Posted Jan 3rd 2009 12:36PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned what may have killed Jett Travolta, and it's not what police have suggested.
We've spoken with John Travolta's lawyer and close friend, Michael McDermott, and family attorney Michael Ossi, both of whom are with John in the Bahamas. They tell TMZ it appears Jett's fatal injury was the result of hitting his head on the bathtub, toilet seat, or both. And they say the intimation that Jett went undiscovered for hours is absolutely false.
Police have said the last time anyone saw Jett was when he went to the bathroom on January 1. His body was discovered by nanny Jeff Kathrein the next day at 10 AM. In fact, McDermott and Ossi say it appears Jett went back and forth to his room and the fatal injury occurred "very shortly" before Jett was found on the bathroom floor -- McDermott called it a "small window of time."
McDermott and Ossi tell us two nannies were present on the trip and Jeff was by his side 24/7. There was a baby monitor device by Jett's side and there was also a chimer in the bathroom when the door opened.
McDermott and Ossi say it is still unclear if Jett fell to the floor as a result of a seizure or if he had a seizure after falling or slipping. There was blood on the floor of the bathroom, but "not a tremendous amount." It appears the striking of Jett's head was the cause of death, though it won't be clear until the autopsy is performed Monday morning.
Jett's body will be embalmed Monday afternoon. There will be a local showing on Tuesday and later that day the body will be flown to Ocala, Fla. for burial.
McDermott says both John and Kelly are night owls. John often goes to sleep at around 5 AM. But McDermott says both nannies were at the hotel and Jeff always present.
McDermott tells us a hotel manager was first on scene with Jeff and the two of them administered CPR. John came in shortly thereafter and John took over for a "substantial period of time [and] was performing CPR and continued that until EMT came and took over."
McDermott says as for Travolta and Preston, the pain is "unimaginable and unquantifiable."
UPDATE: The Grand Bahamas health minister confirms that the autopsy will be conducted by two pathologists to ensure a proper evaluation has been made. A clinical and forensic pathologist from Nassau, that is U.S. certified, will fly into Grand Bahama on Monday to help perform the autopsy.
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Filed under: Celebrity Justice, John Travolta
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 10:25AM by TMZ Staff
UPDATE: 11:50 ET. We've learned John Travolta has made arrangements with a funeral home in the Bahamas to ship Jett's body on Tuesday, presumably to Florida. The autopsy will not be performed until Monday morning.
Sources at the Freeport Grand Bahama Police Department tell TMZ the Serious Crimes Section is conducting an investigation into the death of Jett Travolta, the 16-year-old son of John Travolta and Kelly Preston, but cops don't believe any crime was involved.
A detective tells us the investigation is being run out of the Central Detective Unit, Serious Crimes Section, because of the high profile nature of the death.
We're told it is still an active investigation and the time line may be important in determining cause of death ... specifically, Jett was last seen going to the bathroom on January 1st, yet his body was not discovered until 10 AM the next day.
It is unclear if Jett fell and then had a seizure -- or if a seizure caused him to fall.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, John Travolta
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 10:00AM by TMZ Staff
Sam Shepard got popped early this morning for an alleged DUI and speeding.
Shepard was doing a reported 46 MPH in a residential zone in -- get this, Normal, IL. The actor responded to the cops request to pull over by parking his Tahoe on the curb. According to the Pantagraph.com, the 65 year-old blew an impressive 0.175 which is roughly twice the legal limit.
Shepard was arrested at the scene and taken to McLean County jail. He posted bond and is currently pending a court appearance.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 9:49AM by TMZ Staff
Lindsay Lohan has been in several nuclear fights with GF Samantha Ronson in the last few weeks. She's now confirming the obvious in an not-so-subtle way.
When asked if there's "trouble in paradise," Lohan responded yesterday in West Hollywood, "Not exactly." Translation: "We're at each others throats. It's a frickin' mess."
Filed under: Lindsay Lohan
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 9:32AM by TMZ Staff
Ryan Seacrest arrived in the Carribean yesterday with 24-year-old Playboy Playmate Sara Jean Underwood. Your move Simon Cowell.
Filed under: Wacky & Weird, American Idol
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 9:30AM by TMZ Staff
Looks like the GOP's head cougar has gone from political attack dog to snotty celeb fashion critic.
