Who is Jeff Kathrein, Jett Travolta's nanny?

Who is the Travolta family nanny Jeff Kathrein who was in charge of caring for Jett Travolta and who reportedly found his body in the bathroom?

On his website, he describes himself as a photographer. He mostly seems to do wedding and maternity shots but there's also one of his photos (seen at left) of Kelly Preston that ran in TV Guide magazine.

But in another photo taken In 2006, Kathrein and John Travolta were caught by paparazzi locking lips.

See the photo here on Gawker.com.

According to Gawker, Travolta camp's official explanation was that John kisses everyone like that.

Really?

Kathrein's qualifications for childcare -- particularly a child with serious medical problems -- are unknown.

But according to Gawker, he is a Scientologist, like Travolta and Kelly Preston. Kathrein's wife, Ana, also seen on the website and expecting their first child, is also a Scientologist.

Some Scientology bashers insist that the church forces gays and lesbians to stay in the closet and maintain the appearance of heterosexual relationships.

You don't think... Nyah. That's crazy talk!

Related posts:

Family lawyers: Jett's anti-seizure meds stopped working.

Scientology critics cite 2007 blog about Jett's impending death.

Family lawyers say Jett's death caused by head trauma.

John Travolta's son, Jett, 16, dies in the Bahamas.

Photo: TV Guide, taken by Jeff Kathrein.

Comments

[Christine Gardiner]

These are very well respected celebrities that have a great reputation in every aspect of their life, and deserve nothing but sympathy and love from everyone who has every even heard of them. They lost the most precious thing in their life, and no onw should be second guessing their motives or dedication to that young mans life. Let them grieve with the dignity they so deserve. God bless them all, I'm truly sorry for their pain, cause I know there's nothing they wouldn't give to have him back.

[Ooohhhh]

1. Affection does not equal sex. Lip kissing doesn't equal sex. John Travolta does kiss everyone that way! Look how John kissed Kirk Douglas when Douglas presented him a Lifetime Achievement Award.
(click link url in poster name).
2. What's with the big trend of pointing out people's religions and listing who ever took a class in Scientology? Do you make lists of people who worship a mother virgin born with a sinful son because of a talking snake in a garden who runs around roasting people in a firepit??
Go for INDIVIDUALS not the generality of religions. There are gross idiots abusing most religions.

[Josey]

Interesting that a Scientology lawyer is coming out as the front man and the story is evolving like something out of pulp fiction. If I were Travolta, I'd get a real lawyer and not one intended to protect the good name of L Ron Hubbard's tax shelter - a criminal lawyer with some knowledge of child endangerment and neglect.

[emmy]

Kissing on the mouth is a cultural thing, everybody kisses in most parts of Europe, so it could have been something he picked up on his travels.

[Lauren]

I think all the talk surrounding the death of this child is disgusting. We have no indication that the Travolta family did not love their child to the fullest. Even assuming the allegations listed above are true, that would not make John an uncaring parent. I think someone should spend his or her time writing an article that celebrates Jett's life, rather than continuing to turn his death into a circus. Let's wait and hear what the medical examiners say before we pass judgment.

[Krz]

And if you check out the website - funnily enough Jeff and Ana just had a trip to Paris...

[Jedimom2]

There are thousands of children who suffer from seizures - even as devastating as Jett's - that are cared for by "untrained individuals" - their parents. Any individual can be trained to care for a child with seizures - from their parents, to their babysitters, their teachers, and their friends.
Not every seizure medication works - I should know because I have a 16 year old son who has suffered from epilepsy since the age of 3. He has taken nearly every seizure medication the doctors suggested, including at one time a cocktail of 4 different medications - to the point of the doctors calling him overmedicated. Even then, his seizures have never been controlled. I personally know of at least 2 other individuals who were taking seizure medication that had a seizure in a bathroom, hit their head and died from it. It is entirely the Travoltas and their physician's call as to what medications he should or should not have been on - and whether Jett was autistic or not. I personally have asked for 4 second opinions about my child because I've felt he is autistic - the medical community would not agree with me.
People should never be so quick to judge until they've walked the walk those parents have been through - you just can't know - and it's really no one else's business.
This family and the nanny have had their worst nightmare come true. I personally have spent 12 years listening to my son sleep over a baby monitor- listening for seizures. Trust me - there is no way that I could have heard every seizure once I went to sleep in the last 12 years - it is not feasibly possible.
This poor family needs to be left alone to grieve - and all the attacks on them need to stop.
Oh - and you know what - I am a Scientologist. I have NEVER been told by the church that my son should not take seizure medication - nor that I should not seek medical advice.
Please let this family grieve their loss - and stop the attacks!

[KitCo]

Oh, come on! John's Italian ... so am I -- we kiss everyone upon arrival and departure. Now really is not the time for the press to be focusing on something so frivolous when the wost tragedy that a parent can imagine has just befallen John and Kelly.

[Wareever]

John Travolta talked publically about how Scientology could have saved Anna Nicole Smith before her autopsy was done. Why do scientologists get to lecture others on how they know best when others are grieving but everyone must shut up about scientology when they are?

[doz]

I wish everyone would stop talking about the Travolta Family. Since no one seems to have first hand knowledge of real facts and since we don't personally know this family, I would think it is a good idea to leave it alone. A family has lost a beloved son, brother, etc. It is a tragic end for a young man who was clearly loved very much. Whatever was physically wrong with Jett is the Travolta's private matter. Jett is free now, and may he rest in peace, laugh and fly with angels. May his family be allowed to heal from this tragedy knowing that Jett no longer has the ailments that imprisoned him in life.

