John Travolta Photos & Pics Archive

Photo courtesy the Travolta family

A Bahamian judge has declared a mistrial in the John Travolta extortion case due to juror misconduct.

After four weeks of testimony, including a tearful recounting of Jett's death from John himself, proceedings were halted late last night after someone at a political rally revealed that the defendents were found not guilty.

The judge believed that one of the jurors, who had been deliberating for 8 hours, had "innapropriate" communication with someone outside the jury room, and declared a mistrial.

Although it must have been excruciatingly painful to go through it once, Travolta's attorney told The AP that his client would cooperate in any way possible and even testify again if necessary.

Four thousand Scientologists attended a huge party in England last weekend to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the International Association of Scientologists, reports Us...

Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and daughter Suri made a surprise appearance at the event in which Cruise himself addressed the crowd with, "We are in this together!"

An attendee says that "Tom looked like he was in heaven" while Katie was "doing her best to look as enthusiastic."

John Travolta and Kelly Preston were also there, but appeared more "muted."

Most interestingly, Cruise was overheard chatting with a guest about the protesters outside, calling them "squirrels." He also said that they were "stuck in an electronic incident. It makes me so angry!"

Whoa! How rude. Wait, what does that even mean?

Photo courtesy of the Travolta family

John Travolta testified in the extortion case tied to the death of his 16-year-old son Jett today, and while he remained composed as he took the stand, one can only imagine how painful it was for him to recount Jett's final moments.

Travolta told the courtroom that Eli Wheaton, one of the family's nannies first alerted him that something was wrong with Jett around 10:15am on January 2. "He was pounding on the door upstairs where we were sleeping," Travolta recalled. The actor rushed down the stairs of his family's vacation home on Grand Bahama Island, and when he finally got to Jett, he said, "Jeff [Kathrein], the other nanny, was doing some compressions. I was doing the breathing."

Travolta also confirmed that his son suffered from not only Kawasaki disease, but also autism. "My son was autistic and he suffered from seizure disorder every 5 to 10 days," Travolta told the court. "He would suffer a seizure that would last 45 seconds to a minute and sleep for 12 hours."

Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and his attorney, former Bahamian senator Pleasant Bridgewater are accused of trying to extort $25 million from Travolta after reportedly demanding money for a document relating to Jett's death.

Travolta is expected to return to the stand later this afternoon.

John Travolta will travel to the Bahamas next week to testify at the extortion trial involving the death of his 16-year-old son, Jett.

Paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and former Bahamian senator Pleasant Bridgewater face charges of conspiracy for attempting to extort $25 million from the actor by reportedly demanding money for a document relating to Jett's death.

According to the Bahamian police, Lightbourne had Travolta sign a "refusal to transport" form that waives responsibility on the part of the ambulance crew if a patient declines to be taken to a hospital. Two weeks after Jett passed away, Bridgewater (who was serving as Lightbourne's attorney), called Travolta's attorney's and said her client wanted to sell the document to the movie star.

Since Travolta was the one who filed the extortion complaint, Bahamian law requires him to testify in person, and the trial will begin on Monday.

image courtesy of the Walt Disney Company

John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston (along with their 9-year-old daughter Ella Bleu) made their first public appearance together since the death of their 16-year-old son Jett earlier this year. The family showed scenes from their upcoming Disney comedy Old Dogs, which marks Ella Bleu's feature-film debut.

According to the Associated Press, John told the crowd, "I always appreciate the audience's love for me." He continued: "I hope they love Old Dogs and much as we do, because I've got my baby in it."

Another one of the suspects in the Travolta extortion case is set to be formally charged this morning.

Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne will face two charges, one of which will be conspiracy to extort.

The details of the case still remain a secret, but Minister of National Security Tommy Turnquest told Us that the alleged extortionists apparently asked for "millions" from the Travolta family.

Another suspect, Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater, who was charged with abatement to extort and conspiracy to extort, was released on $40,000 bail Friday.

Bahamian officials have detained two people in connection with a plan to extort money from John Travolta following the death of his son Jett.

Several online media reports say the pair, a local politician and an ambulance driver, hatched a plan to extort money with a photograph of Jett taken at the hospital the night he died.

"We have two persons in custody assisting us in this matter," Bahamas Police Commissioner Raymond Gibson told E! News.

The suspects have been identified as Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne.

So far no charges have been filed, and the investigation is ongoing.

John and Kelly Travolta were allegedly targeted by extortionists shortly after the tragic death of their teenage son Jett.

The details of the plot haven't been revealed, but media reports say officials in the Bahamas are investigating the incident and are questioning one person described as a "politician."

“Regrettably in a time of such terrible grief, there are often a few individuals who attempt to make false claims in hopes of making millions of dollars,” Travolta's attorneys said in a statement. “We will never let that happen.”

The attorneys went on to say they have confidence Bahamian officials will find out who is responsible for this unthinkable act.

In the wake of their son's tragic death, John Travolta and his family have sent an official letter to the Ocala Star-Banner this morning via his attorney, Michael McDermott:

To The People of Ocala

The enormous amount of love, support and condolence we have received from this community has been most humbling. Comforting words, thoughts and prayers of Ocala’s citizens have made an impossibly painful situation, a little less painful.

The actions of Ocala’s community leaders, its law enforcement professionals, our neighbors at Jumbolair and its surrounding communities have offered us the dignity to grieve the loss of our son and Ella’s brother in peace. For this we will always be grateful.

