Paramedic, Lawmaker Busted in Travolta Extortion Plot

Men accused of trying to blackmail star for $20M over son's death
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 24, 2009 5:41 AM CST
Paramedic, Lawmaker Busted in Travolta Extortion Plot
Grand Bahama police officers stand in front of the hospital where the autopsy of John Travolta's son, Jett, is being performed in Freeport, Bahamas, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009.   (AP Photos/Alan Diaz)

Bahamian police have an island politician and an ambulance driver in custody for allegedly trying to extort $20 million from John Travolta over his son's death, People reports. The country's former minister of tourism, a family friend of the Travoltas, was released after questioning.The ambulance driver has told tabloids he attempted to revive Travolta's dying son.

The Travoltas had no comment on the arrests but a lawyer for the family confirmed that they had been preyed upon by opportunists after the death. "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," he said. "We will never let that happen."
(More John Travolta stories.)

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