World · North America · 4 hrs ago
Witness who photographed Jim Thornton says FBI has not contacted her
A passenger says she photographed Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton viewing a chat site during a May flight from North Carolina to Los Angeles.
The site is intended for people experiencing pedophilic thoughts, and the photos led to law enforcement questioning Thornton after the plane landed.
Thornton’s lawyer says he opened the site by mistake after receiving a link from an acquaintance while seeking suicide-prevention support.
His lawyer says he did not view or download child pornography and was not arrested or charged with a crime.
The passenger says she gave a statement to an LAPD officer, who told her the information would be sent to the FBI, but she has not heard from the agency.
The FBI says it does not confirm or deny whether investigations exist.
Whether the FBI will contact the witness remains unclear.
A passenger who photographed Wheel of Fortune announcer Jim Thornton on a flight says the FBI has not contacted her.
She reportedly gave a statement to an LAPD officer, who said the information would be sent to the FBI.
The photos, taken in May, appeared to show Thornton browsing Lifeline.chat, a site for people experiencing pedophilic thoughts.
Thornton’s lawyer said he entered the chatroom by mistake and did not engage in illegal conduct.
The FBI said it does not confirm or deny the existence of investigations.
- Who
- The witness who photographed Jim Thornton says the FBI has not contacted her. Thornton is the Wheel of Fortune announcer.
- What
- The witness says she has not been contacted by the FBI after providing a statement to an LAPD officer about photos of Thornton on a flight.
- When
- The photos were taken in May. The article was published on October 26, 2026.
- Where
- On an American Airlines flight from North Carolina to Los Angeles.
- Why
- Thornton’s lawyer said he entered the chatroom by mistake after receiving a link from an acquaintance in a suicide-prevention group.
The passenger who took the photos
Jim Thornton, through his lawyer
What Thornton was viewing
The passenger who took the photos
The passenger said the photos showed Thornton in an alleged “pedophilia” chatroom.
Jim Thornton, through his lawyer
Thornton’s lawyer said he entered the site by mistake and left after realizing what it was.
Whether conduct was unlawful
The passenger who took the photos
The passenger believed a message referencing “CP” meant child pornography.
Jim Thornton, through his lawyer
Thornton’s lawyer said the site had no unlawful child pornography or other pedophilic content and that Thornton engaged in no illegal conduct.
A passenger photographed Thornton looking at a laptop during an American Airlines flight from North Carolina to Los Angeles.
Law enforcement questioned Thornton, who left without being arrested or charged.
The passenger gave a statement to an LAPD officer, who reportedly said the information would be sent to the FBI.
The Daily Mail reported that the witness said the FBI had not contacted her.
- Witness
- Passenger who took the photos
- Person photographed
- Jim Thornton, 61, Wheel of Fortune announcer
- Flight
- American Airlines flight from North Carolina to Los Angeles
- Website
- Lifeline.chat, described as intended for people experiencing pedophilic thoughts
- Published
- October 26, 2026
What people are saying
The FBI does not, as a matter of policy, confirm or deny the existence of investigations.
did not engage in any illegal conduct, was not arrested, and has not been charged with any crime.