From the people who drove hours to drop off cards and flowers at our doorstep, to the service providers who made Jett’s ceremony so beautiful, thank you. Every person who we have encountered has offered to do anything in their power to help us, but add that they feel powerless to do so. We want all of you to know that you have already helped us. By sharing our grief, you lessen our burden. For all of the people who have kept Jett in their prayers, know that those prayers have given us inspiration and strength.

What we have experienced in Ocala transcends neighborly civility. We have been treated as family. Although we lost a good part of the joy and radiance of our family, your embracing us as a member of your own has helped us to contend with our loss.

In parting, we want all of you to cherish your loved ones and your friends like there was no tomorrow, to live your lives to the fullest by continuing to help one another, and to be true to yourselves.

Love John, Kelly and Ella

It says a lot that, despite going through a very difficult time, John still remembers to be so gracious...

John Travolta will hold a private memorial service for his son Jett today at their estate in Ocala, Florida.

Some reports have said Oprah and John's fellow Scientologist pal Tom Cruise would attend, but Cruise is in New York recording an appearance on The View
and Oprah Winfrey is out of the country.

The small Florida town is preparing for the influx of celebrities who will attend the memorial. Access Hollywood reports the Ocala Hilton is blocking off 17 rooms for the family's guests.

This was the scene yesterday morning as John Travolta's Twin-Jet Gulfstream 2 landed at the airstrip in the Jumbolair community of Ocala, Florida, where the family has a home. News vans, photographers and reporters were all camped outside of the Marion County residence, and the sheriff was there as well.

John, Kelly Preston and their daughter Ella Bleu flew out of the Bahamas on Monday night with an urn containing the ashes of their son Jett, who died on Friday from a "seizure disorder."

The funeral is expected to take place either tomorrow or Friday, and according to The Daily Mail, numerous celebrities are expected to attend, including fellow Scientologists Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, as well as Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey and actress Kirstie Alley.

Celebs everywhere have been offering their condolences to the family, and yesterday fellow Scientologist Lisa Marie Presley responded to the tragedy via her Myspace Celebrity Blog, and in a post titled, "Now Is Not The Time," Lisa Marie writes:

I wished I could be writing you under happier circumstances but I cannot because Two of my very good friends, (John and Kelly Travolta ) the sweetest people in the world have just encountered the worst possible tragedy a parent could be forced to endure, the death of their son Jett.

My heart is crying and bleeding for them.

I personally would not have it in me to bury my own child.

I am writing this because I have noticed that for the most part, people and the media have been very sympathetic and respectful, but there are those certain ones that want to use this horrible tragedy as an opportunity to once again, blame and or attack Scientology?

Folks, as popular as it has been to discriminate and ridicule Scientology and Scientologist's in the recent past , Now is NOT the time...

And that's not all - click after the jump to read the rest of what Lisa Marie has to say!

Photo courtesy Travolta Family Via Rogers & Cowan

The Travolta family has returned to the United States with the remains of their son Jett, reports the AP.

John, Kelly and Ella left the Bahamas last night with an urn containing Jett's cremated remains, says a Bahamian official.

A proper funeral in the family's home town of Ocala, Florida is thought to be scheduled for some time this week but has not been confirmed.

Photo courtesy Travolta Family Via Rogers & Cowan

Although the police initially claimed that Jett suffered a seizure that caused him to collapse and hit his head in the bathroom of the Bahamas townhouse he was staying at, the assistant funeral director at the home where Jett's body was taken has told the AP that the body is in "great condition" and shows no sign of head trauma.

No further details on the autopsy have been made public, other than the cause of death.

Jett's body is currently en route to Ocala, Florida, where the family will hold his funeral.

Photo courtesy of the Travolta family via Rogers & Cowan

Jett Travolta's autopsy has been completed, and a source close to the investigation tells E! Online, "It is not a suspicious death. The body wouldn't already be turned over to the mortuary if there was anything suspicious. There is no foul play."

The autopsy was completed around 12pm local time, and Jett's body is currently at the Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium on Grand Bahama. Bahamian official (and close Travolta family friend) Obie Wilchcombe says that the family has considered a possible viewing tomorrow, but the remains are being prepared for immediate transport back to Florida.

UPDATE: TMZ reports that Jett Travolta's death certificate lists "seizure" as the cause of death, but no word yet on the coroner's report.

A press conference is scheduled for later this afternoon, and we'll bring you more details as soon as we get them.

Photo courtesy Travolta Family Via Rogers & Cowan

The autopsy of Jett Travolta has just been completed, according to TMZ.

The pathologists have not yet filed their report, and of course there's a chance it won't be made public, but the body has already been transferred to Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium in the Bahamas, where the family may hold a viewing tomorrow before bringing him back home to Florida for a proper burial.

Photo courtesy of the Travolta Family via Rogers & Cowan

The Ministry of Health in the Bahamas is now saying that Jett Travolta's autopsy results may NOT be made public!

Bahamian health minister Dr. Hubert Minnis told TMZ that once pathologists complete a preliminary report, it's forwarded to the coroner, who then reviews it passes it along to the family. Even though the case has gained a lot of interest from the public, only the family has the authority to release the findings.

Think they'll share the autopsy results with us, or will it be kept a secret?

Photo courtesy Travolta Family Via Rogers & Cowan

Two pathologists have begun the autopsy to determine what exactly caused the untimely death of Jett Travolta Friday morning. Results could be released as soon as this afternoon.

Eonline reports that a the Travoltas have retained the services a funeral home in Freeport, where they may schedule a viewing of Jett's body tomorrow. Proper burial services will be held in the family's home town of Ocala, Florida.

Stay tuned for more developments...