The passing of the Hollywood superstar’s son is still entangled in conflict after 18 months. Here the emergency medical technician at the location makes his own shocking allegations…
With his expecting wife and a baby boy on the way, John Travolta, the superstar who became famous for his sweet looks, is set to open the new acclaimed ‘sing-along’ version of the film Grease in Britain this week.
Despite his eagerness to leave it behind and hide it beneath this pleasant exterior, there is an ongoing legal dispute that stubbornly persists.
In January of last year, at the Bahamas vacation house belonging to the family, Travolta’s 16-year-old son Jett, who had autism, experienced a seizure and accidentally struck his head on the bathtub. The focus of the story revolves around the sorrowful passing of Jett, which is a convoluted and intricate matter.
On the day of his passing, doubts were raised regarding the quality of his treatment as Jett needed continuous monitoring, and Travolta and his actress spouse Kelly Preston had been commemorating New Year with acquaintances in the archipelago.
Since the couple, devoted followers of the religious cult Scientology, does not recognize medical conditions, they stopped believing that being a teenager is treated properly. There has never been any fair evidence produced for their suggestions, which also include the recognition of autism as such.
Following the death of Jett, there was speculation swirling around for months. It was a sensational criminal case that heightened when Travolta told the police that he was the victim of an attempted extortion plot worth $25 million. The paramedics called to the scene, Tarino Lightbourne and Pleasant Bridgewater, were involved in hatching the plot.
Instead of transporting him to a nearby hospital within a 15-minute distance, they advised him to place Jett on a private plane that was waiting to fly him to Florida. According to Lightbourne, who is 48 years old, the star and his assistants were extremely worried about the situation surrounding the death.
During a dramatic trial in Nassau last September, it was alleged that Lightbourne and Bridgewater requested a sum of $25 million from Travolta in exchange for the star’s signed indemnity form, indicating his refusal to have his son treated at the local hospital.
Not guilty had been found for one of the defendants that a Bahamian politician claimed prematurely on television, however, the judge ordered a retrial after the jury deliberated about delivering its verdict. Output: One of the defendants, whom a Bahamian politician claimed on television to be not guilty, had been prematurely found innocent. However, the judge ordered a new trial after the jury discussed delivering their verdict.
The surprising and curious twist in the case, which has consumed him privately for months and cost millions in legal fees, was dropped last week. However, a new trial was scheduled to begin this month.
He said in a ‘statement that it was finally time for us to conclude this long-pending matter, which has continued to take a heavy emotional toll on my family.
On the previous Monday, the prosecutor notified the judge about his determination, and the accusations were suspended indefinitely.
If Travolta thought that his departure would ultimately conceal this unsettling incident, he was greatly mistaken.
As stated by former paramedic Tarino Lightbourne in an exclusive interview, he has no plans to let matters rest.
The father of two, informed me, “I am the true victim, not John Travolta. However, I have no personal vendetta. And naturally, I have always been a tremendous admirer of his, so it is truly unfortunate that John Travolta experienced the loss of his son. I offer my sincere apologies.”
I have been thrown in jail and paraded as a common criminal, I have lost my job and spent 25 days in prison before being bailed.
I desire for the trial to have proceeded so that I could vindicate myself and restore my honor. The truth is my ultimate wish.
However, the story of his experiences says that Christian devout constantly left him on edge and distrustful. It must be said that Lightbourne is not always the easiest man to deal with, as his behavior at times makes you question it.
If we believe the account of Derrex Rolle, his colleague, it is indeed astonishing what happened after he arrived at the yellow-washed beach holiday apartment of the Travoltas last January.
During a three-hour interview near his residence in Freeport, Grand Bahama, he provided a comprehensive account of the events. However, he did not have the chance to delve into the specifics, although he briefly summarized them during the extortion trial last year.
According to Carlson Shurland, the attorney representing Lightbourne in the trial, the first individual to discover Jett after he fell was the maid of the Travoltas. The maid promptly notified the front desk of the vacation resort where the family’s residence is located.
Approximately 15 minutes elapsed before the emergency services were summoned, according to him.
