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John Travolta Has a "Heavy Heart"

Extortion mistrial surrounding son's death leaves actor longing for closure

By Maya Pope-Chappell

| Friday, Oct 23, 2009 | Updated 8:39 AM PST

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The recent extortion mistrial has left John Travolta with a "heavy heart" and longing for closure.

John Travolta is consumed with grief and anger.

Still mourning the loss of son Jett in January, the Oscar-nominated actor and his wife, Kelly Preston, were hit with another blow earlier this week when the extortion trial linked to the boy's death ended without a verdict.

"He's got a heavy heart,” the actor’s longtime friend and assistant Ronnie Zupancic told People. “There is a hole. They think about Jett every day, they never stop."

The alleged extortion plot by former Bahamian senator Pleasant Bridgewater and paramedic Tarino Lightbourn ended in a mistrial after a premature announcement that Bridgewater had been acquitted. The pair was charged with conspiring to extort $25 million from Travolta in exchange for keeping quiet about a medical waiver the actor signed after his 16-year-old son had a fatal seizure.

"He was upset, as he wanted closure," said Travolta's attorney Mike Ossi to People. "The family wants to privately begin the long and difficult healing process – as well as to properly honor Jett's memory – without the cloud of this litigation over their heads. But he said he is committed to cooperating with authorities so justice can be served."