Mystery surrounds Travolta extortion plot

An alleged plot to extort $25m from John Travolta (pictured with his wife Kelly Preston) over the death of his son took another turn at the weekend. Sixteen-year-old Jett Travolta died from a seizure in the Bahamas on January 2. Shortly afterwards, allegations emerged that the 54-year-old actor had been approached by various parties seeking money in return for a photograph taken of his son shortly before he died.

At the weekend, a prominent politician on the island of Grand Bahama, Pleasant Bridgewater, was brought in for questioning by the police. While no charges were made, it was serious enough for Bridgewater to resign as a member of the Bahamas senate.

Investigators have also questioned a friend of the Travolta family, Obie Wilchcombe. According to the Independent, he was reported to have been involved in a negotiation with the actor's lawyers which, according to some allegations, demanded payment of between $10m and $25m. Like Bridegewater, he was released without charge.

While neither the local police nor Travolta's lawyers have released details of the alleged scam, the consensus is that money was sought in return for suppressing the photograph.

This is apparently borne out by the third component to the allegations, Tarino Lightbourne, the paramedic who said he tried to revive Jett. He was arrested days afterwards, and is still in custody on suspicion of being part of an extortion plot.

Commenting on the matter last week, the Travolta family said in a statement: "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." ·