Bahamas News

The plot thickens into the alleged $20 million extortion attempt of the Travolta family as a member of the House of Assembly, the Senate and a paramedic are said to be assisting the police with their investigation – the latest being former Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament for West End and Bimini Obie Wilchcombe.

The Journal contacted Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames in Nassau late Friday afternoon and he confirmed that Mr. Wilchcombe, who had given interviews to the international media shortly after the death of John Travolta’s son, Jett, 16, is now assisting police in the investigation.

He said, however, this does not mean Mr. Wilchcombe is under arrest for any crime.

“Yes, he was taken in but I don’t want to suggest that at the end of the day he would be charged. Our investigations are fluid, so as we move forward there are persons that would be of interest, that we would need to see and would have to talk to, to see whether they are able to assist us in our investigations. So yeah, he (Wilchcombe) is one of those persons,” Assistant Commissioner Dames said.

“But then again, our investigations are not yet complete but we’re confident that very shortly we should be in some position to make some determination with respect to the way forward,” he said.

In another shocking twist to this case, early Friday afternoon, the police issued an All Points Bulletin for the paramedic who was seen giving interviews to the international media in the aftermath of Jett’s death.

The police issued an All Points Bulletin for 47-year-old Tarino Lightbourne of #2 Madeira Lane, Royal Bahamia Estates on Friday afternoon, shortly after confirmation that Progressive Liberal Party Senator, Pleasant Bridgewater, had been taken into custody in connection with an extortion attempt of the Travolta family.

The APB listed Lightbourne’s occupation as paramedic, and states that “subject is wanted in connection with Attempted Extortion. He is considered dangerous and should be approached with caution.”

Around 4:30 p.m. Friday, Assistant Commissioner Dames confirmed that Lightbourne was now in police custody.

“He is in our custody as well. He was brought in by his attorney,” he said.

Mr. Dames did not disclose the name of Lightbourne’s attorney.

All over the Internet on various websites from the New York Post to “uClue”, the name Tarino Lightbourne pops up in connection with the Travolta tragedy.

Persons commenting on the stories, claiming to know Lightbourne, alleges that everything he said in the interviews about what transpired during that fretful and emotional journey to the hospital with Jett’s body, were lies.

The New York Post quotes Lightbourne as saying Travolta’s last words to his son were “I’m sorry, Jett.”

The nypost.com and javno.com quotes “Tarino Lightbourne, the first EMT to arrive at Travolta’s vacation condo after Jett was found unconscious, told Inside Edition it was one of the saddest moments imaginable. ‘I think he meant, ‘I’m sorry, Jett. I did all I could do,’ the EMT said in the interview broadcast yesterday.”

Lightbourne was also seen on television doing interviews with other international media.

It is reported that the alleged blackmailers of the Travolta family were demanding $20 million from the actor – or they would release photos of his dying son.

According to the Daily Mail, the crooks were planning on selling the photos to the Travoltas or the highest bidder.

It is reported that the Travoltas have returned to Grand Bahama with their lawyers to deal with this matter.

Mr. Dames said the police would be issuing a full statement on Friday evening to give the public an update on their investigation.

Source: Bahama Journal