Authorities believe a contractor that entertainer Olivia Newton-John and her husband hired killed himself in the couple's Florida home Monday afternoon while they were away on vacation.
Jupiter Police Department Sgt. Scott Pascarella said it appears the 42-year-old man, who had been hired by Newton-John, shot himself to death. The investigation is ongoing. Pascarella added that contractors were working at the home in Jupiter Inlet Colony on Monday.
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The identity of the
Olivia Newton-John worker found dead has not been released. He did not live at the home, nor was he related to Newton-John or her husband John Easterling,
according to The Palm Beach Post.
An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday.
Details surrounding shooting and the work being done at the home were not released. Attempts to reach Newton-John and her manager were unsuccessful.
The 7,429-square-foot home sold for $4.1 million in May 2009, according to the property appraiser’s office. It was built in 1975, when it sold for $160,000.
The celebrity gossip site
GossipExtra reported this month that television personality Rosie O’Donnell was under contract to buy the home. The website said O'Donnell was purchasing the home for $5.6 million, about $500,000 less than Newton-John was asking for.
O'Donnell declined to comment on the situation when GossipExtra contacted her.
Neighbors say Newton-John has not been to the home for some time.
It is not known if the death will affect the sale of the home. Palm Beach realtor Doug Rill told GossipExtra that it's O'Donnell's call.
"Buyers can walk away for just any reason during the inspection phase," Rill told the website, "whether there’s a suicide or a leaky roof."
The former star of the movie musical "Grease" has won four Grammy awards for her music. In 2011, Newton-John published her first book, "LivWise: Easy Recipes for a Healthy, Happy Life."
Newton-John has had a difficult year. In May,
Rona Newton-John, Olivia Newton-John’s older sister, died of brain cancer at age 70. Newton-John overcame cancer 20 years ago.
This year the former "Grease" star opened up about taking antidepressants following the 2005 disappearance and presumed death of Patrick McDermott, her partner of nine years. McDermott vanished on a fishing trip off the Californian coast. He never returned and was presumed drowned.
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