

[resigned]

Isn't that what the "case" is about - extortion? I don't think that the death of the Travolta's son is a "case". It's a sad situation for his family. IMO

[gwen]

Isn't that what the "case" is about - extortion? I don't think that the death of the Travolta's son is a "case". It's a sad situation for his family. IMO

Hmmm...I didn't call it a "case". It is sad situation. It will be even sadder if there was more to his death than just a "seizure" as was reported.

It has been reported in the media whether you think we have a right to know or not....

[resigned]

Hmmm...I didn't call it a "case". It is sad situation. It will be even sadder if there was more to his death than just a "seizure" as was reported.

It has been reported in the media whether you think we have a right to know or not....

How will it be even sadder?

[olympic]

no family should ever be extorted when they are coping with a loss.

however, if these people had such a jackpot, why didn't they simply release it/leak it to the media.

the only thing i can see that john and kelly might not want out is the very first report of; he collapsed on the bathroom floor, hit his head possibly on a tub, and there was blood....i gather the full autopsy is now available, and its up to the family to release that report to the public..

whether they do or don't it is their business, they don't have to appease the public..... as long as they bear in mind that there will be all sorts of innuendos and assumptions permeating about and allegations just how did he die, and some of them might not be tasteful.

[gwen]

Police Reveal Details of John Travolta Extortion Plot
By Siobhan Morrissey

Originally posted Tuesday January 27, 2009 07:40 PM EST

A paramedic allegedly tried to extort $25 million from John Travolta with a nearly worthless weapon: a medical document that was irrelevant to the death of the actor's son, authorities in the Bahamas say.

Tarino Lightbourn, an Emergency Services Tech II with the Rand Memorial Hospital ambulance squad in Freeport, has been in custody since his arrest on Jan. 23. He is charged with conspiracy to commit extortion and attempted extortion.

He pleaded not guilty on Monday and is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Carolita Bethel in Nassau on Wednesday. His attorney, who is charged with two counts of extortion, is also scheduled to appear before the magistrate.

The case revolves around Lightbourn's efforts to allegedly sell a one-page "refusal to transport" document that Travolta signed when Lightbourn was treating the actor's 16-year-old son, Jett, according to the Bahamian police.

Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames downplayed the importance of the document.

"The document did not apply in the Travolta case," Dames tells PEOPLE. "It did not apply because he was very ill, and so, the only alternative would be to take him to the hospital. Refusal to transport documents are for cases involving minor injuries. If your injuries are minor and you don't want to be transported, the ambulance driver would produce that form. It waives responsibility on the part of the hospital."

Dames insists the Travoltas did everything possible to save their son.

"We were satisfied from all our investigations that the Travolta family and those who rendered aid to Jett did all that was humanly possible to revive Jett," Dames says. "All did what they were able to resuscitate him."

"There's no evidence to support that there was any effort to avoid medical treatment," he adds. "Lightbourn said that himself in several interviews."

According to Dames, the alleged case of attempted extortion took place nearly two weeks ago when Lightbourn's attorney, former Bahamian Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater, called an attorney for Travolta in the United States and said her client wanted to sell the document. Travolta then complained to the Royal Bahamian Police through his attorney.

"The complaint states the request was for $25 million," Dames says. "At the time, she represented the young man. She would have made the request."

When asked if Travolta might be called as a witness, should the case proceed to trial, Dames simply said, "He lodged a complaint. He's the complainant on record."

For now, the police are having difficulty determining the authenticity of the document Lightbourn allegedly tried to sell to Travolta.

"We don't know where the original is," the senior assistant commissioner says. "We don't know if he generated the document."

But Lightbourn is the crux of their case, he says.

"He's the key person here," Dames says. "He's the one who made the attempt."

http://www.people.com/people/article/0, ... 22,00.html

[gwen]

Bahamian Authorities Fast-Track Travolta Extortion Trial
By Siobhan Morrissey

Originally posted Wednesday February 11, 2009 12:15 PM EST

John Travolta may get his day in court sooner than most. Bahamian prosecutors are fast-tracking the case involving a paramedic and a former Bahamian senator who allegedly tried to extort $25 million from the star in the wake of his son's death last month.

Wednesday morning, prosecutors took a shortcut to place the case on the docket for trial before the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in Nassau. When the case reconvenes April 16, the prosecution plans to present a voluntary bill of indictment to Magistrate Carolita Bethel, also in Nassau.

"It's a time-saving device," a source close to the case told PEOPLE. "The full preliminary inquiry is like a trial."

With a voluntary bill of indictment the prosecution opts to present the magistrate with sworn statements from the witnesses regarding their evidence in the case. Magistrate Bethel will then forward those affidavits to the Supreme Court, which will announce the judge to hear the case and the date for trial.


Travolta Called to Testify
Because the defendants – paramedic Tarino Lightbourn and former Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater – requested a jury, their maximum sentence could be longer.

"If tried by the magistrate, the maximum would be five years," the source says. "But they chose a jury before the Supreme Court, where the maximum in 15 years."

Both defendants are out on a $50,000 bond.

John Travolta is listed among the witnesses who could be called to trial. If he testifies, he must do so in person.

There's also the possibility the case could get dropped. That's Travolta's prerogative.

"The trial will probably be set two months after the voluntary bill of indictment," the source says. "The Supreme Court is usually booked up months in advance. But they will give it top priority. They could substitute out another case."

http://www.people.com/people/article/0, ... 90,00.html

[olympic]

On Wednesday, a judge in the Bahamas refused to lower the bail requirement for Tarino Lightbourne, the ambulance driver accused of trying to extort $25 million from John Travolta following his son Jett's death in the Bahamas.

