6-Year-Old Boy Floats Away in Homemade Flying Saucer

[Zoneboy]

Link (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/year-boy-floats-homemade-flying-saucer/story?id=8837704#)

A 6-year-old boy floated away from his family's Colorado home today after climbing into a "homemade flying saucer" connected to a large helium balloon, leaving baffled officials to figure out how to rescue the boy as the experimental aircraft raced through the sky.

Officials in Colorado's Larimer County are actively searching for a child who literally floated away from his family's home on an experimental aircraft.
(ABC News)According to a statement by the Larimar County Sheriff's Office, the boy climbed into the access door of the experimental aircraft, which they believe can rise as high as 10,000 feet.

"The FAA has been contacted and LCSO personnel are trying to determine the best course of action," according to the statement.

The aircraft is described by the sheriff's office as a 20-foot-long, dome-shaped aircraft covered with foil, according to ABC News affiliate KUSA.

The boy has been identified as Falcon Heene, son of Richard and Mayumi Heene of Ft. Collins, Colo.

Richard Heene is a storm chaser and scientist. The couple twice appeared on the ABC show "Wife Swap."

When reached at home, Richard Heene was crying and said he was not watching television images of the silver "low altitude vehicle" flying over Colorado. He said he was praying and waiting for an update from police.

Heene said the saucer was an experimental aircraft, which he hoped would one day help people commute to work.

[robyrob]

this is ridiculous - why wasn't the thing tied down or put in a garage or barn where it couldn't just "float off"

idiots.

...and I don't think the 6-year-old knew how to hotwire that thing - there must have been some alien involvement.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

This has to be one of the weirdest things I've ever heard. I've been reading about it over the last hour and ugh apparently it recently landed and the boy is no where to be found. I hope he's alright. ohno: :(

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/15/colorado.boy.balloon/index.html

[MickeyMac]

If I were in that balloon I would be scared to death.

[Chocoholic]

Are they sure the little boy was on the thing in the first place? I pray they find him OK or that this was just a hoax.

[Waterston_Fan]

Looks like the kid was safe after all. It is reported on CNN that he was found at home..

I think maybe the kids who saw him go in the box, must have gone inside then when the balloon was gone, they thought the kid went with it.

[catlover79]

Say WHAT??? :confused:

[Waterston_Fan]

Say WHAT??? :confused:

Seriously!!

The police should have done a better job of checking the house and garage and stuff.

[Chocoholic]

That's good to hear! :) I'm so glad the child is safe.

[Hollow]

Balloon boy found hiding in attic (http://www.examiner.com/x-11760-Kansas-City-TV-Examiner~y2009m10d15-6-year-old-boy-still-missing-after-balloon-crashes-follow-LIVE-coverage)

O_O how did that THAT happen? none of this makes sense.

i've actually been pretty distraught for the last few hours out of worry for the little boy and his family. happy ending, but....WTF?

[Janice]

None of this adds up. I'm suspicious.

[Waterston_Fan]

I agree Janice, I am suspicious too.

They never checked every nook and cranny of that house.

They should pay for the search.

[80sTrivia]

Glad the little boy is safe & sound and didn't take a terrifying ride from hell in that UFO balloon! :eek:

[Chocoholic]

I agree Janice, I am suspicious too.

They never checked every nook and cranny of that house.

They should pay for the search.
I think we should wait until we get all the facts before we judge the parents or police. Someone said they saw the boy enter the balloon, but never saw him come out. When they saw the balloon take off, they must have thought the boy was still inside and panicked. No one really knows how they will react in a situation like that. If that was my kid, I'd probably freak and assume the worst too.

[janet42]

I'm glad the little boy is safe.

[Scoobiedoo30]

I am also glad to know that The Little boy is safe

[Hollow]

this story just keeps getting better. apparently, the parents are part of a reality show called "wife swap." the family went on CNN earlier tonight to talk about the incident (link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI6UONWCq7A&feature=player_embedded#)). a very interesting excerpt:

dad: why didn't you come out?
kid: um...you guys said...we did this for the show.
mom: ...no...

followup video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxtFXtiUbbw&feature=video_response) - dad nervously avoids answering when asked what falcon meant by "we did this for the show," then tries to throw a guilt trip at the reporter for asking the question.

i think that explains everything. :wave: what a day this has been. i was definitely baffled that someone could "think" they saw someone floating off in a flying saucer when they weren't.

