John Travolta Drops Extortion Case Charges
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John Travolta is dropping the charges against the two men accused of attempting to extort $25 million from him after the death of his 16-year-old son, Jett, TMZ reports.
Though the case was originally declared a mistrial in October 2009, Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston, 47, continued to pursue defendants Tarino Lightbourne and Pleasant Bridgewater. Travolta, 56, has since asked a judge in the Bahamas to dismiss the case.
PHOTOS: Touching pics of the Travolta family
"I am grateful and appreciative of the dedication, hard work and support provided by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Royal Bahamas Police Force while handling matters associated with the attempted extortion that targeted my family in January of 2009," Travolta told TMZ in a statement.
"Throughout the investigation and prosecution, my staff and I remained fully supportive of all requests for assistance from law enforcement representatives even though this cooperation was at a great emotional cost to my family," he said.
"Unfortunately, in early October of last year the first trial of this matter resulted in a mistrial. Almost a year later, the long pending status of this matter continued to take a heavy emotional toll on my family causing us to conclude that it was finally time to put this matter behind us," Travolta explained. "Therefore, after much reflection I concluded that it was in my family’s best interest for me not to voluntarily return to The Bahamas to testify a second time at trial. We are thankful to the people of The Bahamas for the friendship, love and support they provided to us during this matter."
Now that their legal woes are behind them, the couple is focusing on preparing for the arrival of their third child, due in November.
"They've been through so much. Not only losing Jett but those godawful horrible men trying to extort them! Unbelievable. It was awful on them, they were grieving so badly," Preston's mother Linda Carlson told UsMagazine.com in June.
Continued Carlson, "I know Kelly has been longing for another baby. She just loves babies! So do I. I just can't wait for this child to arrive. It's taken them out of such deep grief and made them able to focus on new life. It just couldn't come at a better time."
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7The Travolta-Preston's dropped the charges because they were not going to win and more incriminating information was going to come out about it was that Jett really passed away. Travolta already got himself in trouble with the cult he belongs to when he had to admit under oath that his son had autism and that the poor young man suffered from horrible seizures. I am grateful that these two high profile, selfish celebrities will not be allowed to ruin the lives of two innocent people from the Bahamas. The Travolta-Preston's are also not allowed to mourn the death of their son. It's NOT allowed in Scientology. If they are truthfully mourning that young man then they are paying big bucks to get those feelings audited out. Grief is low on the tone scale and we all know the Travolta-Preston's are Scientologists in good standing. Educate yourself about what these people believe and stop falling for the hype they try to feed you when something bad happens.
He looks like he had a hair transplant.
I understand why the Tavoltas dropped the case; yet it is too bad that these guys now get-a-way with what they did.
Good move John! Get this terrible tradgedy behind you.
I just LOVE John Travolta! I had such sadness when this trajedy occurred. I am certain Kelly being pregnant and due soon had a lot to do with this discision of theirs as it does take a very heavy toll to continue any legal fight. I wish them the very best! May God continue to bless and guide their path together. Love ya John! You are MY "Michael"
He's still my papi chulo. I'm glad they were able to move on and put that ordeal behind them. Congrats on the newly arriving baby.
He is sooo strong, wishing u n ur family all the best babys....