At approximately 10.45am, when Lightbourne and Rolle arrived, there was a young boy lying unclothed on the smooth marble floor, with a towel draped over him. He remembers that there were several individuals of Caucasian descent gathered around him.
At this juncture, the emergency medical technicians had no idea about the family’s identity.
Nearby, there was a Filipino pair operating a private clinic near the resort, consisting of Dr Romeo Fernandez and his spouse Emma, while two individuals from the group were administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the boy had a laceration on his head.
The doctor said that he had suffered a seizure and hit his head when he fell, and I asked him how long ago he recalled “a few minutes.”
The paramedic carried out tests to check for signs of life immediately when it appeared that the doctor’s timing was hopelessly wrong.
According to Lightbourne, ‘Typically, that begins approximately three hours after the person’s passing… And the corpse was already experiencing rigor mortis.’ I observed dried blood marks around his ears, nostrils, and the corners of his mouth, while the young boy’s eyes appeared fixed and dilated.
“Should we label it [pronounce demise]?” I murmured to the doctor, facing away from the other individuals present in the room. “This young boy has passed away. Why don’t you?”
Dr Fernandez stated: “I am aware — simply proceed with CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation].”
In order to facilitate easier compression, they placed Jett on a ‘spine board’, which helped to pump oxygen into his lungs. They were instructed to do so by a pair of doctors, and they reluctantly followed their advice, knowing that in certain situations, paramedics must take the lead without any input from a present doctor.
Shortly after, Lightbourne recounts hearing one of the individuals utter a profoundly concerning comment to the rest.
Did you hear the paramedic say, ‘Gentlemen, do we have an agreement?’ Did you hear the paramedic say, ‘We can make a substantial amount of money from this and everyone should stay quiet. We can make a substantial amount of money and everyone should stay quiet.’
Lightbourne claims that he was informed that he could ‘retire’ by participating in the ‘pretense’ occurring in the room.
The group anticipated being generously rewarded for concealing it, as they suspected someone may have been responsible for Jett’s death, and it strongly hinted at Lightbourne’s involvement, given that Jett had been deceased for quite a while.
What could have occurred regarding theories is that all of them, and are they, numerous theories have been discussed by the members of the resort’s staff who were on duty at the time Lightbourne had spoken.
Jett speculates that the New Year session got out of control, as some members of the group had been partying and drinking excessively. He could smell alcohol on them.
It is unclear whether they were qualified caregivers or on duty that night. Typically, two nannies took care of him. Travolta’s son experienced severe seizures every few days and needed constant supervision.
In the Jett’s party atmosphere, he lay unattended on the floor, and when he hit his head and fell, he didn’t know anyone there. He speculates it may have been due to the relaxed and careless atmosphere.
Does he still have doubts that something was not as it appeared regarding the death of the boy?
‘I honestly cannot reply to that as I simply lack any information. The sole proof that would validate it is the post-mortem analysis.’
The authorities in the Bahamas have never seen much crucial evidence of the light coming, like it has not come at all. Nobody outside the Travolta camp has reported it, but if a post-mortem report was filed, it would be indeed crucial.
Despite the fact that the Bahamas was once a British colony, our legal system would have necessitated a thorough investigation into Jett’s death, similar to the inquest conducted in Britain. Shockingly, there was not even a coroner’s inquiry, let alone a comprehensive investigation.
In a matter of hours, Jett’s body was cremated and his ashes were transported back to Florida.
‘Everything was expedited,’ Lightbourne states. ‘You need to question the reasoning behind it.’
Lightbourne states that he eventually learned that Jett was Travolta’s child when three or four individuals from the group informed him, and now he wants to move the boy to a compact airplane located next to the private landing area of the resort.
Jett was introduced to a middle-aged man, around 55 years old, with eyes that had a reddish tint. The man was dressed in loose-fitting black sweatpants and a white T-shirt. Lightbourne clarified that this violated the established procedure as he was taken to the Rand Memorial Hospital.
The paramedic did not acknowledge him, but when he provided his name, Lightbourne realized who he was.