[*Pleasant Tomorrow*]

^Ugh

Either way, I'm glad he's alright.

[Brent88]

What a joke. Major hoax, this family is nothing but attention seeking whores. I said on Facebook about 4pm ET I was suspecting it was a hoax after remembering them on Wife Swap. Unfortunately I was right. Outrageous. :mad:

[Waterston_Fan]

I'm wondering if the father is a bully or if the boy is a wimp because daddy yelled at him. He's 6 years old and the father shouldn't have apologized to him for yelling because I bet the father will yell at him again ina few weeks.

I do wonder what the boy is talking about but they should have realized kids don't really remember everything that is said or something like that.

Oh and what is with the father holding a 6 year old boy?

[catlover79]

This story just keeps getting weirder and weirder. Now I hear the kid got sick twice on national TV. :eek:

[Waterston_Fan]

are we in a horror movie? :lol:

We must be.

[PunkyP0WER]

i actually missed most of this fiasco as i was out all day from 7am-til after 5. but when i finally came home (which was just before they found him) and marvin told me about this ordeal, something just didn't sit right with me. i smelt hoax or scam, whichever.

as judge judy often says "if something doesn't make sense, it usually isn't true."

[robyrob]

This story just keeps getting weirder and weirder. Now I hear the kid got sick twice on national TV. :eek:
yes - it was one of the most eloquent exchanges on Larry King in quite awhile :)

[catlover79]

yes - it was one of the most eloquent exchanges on Larry King in quite awhile :)
Good grief!! ohno:

[browneyes106]

I just saw on E news that last year there were three 911 calls to family's home. Some are saying that social services might investigate the family.

[Chocoholic]

The more I've heard, the more I suspect that this is a publicity stunt. This family sounds very strange to me. I hope Social Services get involved (Of course, they never seem to find anything.) and the family should be forced to pay restitution if this turned out to be a hoax.

[catlover79]

The more I've heard, the more I suspect that this is a publicity stunt. This family sounds very strange to me. I hope Social Services get involved (Of course, they never seem to find anything.) and the family should be forced to pay restitution if this turned out to be a hoax.
I second that!!

[Hollow]

Partner Says Father Frequently Put Sons in Danger (http://www.topix.com/hurricane/hurricane-ike/2009/10/balloon-boy-safe-but-partner-says-father-frequently-put-sons-in-danger)
Cop Visited Balloon Family in February (http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dpg_balloon_boy_family_old_911_call_lwf_20091016_4082797) [apparent, but not probable domestic violence]

and now they're teaching their kids to lie for publicity. sick parents. too bad this doesn't signify abuse so CPS could get involved.

article/video (http://ontheflix.com/2009/10/16/balloon-boy-throws-up-on-nbcs-today-show-this-morning/) - the father is again confronted about the child's comment on larry king, to which he tries to explain that he was too young to understand the question he was answering, then goes on a tangent for obvious filler purposes. balloon boy spontaneously vomits at about 6 minutes in.

[catlover79]

Everybody, do what I did today. Thank your parents for not putting you on a reality show or a sick publicity stunt like this!! :mad:

[Chocoholic]

Everybody, do what I did today. Thank your parents for not putting you on a reality show or a sick publicity stunt like this!! :mad:
I think they're even worse than the Gosselins.

[catlover79]

I think they're even worse than the Gosselins.
I think it's a toss up, actually. :eek:

[Hollow]

I think it's a toss up, actually. :eek:
good point. i've despised the gosselins from the start. no good parent would let a TV network videotape everything in their young children's lives for the rest of the world to hold under a microscope. wait until those kids are 15, and people will be saying "oh, i remember you, TLC broadcasted you taking your first ****. you were such a spoiled brat too." i completely lost my respect for them when they started slinging mud at each other in public interviews. they're really going to harm several areas of their childrens' development, as well as the relationships with both parents.

these balloon idiots...teaching sociopathic behavior to your children is just not acceptable, plain and simple. six-year-olds are still developing their core beliefs, and once you teach a child that this kind of behavior is ok, it's going to be hard to make them believe anything else.

