Police Investigate Extortion Demands on Travoltas
Jan. 20 2009, Published 9:02 a.m. ET
John Travolta and his Wife Kelly Preston are facing more heartache as reports of extortion threats against the family are revealed by police.
The actor's Jacksonville-based lawyers said on Monday that they will fight the reported demands made against Travolta and Preston, following the death of their teenage son Jett.
The Tribune, a Bahamas-based newspaper, reported Monday, without attribution, that police are questioning two people, "one believed to be a politician," in the investigation.
No word on what the nature of the reported demands are. Attorneys Mike Ossi and Howard Butler, who represent Travolta, arrived in Jacksonville from the Bahamas on Monday and released a statement that read, in part:
"Regretably 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. We will never let that happen."
The Travolta's son Jett, 16, died Jan. 2, while the family was vacationing in Grand Bahama. His cause of death was listed as a "seizure."
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Ossi and Butler's statement said that they have "the utmost confidence in the Bahamian police and government" as it looks into the reported extortion attempt. They declined further comment.