John Travolta & Family Have An Emotional Hometown Night Out
Posted on Nov 21, 2009 @ 09:21AM - 7 comments
John Travolta, Kelly Preston and their daughter Ella Bleu made an emotional public appearance in their hometown of Ocala, FL Friday, and it was a night to remember. It was their first public outing in Ocala since the January death of John & Kelly's son, Jett.
PHOTOS: The Travoltas At The Old Dogs Hollywood Premiere
The family hosted a special screening of their new movie, Old Dogs, that raised $37,500 for five local charities. The Travoltas spent 30 minutes on the red carpet, signing autographs and posing for pictures with fans.
"Kelly, Ella and I want to thank all of you for supporting us over the last year," John told the crowd of several hundred locals. "It's meant the world to us. We know that we have a community.....We appreciate it. Jett appreciates it."
VIDEO: John Revealed Jett Was Autistic
VIDEO: John Travolta Steps Out On Red Carpet --First Time Since Son's Death
Posted on Nov 10, 2009 @ 09:16AM - 5 comments
John Travolta stepped on his first red carpet since the death of son Jett to promote his new film, Old Dogs, in which his 9-year-old daughter, Ella Bleu, makes her screen debut.
PHOTOS: John Travolta & Other Celebs At Old Dogs Premiere
Travolta was joined at the Hollywood premiere Monday night by some of Tinseltown's top names, including Robin Williams, Tom Hanks and Seth Green.
John Travolta Breaks Silence About Jett's Death
Posted on Nov 09, 2009 @ 10:26AM - 12 comments
John Travolta said family, friends, religion and therapy have been filling his days, in the first interview since the tragic death of his son, Jett.
"We've been working very hard every day as a family to heal," Travolta told USA Today. "We have our own way of doing it, and it has been helping."
Mistrial Declared In John Travolta Extortion Case
Posted on Oct 22, 2009 @ 08:55AM - 15 comments
The trial of an ambulance driver and a former Bahamian senator accused of attempting to extort $25 million from actor John Travolta, after the death of his 16-year-old son Jett, was declared a mistrial Wednesday.
PHOTOS: John Travolta Arriving at Court in the Bahamas
Judge Anita Allen said she decided to nix the month-long trial after learning of a juror's inappropriate communications outside the juror room.
John Travolta Extortionists Threatened To Release Story Blaming Him For Son's Death
Posted on Sep 30, 2009 @ 01:30PM - 3 comments
John Travolta took the stand once again on Wednesday in the Bahamas to give testimony in the case against two defendants accused of trying to extort $25 million from the actor following the death of his son Jett in January.
John says Jett was autistic
In his testimony Travolta said that he was told that if he didn¹t pay $25million the extortionists would release stories implying that John was in some way to blame for his son Jett's death, that he was connected in some way.
Travolta explained that he never spoke to either of the defendants about the alleged extortion and that the information that there was a threat was relayed to him through his employee Ronald Zupancic.
Photos of John and Kelly arriving at court
Travolta looked shaken as he spoke and was asked at one point to speak up as he was talking too quietly.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty
Travolta has now been released from the stand, his wife Kelly Preston quickly took his hand to comfort him as he stood down.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Blackmailer Told Travolta Lawyer Deal "Has To Be Done Today"
Posted on Sep 24, 2009 @ 05:42PM - 6 comments
The man charged with blackmailing John Travolta told the actor's lawyer "This have to be done today" in his attempt to extort $25 million, according to an official transcript obtained exclusively by RadarOnline.com of a secretly videotaped meeting.
Tarino Lightbourne was anxious to get his money and worried he might be killed by a hitman. He met with Travolta lawyer Michael McDermott in January, just weeks after Jett Travolta's tragic death in the Bahamas. Tarino and Pleasant Bridgewater are now standing trial on charges of trying to blackmail the actor.
Click here to see a copy of Jett Travolta's death certificate.
The secret video of Lighbourne's meeting with McDermott will be blockbuster evidence for the prosecution and only RadarOnline.com has the official transcript of that video. New pages of the transcript being released by RadarOnline.com show that Lightbourne was in a hurry to get his money.
Here's a partial transcript:
Lightbourne: This have to be done today. This have to be...
McDermott: Well, I'm all for that because I want to get the hell out of here, too.
Lightbourne: Yeah.
McDermott: Because I'm tired of not sleeping and I'm tired of the same bull**** that you're tired of.
Lightbourne: Can I guarantee you again, Mike, you'll never hear about this again. The only two person knows is me and Pleasant.