In her new book, "Guilty: Liberal "Victims" and Their Assault on America" Ann Coulter slams Michelle Obama for her hairstyle and clothes. Coulter calls Michelle an obvious Jackie Kennedy wannabe with her "flipped-under hair, the sleeveless A-line dresses" and "the short strands of fake pearls."
Good news: Coulter reportedly had to have her jaw wired shut. Bad news: She can still type.
Filed under: Celebrity Feuds, Barack Obama
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 9:25AM by TMZ Staff
Spotted in St. Lucia -- a somewhat plumper Amy Winehouse looks as if she's finally grown a pair.
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 9:10AM by TMZ Staff
Patricia Quinn became somewhat famous for playing Magenta in the 1975 cult film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Guess what she looks like now!
Filed under: Movies, Beauty, 'Memba Them?!
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 9:07AM by TMZ Staff
Remember the Soulja Boy video where he was chillin' in his crib, and six thugs armed with pistols and AK-47s busted in and robbed the place? Wait ... that really happened.
A rep for the teen rapper says the incident took place at Soulja Boy's home Dec. 30th -- no one was injured.
In a online video released the next day, two masked dudes claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming it was just the two of them and one weapon.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Wacky & Weird
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 9:05AM by TMZ Staff
It's the most random -- and mobile -- one-on-one we've ever done: Filming comedian Mario Joyner, who was riding a bicycle, from a moving vehicle.
Don't worry -- our photog wasn't driving.
Filed under: Wacky & Weird
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 9:00AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has obtained the first video of the ambulance that took Jett Travolta to the hospital just before he was pronounced dead.
Outside the hospital, a representative for the resort where the Travoltas were staying confirmed what had been widely reported -- Jett Travolta suffered a seizure early this morning and fell and hit his head.
Filed under: John Travolta
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 8:30AM by TMZ Staff
Rand Memorial Hospital in the Bahamas tells TMZ the son of John Travolta died today.
We're told 16-year-old Jett was vacationing with Travolta and wife Kelly Preston.
There have been reports that Jett was autistic, though Travolta has denied it, saying he suffers from Kawasaki Syndrome, a condition which often leads to heart disease.
UPDATE 5:15 PM ET -- Police just released more details. According to a report, Jett was last seen going into the bathroom at their private suite at the Old Bahama Bay Resort sometime yesterday. The body was discovered by the caretaker, Jeff Michael Kathrein (pictured bottom right with Travolta in 2006), at 10:00 AM today. The report says Jett suffered from seizures.
An autopsy is being performed to determine the exact cause of death.
UPDATE 4:54 PM ET -- A police spokeswoman says Jett hit his head in a bathtub.
UPDATE: 4:40 PM ET -- Restview Memorial Mortuary and Crematorium in the Bahamas tells TMZ Jett's body would be transferred there on Monday.
UPDATE: 4:00 PM ET -- Travolta's attorney Michael Ossi says Jett suffered a seizure at his family's vacation home at the Old Bahama Bay Hotel on Grand Bahama Island. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he died on scene.
Robert Gidel, president of Ginn Properties (which owns the Old Bahama Bay Hotel), tells TMZ, "The Travolta family has become like family to us at Old Bahama Bay and we extend our deepest sympathies to them."
Filed under: R.I.P., John Travolta
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 4:00AM by TMZ Staff
Talk about starting the New Year off right -- This Chippendale is on everyone's resolution list!
Filed under: Hot Bodies
Posted Jan 3rd 2009 3:00AM by TMZ Staff
One of our photog's learned a valuable lesson about "ER" actress Laura Innes: Just because she played a doctor on TV for 15 years, doesn't mean she wants to see your nasty rash.
Filed under: Nurse!
Posted Jan 2nd 2009 6:57PM by TMZ Staff
The woman who plays serial divorceé Lily van der Woodsen on "Gossip Girl" is imitating her character -- she's filed for divorce. Oh, and she's pregnant.
TMZ obtained legal papers filed December 30 in L.A. County Superior Court. Kelly Rutherford is asking a judge to end her marriage of two years to Daniel Giersch, citing "irreconcilable differences." In addition to a child on the way, they have a two-year-old son, Hermés Gustaf Daniel Giersch.
It's Kelly's second marriage, which gives you an idea why she was cast.
XOXO
Filed under: Celebrity Justice
