Wecht: Unanswered Questions In Travolta's Son's Death
Pathologist Says Teen May Have Been Autistic
ThePittsburghChannel.Com
updated 7:46 p.m. ET Jan. 6, 2009
PITTSBURGH - John Travolta and Kelly Preston are back in Florida
with the remains of their 16-year-old son.
Jett Travolta was found unconscious on Friday in the couple's
vacation home in the Bahamas.
An autopsy was performed on Monday.
Famed pathologist Cyril Wecht spoke to Channel 4 Action News' Amber
Nicotra about the case and said that questions surrounding the
death of Jett Travolta could remain unanswered.
Wecht, who was not involved in the autopsy, said the biggest
question that might never be answered is how long the teen had been
unconscious.
"The absence of addressing this strongly suggests that the boy was
lingering there for some time. Hours, as opposed to minutes, before
he was found," said Wecht. "I don't believe this is information
that will be shared with the public."
The death certificate said that Jett Travolta died of a
seizure.
Although the couple said their son suffered from Kawasaki disease,
a condition that affects the skin, mouth and lymph nodes, Wecht
does not believe this was a factor in his death.
"Jett was 16 years of age, so Kawasaki syndrome in his case is
matter of clinical history and was not a matter of present
concern," said Wecht.
The funeral home said there was no sign of trauma, contradicting
police reports that said the teen fell and hit his head on a
bathtub.
"There was a hematoma, a bump on the scalp, evidently where he fell
and bruised his head and bled immediately form beneath the scalp.
But that did not produce any intracranial damage, that is, no
damage to the brain and no fracture of the skull," Wecht
said.
Wecht, however, does suspect the teen had autism -- a speculation
the couple has denied.
"There is an increased incidents of convulsive seizure disorder in
people who have autism and that may have gone along with this boy's
history," said Wecht.
Wecht said there is a lesson in this for all parents with children
who suffer with a seizure disorder. Wecht said those children must
be closely monitored and their medications be checked so that other
families can prevent a tragedy like this.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28526597/