Only two persons know. I guarantee you that.
Click here to read the newly released transcript of the meeting.
Lightbourne was unaware the meeting was being secretly videotaped. And at one point he admitted he knew what he was doing was a crime.
Click here to read the transcript pages where Lightbourne admits he knows what he is doing is a criminal offense.
The alleged blackmail scheme centered around a document Travolta signed that released medical personnel from liability. It could be interpreted as a refusal of treatment. But at the time Travolta was considering flying Jett to Florida for treatment. The actor testified in Bahamian court Wednesday that he didn't even read the document.
Click here to watch an interview with one of the rescue workers who tried to save Jett Travolta.
In the transcript newly released by RadarOnline.com, it appears that Bridgewater is getting a $5 million cut of the blackmail money. At one point, McDermott, who is cooperating with authorities, is haggling over the amount of money Travolta will supposedly pay and says "Hey Pleasant, you kick in your five million and we'll get back to 10 (million dollars)."
Click here to read an interview with McDermott describing how Travolta cried all night after Jett's death.
Lightbourne later expresses concern he will be killed and says: "How do I know if I got to the States one day, a hit man - it's not a hit on me?"
EXCLUSIVE TRANSCRIPT: Travolta Extortion Defendant Confessed On Video!
Posted on Sep 24, 2009 @ 02:55PM - 2 comments
Tarino Lightbourne, one of the defendants on trial for trying to extort $25 million from John Travolta, admitted on video that he knew he was committing a crime, RadarOnline.com is reporting exclusively.
Click here to read the key pages of the transcript.
RadarOnline.com has exclusively obtained a transcript of a videotaped meeting between Lightbourne, Pleasant Bridgewater and Michael McDermott. Bridgewater was on speakerphone during the meeting and is also a defendant in the trial. McDermott was representing Travolta.
The meeting took place January 20, 2009.
Here is a transcript of one of the key points in the conversation.
McDermott: “You know what we’re both doing here, okay…
Lightbourne: Yes.
McDermott: ...is a criminal offense.
Lightbourne: Yes.
McDermott: Okay. If we get caught, we’re both in trouble.
Lightbourne: Yes.
The transcript also contains a conversation between McDermott and Bridgewater discussing how Lightbourne came up with his $25 million blackmail demand.
Click here to see photos of Travolta arriving in Bahamian court on Wednesday.
Bridgewater tells McDermott: “…he’s probably thinking that he’s going to lose his job cause he’s on suspension and so I guess he—he probably is trying to make it worth his mile – worth his while. I don’t know.”
Click here to read Travolta’s trial testimony about his son’s tragic death.
BREAKING NEWS: John Travolta Testifies About Being Told Jett ‘Not Alive’
Posted on Sep 23, 2009 @ 04:37PM - 1 comment
John Travolta has given his final testimony of the day in the trial against two defendants accused of attempting to extort $25 million from the actor following his son's tragic death in January.
Read about John and Kelly arriving at court
Travolta recounted how Jett was taken to the hospital via ambulance with John sitting in the back with his son, and wife Kelly Preston sitting in the front passenger seat.
He stated that the ambulance driver was the person who also signed the liability release document, a document that is at the core of the trial. Cops say John was threatened that unless he paid a fortune, the document would be released, making it look like he refused treatment for his dying son.
Read about John's earlier testimony
Travolta testified he helped perform compressions on Jett during the trip to the hospital.
Gritting his teeth, he went on to say that Jett was brought into the hospital on a gurney. Travolta said he remained with his son until he and his wife were asked to leave Jett’s side while the teenager was being worked on.
John testifies, says Jett was autistic
A short time later, Travolta and Preston were taken to the rear of the hospital and told that Jett was “not alive.”
Rescue worker reveals details surrounding Jett's death
Travolta stated that he remained in Freeport in four days before going home to Ocala, Florida
Travolta has been informed he will be required to return to court. The date will be decided later
BREAKING NEWS John Travolta Tells How He Tried To Save Jett
Posted on Sep 23, 2009 @ 02:34PM - 5 comments
John Travolta testified that he signed a liability release document without reading it - a document that is at the center of the trial of two defendants accused of trying to extort $25 million from the actor.
After a court recess, Travolta took the stand again in a Bahamian courtroom and recounted more details about the horrible day his beloved son Jett, 16, died.
Click here to read about Travolta arriving at the courthouse
The document is at the center of the case against paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater, who are charged in the extortion plot against the 55-year-old actor. Travolta was threatened, according to police, that if he didn't pay $25 million the liability release document would be made public and it would appear that he turned down treatment for his critically ill son.