I would treat him as the same patient’s relative, because I’m a fan of John Travolta “myself: I thought to myself”, but I didn’t say anything because it would have been wrong.
He agreed to sign the refusal form, saying that if his son had to be taken to the hospital, even though an ambulance was called, we would leave. However, I explained that we couldn’t put his son on the plane.
Andrew Wells, the police inspector who informed me this week, was very surprised by this decision because he had never seen anyone refuse help in such dire circumstances at the Memorial Rand hospital facilities where Travolta’s signature was witnessed.
The entire thing played a significant role in his fame. That impacted everything, I believe. There are regulations to be followed, regardless of the pressure you are experiencing. I genuinely felt pity for him, but John Travolta truly adored his son. ‘John Travolta genuinely adored his son and I genuinely felt pity for him,’ added Inspector Wells pointedly. However, he couldn’t be certain if Jett was deceased when he arrived at the location. Dr. Fernandez was encouraged to accompany him by one of the group but declined, states Inspector Wells. The police chief also confirmed that he overheard discussions about sending Jett on a flight to Florida.
They could not be shifted, but the lawyer Lightbourne claims that efforts were made to remove the private seats of the plane to accommodate the stretcher. We can only guess why he had a change of heart, as he did not give any reason. After signing the form, Travolta said that he changed his mind and told the paramedics to take Jett to the hospital shortly after.
Was Lightbourne truly attempting to exploit the star and Ms. Bridgewater by orchestrating the plot, for the purpose of extorting millions of dollars? And what ultimately happened to the crucial medical document that Travolta signed, which was duplicated three times?
At the beginning when people were asking very awkward questions about Jett’s death, the camp set up by Travolta claims that a paramedic said it suffices to say that it was a diversionary tactic. This aspect of the saga is too convoluted to fully explain.
He insists that he had no intention of hawking the sanitized account of Jett’s final moments to a U.S. Television news program, despite receiving a phone call from one of Travolta’s attorneys offering millions to return it. However, Lightbourne admits that he willingly sold it, along with other memorabilia, in a suitcase where he had stashed it, because he is always a keen autograph hunter and simply took a copy of the actor’s signature home.
The arrangement was properly made between Lightbourne and the Travoltas’ attorney at a Nassau hotel with the help of Bridgewater — a highly regarded Bahamian senator and lawyer. The authorities were alerted by Travolta’s team and discreetly recorded the conversation.
$15million for the unmistakable shape was settled upon after Lightbourne negotiated fiercely. This proof definitely appeared damning when presented to the jury during the initial trial.
When attorney Travolta dryly remarks that he plans to set up a center for Robin Hood in the Bahamas, he says that he will use it for some purpose.
However, Lightbourne insists that he knew he was simply playing along to try and draw out Travolta’s plan, but he was being entrapped.
Whom should one trust?
Mr. Shurland, the lawyer, vehemently denies that his client attempted extortion and argues that, at worst, his client was simply an “opportunist,” regardless of the actual facts.
Mr. Shurland says that he was poised to produce a compelling array of new witnesses behind Jett’s death, adding that this would emerge in the re-trial, fully telling the story that has been laid at last.
Dr Fernandez and his spouse, who were abroad during the initial hearing, would have been included.
Travolta’s offspring were caring for the pair when there had been no crucial indications of vitality, mentioned his spouse Emma. ‘All in the bygone’ was the situation, he would only state that Dr Fernandez last week when I located him.
Asked why she thought the actor had abandoned the court case against Lightbourne, she told me: ‘Maybe he thought he would lose.’.
The maid of Travoltas’, who apparently no longer works for the family, would have had important evidence. Consequently, we do not know how important it is.
According to Lightbourne’s lawyer, this is the actual motive behind the former disco-dancing king’s decision to drop the lawsuit.
Does John Travolta have any secrets? Now that the case has been dismissed, it is likely that we will never find out.
The death of his beloved son will continue to cast a shadow across his illustrious career, along with long-standing rumors about his sexuality and unanswered questions about the attacks on his religious beliefs.