Suspects held in John Travolta extortion Plot
Saturday, January 24, 2009Two prominent Bahamian citizens and a paramedic were detained in the Bahamas in an alleged extortion scheme targeting John Travolta following the death of his 16-year-old son, Jett Travolta, earlier this month, according to reports.
Pleasant Bridgewater, an attorney and member of the country's parliament, has been held since Thursday. Ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne was detained on Friday.
Obie Wilchcombe, the island's former Minister of Tourism and a friend of the Travoltas, was also arrested. On Larry King Live, he talked about how the family coping with Jett's tragic death - revealing some very personal details.
Police did not disclose the exact nature of the alleged plot, which was rumored - though never confirmed - to involve unnamed parties trying to extort $20 million from the Travoltas for information about Jett's passing.
Lightbourne was quoted in celebrity gossip reports about trying to revive Jett Travolta, who died at the family's vacation home in Grand Bahama.
Wilchcombe was initially brought to the police station under the pretext of helping authorities crack the case, but is now "implicated" in the alleged extortion plot.
He has been released pending further investigation.
Bridgewater was charged with abetment to extort and conspiracy to extort and released Friday on $40,000 bail. Lightbourne remains in custody.
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