As we've previously mentioned, Lightbourne and a former government official threatened to release 'worthless' ambulance transportation documents if the actor didn't pay the cash.

At a hearing, the judge told the ambulance driver he could apply again next month to reduce his $50,000 bail requirement if it still has not been met.

Lightbourne must be pissed. His 'accomplice', former Bahamian official Pleasant Bridgewater, was able to post her $50K and isn't hanging out in a jail cell.

[olympic]

John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston

More than six weeks after the Jan. 2 death of Jett Travolta, his heartbroken parents are still struggling to cope with their loss.

John Travolta, 55, and Kelly Preston, 46, along with their daughter Ella Bleu, 8, are "regrouping and pushing through the grieving process," a source tells PEOPLE in its new issue. "They are trying to grieve and return to some sort of normalcy for Ella.

"But life isn't normal without Jett."

The Travoltas have been lying low at their Ocala, Fla., home since the devastating death of their only son at age 16. Adding to their pain is the ongoing criminal case in the Bahamas, where prosecutors allege that a politician and a paramedic tried to extort $25 million from the Travoltas after Jett died while vacationing with his family there.

"They were so hurt by the moochers," says the source. "But things have calmed down. Every day it gets better."

[olympic]

The Jett Travolta Foundation has been established in memory of John Travolta and Kelly Preston's son, Jett, who passed away last month at the age of 16.

John Travolta's official Web site says the foundation will work to "assist and provide relief to children with vision, hearing, mobility, communication, behavioral learning impairments or other special medical, environmental, health or education needs."

For more details, or to make a donation, click here.

http://www.travolta.com/

[olympic]

Originally posted Wednesday April 08, 2009 01:55 PM EDT


A few days ago, John Travolta and Kelly Preston threw a birthday party for their daughter Ella Bleu, who turned 9 on April 3, "just as they would any other year," says a close friend of the family.

And yet this year has been marked by deep tragedy for John, 55, and Kelly, 46, who are still reeling from the sudden loss of their only son Jett on Jan. 2 in the Bahamas. Since his death from a seizure disorder, the family has remained out of the spotlight, even keeping a low profile in their adopted hometown of Ocala, Fla.

"John is a strong man, but we want to leave him in peace," Olivia Newton-John, a longtime pal, tells PEOPLE in its new cover story. "To lose a loved one – it's the worst time in anyone's life."

Still, they have slowly begun letting the world back in – starting by reaching out to those closest to them. "They aren't secluding themselves or paralyzed," says the family friend, who saw them recently. "[Seeing them] was like old times. Nothing awkward and no topics to dance around. There were smiles."

Another friend tells PEOPLE that the couple are leaning on their strong Scientology beliefs and their close bonds to cope with losing Jett, who would have turned 17 on April 13.

"They're relying on their faith to get them through this," says the friend. "Their faith is solid, and their family is solid." Adds their pal, actress Leah Remini: "How do you deal with the greatest tragedy in your life? I can tell you that they are handling it the best any parent could ever deal."

[gwen]

John Travolta, Defying Scientology, Acknowledged Son's Autism

According to a Bahamian police report taken in February after his son Jett's death last year, Travolta acknowledged in his own words that "Jett suffered from a seizure disorder and was autistic." That's a big no-no in Scientology.

The report was obtained by the National Enquirer. Travolta's use of the term "autistic" seems to be a break from church doctrine, which teaches that pyschiatric diagnoses are fake ailments invented by Nazi psychiatrists so they can give people drugs to keep them from realizing their true potential of controlling the physical world with their minds.

Prior to Jett's death, his mother Kelly Preston attributed his problems to a rare disorder called Kawasaki disease and to "environmental toxins" from carpet-cleaners. She claimed that a Scientological detoxification regime had helped to ease his symptoms.

After Jett's death, Scientology representatives denied that the church has taken a stance on autism, saying, "It's medicine. The church deals with the spirit. If people have a medical problem or a physical ailment, they go to a doctor. It's church policy that they do so and they get that addressed." But autism is a psychiatric disorder described in DSM-IV, psychiatry's diagnostic bible. While a case could be made that Travolta was only using the term generally, to describe a disorder with physical roots that he thought could be explained, Scientology-style, by toxins, it's certainly unusual for a high-profile representative of the church to use the word.

[olympic]

one would have to have the boy's medical records now to know if john and kelly provided the western medicine care for their son....him acknowledging that on paper could have been just protocol in order to fend potential law-suits..

[Arubalover]

It's about damn time he admits his son was autistic. All this bullshit talk about toxins shows that they are either ashamed of their son, or they are scared of that damn religion. Either way, they did wrong by Jett. If they had treated him for the seizures, that poor child would likely be alive today. According to a neighbor, John and Kelly were not giving him medication.

[AC]

It's about damn time he admits his son was autistic. All this bullshit talk about toxins shows that they are either ashamed of their son, or they are scared of that damn religion. Either way, they did wrong by Jett. If they had treated him for the seizures, that poor child would likely be alive today. According to a neighbor, John and Kelly were not giving him medication.

Maybe that is why John is having such a big problem with this....and I'm not saying any parent would not have a problem. But, if indeed, he feels like he might have neglected Jett, that would be a hard road to go.

[resigned]

Monday, January 05, 2009

John Travolta's lawyers, Michael Ossi and Michael McDermott, said Sunday Jett Travolta, the actor's 16-year-old son who died Friday, was on an anti-seizure medication called Depakote for several years, but the drug was suspended after it lost its effectiveness amid concern about side effects.