[kc]

"Let's wait and hear what the medical examiners say before we pass judgment."

Why do people think they have a right pass judgement on this couple even AFTER an autopsy? They appear to have lived true to their convictions in choosing how to raise their son, and whether you agree with them or not, that is a lot more than most can say. Plus, they provided a loving home to their child, it is obvious they were caring, protective parents. Leave them alone!

[knw]

I think the real question should have nothing to do with whether or not Travolta or the nanny are gay, rather my suspicion is piqued by the lack of information on "the nanny". After EVERYTHING I have read and heard about Scientology, (A helluva lot) especially how celebrities are treated and how they have fellow Scientologists injected into every facet of their lives, I find it a tad disturbing that this seemingly unqualified person was enlisted as Jett's round the clock nanny. For the record, I believe this was a terrible tragedy and a, perhaps, inevitable accident given Jett's reported health problems. I sincerely doubt there is anything sinister to be found out about Jett's death. I am however waiting to see if more information surfaces about Jeff Kathrein or if he simply disappears, in true Scientology style. This is just so sad. Poor kid. Poor family.

[Bobbi Rockefeller]

I was at the Oscars the year Angelina Jolie won, and saw her affectionately kiss (closed mouth) her brother on the lips twice - then watched with everyone else how that degraded first into a couple of late night Leno harmless jokes, then bizarrely turned quite mean-spirited and slanderous..and now we have the folklore about it that we do today. I recalled an old Larry King interview w/ Angelina where she said it didn't really bother her what people said or thought, but what did hurt her, was that after that -- her brother thought that he was damaging her or her career in some way, and started to think he'd be doing her a favor if he wasn't photographed/seen with her. She said that hurt her worse than anything, as they were raised together by a single Mom, only 3 years apart, and were each other's best and closest friends. Making snap judgements about anyone you don't know personally who happens to get photographed kissing hello, goodbye, or congrats on the mouth is ridiculous.

[Donna]

To John and his wife Kelly, and family: God Bless all of you in this time of sorrow. You did everything possible as loving parents to try and keep your son healthy and safe. He is in a wonderful place now and you will reunite someday. No matter what our religious differences are, we all want the best for our children and love them dearly. Jett will remain in your hearts always. You gave him a wonderful life, no matter how short. May you find peace and the faith you need to carry on. You have your lovely daughter. You are loved by so many. You are down to earth, caring people. Take care, and know you are loved. May God keep Jett forever in His arms.

[Donna Hardin]

God Bless John and his wife, and daughter during this sorrowful time. Right now, all they need is comfort and some peace,knowing that there son is in a better place, and that they did everything possible as parents to keep him healthy and safe. Anyone with a heart wouldn't pass judgement at a time like this. These people are heartsick! Pray for them and keep them in your thoughts, but don't torture them with accusations and unnecessary comments. Put yourself in their shoes. Whatever their beliefs, they LOVED that child.

[Petunia]

So is it so crazy to think that The "Church" of Scientology, knowing that Jett was growing to an age where his true condition (Autism) was no longer able to be easily hidden from the world, wouldn't want him around to possibly contradict thier cockamamie ideas on medicine/autism/psychiatry?? And is it even crazier that an in-the-closet gay celebrity that is under thier spell/control might be an unwitting pawn in thier Master Plan????? People - think for yourself. Lots of coincidences. The boy died outside the U.S. and our criminal justice system, there are conflicting stories about his final hours (first one was he hit his head on the bathtub, the second was that he died of a seizure), and then according to Travolta's own words his son had two nannies and was never alone, yet his body was "discovered" Friday morning more than 15 hours after he was seen going into the bathroom on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Add onto that the fact that the boy's body was cremated, leaving absolutely no possibility of post-mortem investigation, in a small island nation that caters to celebrities (I remember reading the Bahamian Health Official saying "We just want to wrap this thing up as quickly as possible") and this whole thing stinks to high-heaven. NO ONE is saying Travolta killed his kid, not in the least, but the Hubbardites have already proven thier ruthlessness in protecting thier psuedo-religion (don't take my word - read up on it) so is it so far-fetched to imagine they didn't want him around anymore????? In a perfect world, Travolta will be so distraught over his loss that he'll go after the truth and rise up against the Machine, despite the fact that they're concealing his homosexuality, and blow the lid off of these frauds once and for all.

[IonaTrailer]

It sounds to me like the kid had a seizure disorder. (Autistic or not). It's known he was on Depakote, which is used to control seizures. If the family took the kid off meds and he seized, fell and died - then it sounds like a criminal investigation of negligent, abusive parenting is in order.

Whether Revolta is gay or not.

[Milly]

The thing is, if my son were as severely retarded as Jett was, I would be checking in on him at night last thing before I went to bed. I would also be checking him in the morning first thing BEFORE I did anything else and well BEFORE 10.00am. Perhaps if the mother had done this alot earlier Jett may still be alive, what mother goes past 10.00am without checking on their kids especially kids with a severe medical problem. Secondly, if I had a child with a medical disorder of that magnitude and if I had as much money as the Travolta's, then I would be employing the best god damn registered nurse/nanny that I could find. The fact that none of those things were done just further adds to the suspiciousness of this whole thing. Something is NOT right here!!