As RadarOnline.com previously reported, during Jett's fight for life John considered flying him to Florida for treatment and signing the liability release was a byproduct of that decision, not a refusal of treatment. Travolta quickly changed his mind and had his son taken to a local hospital.
Jon testifies, says Jett was autistic
Taking a deep breath, an emotional John took the stand again after the morning break and continued to talk about the moments before the ambulance arrived, saying he and one of the nannies who works for his family continued to give Jett CPR as wife Kelly held their son's head.
John and Kelly arrive at court
John testified that approximately 35 minutes passed from the time he entered the room where Jett was, to when the ambulance arrived.
RadarOnline.com is in the courtroom and as John testified he looked nervous and emotional, twiddling his thumbs and shifting in his chair. Kelly looked distraught, watching as John revealed the details surrounding Jett's death.
See photos of Travolta heading to court
John then testified that Jett was put on a gurney and taken to an ambulance outside the condo and the nanny continued to do compressions as they were taking him out.
Travolta said he spoke to the ambulance driver and was given a liability release from him, which he signed. He said he did not read the document because time was of the essence.
John pointed out his signature to the judge and jury.
Earlier in his testimony Travolta revealed the details of his son's seizures and for the first time publicly acknowledged that Jett was autistic.
"My son was autistic and suffered from seizure disorder. Every five to 10 days he suffered seizures which lasted 45 seconds to a minute," Travolta testified before a jury of six women and three men.
BREAKING NEWS: John Travolta Testifies About Son's Death, Says Jett Was Autistic
Posted on Sep 23, 2009 @ 12:20PM - 20 comments
John Travolta took the stand and testified against two defendants accused of blackmailing him following the tragic death of his son Jett earlier in the year.
See photos of Travolta heading to court
The heartbroken actor also told the court that Jett was autistic, a fact assumed by most in Hollywood but never openly discussed by John and wife Kelly Preston.
Click here to read about Travolta arriving at the courthouse
In his testimony he revealed the details of his son's seizures for the first time.
"My son was autistic and suffered from seizure disorder. Every five to 10 days he suffered seizures which lasted 45 seconds to a minute," Travolta testified before a jury of six women and three men.
Click here to read about the defendants pleading not guilty
RadarOnline.com is in the Bahamian courtroom and Travolta was so somber and quiet in reliving his son's tragic death that at one point the court asked him to speak up in order to be heard.
Travolta Jury Selected In Extortion Case
He wore a black suit and silver tie. Wife Kelly looked on as he testified that they were awakened by a pounding on the door from Eli Wheaton, one of their nannies. They were at the family vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay resort on Grand Bahama island. Travolta owns four connecting condos there.
Travolta, 55, said he ran downstairs and found Jett on the bathroom floor. Another nanny, Jeff Katrein, was giving the boy CPR when Travolta arrived. There was also a woman from the resort assisting.
Rescue Worker Reveals Details Surrounding Jett Travolta's Death
The actor jumped in and began performing CPR on Jett. He asked if anyone had called an ambulance and was told one was on the way.
Travolta is on a list of 14 witnesses scheduled to give evidence at the trial of paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and former Senator Pleasant Bridgewater, who are charged in connection with a $25 million blackmail scheme against the actor. Police say the defendants were involved in trying to extort money out of Travolta surrounding a document that purportedly would show Travolta refused an ambulance. But police say the actor signed the document because he was considering flying Jett to Florida for emergency treatment.
Travolta Family's First Public Appearance Since Son's Death
Jett was taken to a local hospital and died January 2 of this year. His death certificate ruled cause of death as seizure disorder.
BREAKING NEWS: John Travolta Takes The Stand
Posted on Sep 23, 2009 @ 10:30AM - 4 comments
John Travolta -- surrounded by security detail -- entered a courthouse in the Bahamas Wednesday morning, a court clerk tells RadarOnline.com, as the superstar prepares to take the stand to testify against two defendants accused of trying to blackmail him following the death of his beloved son Jett.
New Details: Inside The John Travolta Blackmail Plot
As RadarOnline.com has previously reported, Travolta fell victim to a $25 million extortion plot after he allegedly refused medical help for his son who lay dying after suffering a seizure last January.
John Travolta and Kelly Preston Heading to Court for Their Extortion Trial
The distraught superstar is said to have asked paramedics to drive the 16-year-old to an airport so that he could receive treatment back in the United States instead of being driven to the Island hospital only 45 minutes away.
