Michael Jackson in Las Vegas
Patty
Norm Clarke Column
Las Vegas Review-Journal
NORM: Jackson saga gets more mysterious
Disguised as an elderly woman and spirited off in a pickup, Michael Jackson eluded a
massive media stakeout and slipped into a penthouse hideaway at the Las Vegas Country Club
hours after a wacky three-hour caravan.
Jackson spent two days atop the Regency Tower at the country club without his three
children before his whereabouts were detected by a certain eye-patched gossip columnist
who resides several floors below.
Sources said Jackson, who flew back to Las Vegas on Thursday after being booked on child
molestation charges in California, arrived at the country club about 10 p.m. Thursday
night, after avoiding media hordes that followed him to Green Valley Ranch in Henderson.
"He was in the penthouse and being shuttled back and forth to other rooms," said a
high-placed source at the luxury high-rise, where Jackson's sister Latoya lives. The gated
community is a haven for numerous celebrities, including Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Debbie
Reynolds, George Carlin, and Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme.
Sources said Jackson's secret getaway was pulled off by Las Vegas nightclub impresario
Niko Santucci, who lives in the famous 28th floor penthouse suite known for its
spectacular view of the Las Vegas Strip. The penthouse is being listed for $9 million.
Santucci did not return telephone messages.
Regency Tower sources said Jackson was spotted dressed as a veiled older woman in black.
Extra security was called in Friday.
The Scene and Heard
Spies tell me that Jackson's suite at The Mirage Villas was found trashed after he and his
entourage left Wednesday after a two-week stay. It was a mess of spilled food and broken
furnishings, I'm told. "It was like there was absolutely no parental supervision," said an
insider. ...
An in-the-know type tells me that it was a "faulty assumption" that Jackson was looking to
do a Celine Dion-type deal in Las Vegas. "That does not mean another show might not have
asked him to come in and open a show for them or another production might ask him to be
the starring act. There are always people approaching him." My two bits: Unless he is
exonerated, Las Vegas is never, neverland for Jackson. ...
People are wondering if that was Jackson on a gurney at Summerlin Hospital early last
week. ...
A lucky Las Vegas videographer hit the Jacko jackpot. I'm told NBC paid him $50,000 for a
three-second clip of Jackson's private plane leaving North Las Vegas Airport on Thursday,
on his way to turn himself into Santa Barbara County authorities. Now there is some
question whether it was the real plane or a decoy Jackson reportedly sent elsewhere.
mc
Patty wrote:
> Monday, November 24, 2003
> Norm Clarke Column
> Las Vegas Review-Journal
>
> NORM: Jackson saga gets more mysterious
>
> Disguised as an elderly woman
Must have been an improvement!
MC
Keeper of Giovanni Ribisi and Dennis Farina!
2nz
>From: mc mcsqu...@netzero.net
>> Disguised as an elderly woman
(Miss) Diana Ross?
Chewing gum on line, eh?
I hope you brought enough for everybody!