NASSAU, Bahamas — Three people, including an island lawmaker, have been detained in an alleged extortion scheme targeting John Travolta after the tragic death of his son Jett, The Associated Press reports.
Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater has been held for questioning since Thursday in the case, while ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne was detained by authorities on Friday, AP says.
Obie Wilchcombe, the former Bahamian Minister of Tourism and a friend of the Travolta family, was also arrested but later released, according to reports.
Police in the Bahamas have yet to disclose the exact nature of the alleged plot, but Wilchcombe told Us Weekly that he was approached early last week by Bridgewater, who alerted him that "someone was doing something untowards." Wilchcombe said he immediately contacted Travolta's lawyers out of concern. He also made it clear to the magazine that he never sought compensation from the family.
"Never once, asking for anything! Never once, expecting anything! This is ridiculous and absurd," he told Us. "The Travolta's 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."
Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of the "Grease" star and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, died at his family's vacation home in the Bahamas on Jan. 2.
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