[catlover79]

^ They really are sick - and so are the idiot executives who keep signing up families for shows like this!! Thank goodness for people like former child star Paul Petersen (The Donna Reed Show) who is fighting on behalf of the kids.

http://www.minorcon.org/index.html

[Hollow]

according to CNN, the dad waited 20 minutes to call 911 after his son "floated off." he called a TV station first. can they just indict him for filing a false police report already?

this is really funny, by the way. http://twitter.com/boyintheballoon
"Reading "Where the Wild Things Are". Like max, I got sent to my room without supper. Only I don't need to leave to hang out with monsters." :rofl:

[Tweety]

according to CNN, the dad waited 20 minutes to call 911 after his son "floated off." he called a TV station first. can they just indict him for filing a false police report already?

this is really funny, by the way. http://twitter.com/boyintheballoon
"Reading "Where the Wild Things Are". Like max, I got sent to my room without supper. Only I don't need to leave to hang out with monsters." :rofl:


:lol: that twitter page is hilarious!

We've got a couple of sick parents here.

When reality shows first started ("Survivor" was the first one here in the U.S. that I was aware of, there may have been others before it, I'm not sure) I didn't think they would make it. I couldn't imagine that there are enough people out there who are happy just sitting around watching other people's lives...that would be the most boring thing I could imagine. Not to mention the fact that there's nothing "real" about them, since no one acts the same when a TV camera is rolling as they would in real life. So why not just watch a well-written comedy or drama instead? Or reruns/DVDs of old shows that were good?

I foresaw the consequences of the reality TV mentality quite a while back... the thing that I was afraid of was having parents like these two, or Jon and Kate, who'd exploit their kids just to be on TV. Jon and Kate's kids are going to be freaks for the foreseeable future ...and so are these three kids here.

I heard that the cost of the "rescue" efforts was in the $2 million range, I don't know how accurate that is. But the family should pay for the cost of tying up the authorities on a publicity stunt. The father claims that the 6 year old couldn't understand the question he was being asked when he exposed the plot for what it was. Well, apparently his parents repeated the "we're doing it for a show" line often enough for the kid to spill his guts on national TV... if that was the only thing he could remember, then that's good enough for me.

[robyrob]

i don't think that the boy has actually earned the "Balloon Boy" title that the media has given him - I mean he wasn't actually IN the balloon, was he?

i think they should call him "Attic Boy", "Vomit Talker", or "Star Child", or maybe just "Future Attention Whore"

[catlover79]

i don't think that the boy has actually earned the "Balloon Boy" title that the media has given him - I mean he wasn't actually IN the balloon, was he?

i think they should call him "Attic Boy", "Vomit Talker", or "Star Child", or maybe just "Future Attention Whore"
I think all those names are right on - especially the last one. :eek: :lol:

[Hollow]

Guy Claims He Helped Plan Balloon Boy Hoax (http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/17/balloon-boy-hoax-heene-robert-thomas/)

A man who claims he once worked for Richard Heene says Heene was obsessed with becoming famous, wanted to get his own show, and had an idea for a massive media stunt that involved a "weather balloon" that "resembles a UFO." Sound familiar?

Robert Thomas claims, in an interview with Gawker, that Heene believed such a stunt would "be the most significant UFO-related news event to take place since the Roswell Crash of 1947."

Thomas said Heene was "driven by ego and fame" after appearing on "Wife Swap." He says Heene's idea for a show was something like "'MythBusters'-meets-mad scientist."

Thomas says he worked for Heene from March through May 2009.

Thomas came out earlier in the day saying he had proof the entire incident was a hoax and wanted to be paid for it. Gawker openly admits they did in fact pay Thomas.


more: I Helped Richard Heene Plan a Balloon Hoax (http://gawker.com/5383858/exclusive-i-helped-richard-heene-plan-a-balloon-hoax)

[Janice]

http://news.aol.com/article/parents-of-balloon-boy-falcon-heene-will/719681?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fparents-of-balloon-boy-falcon-heene-will%2F719681

Balloon Boy's Parents Will Face Charges

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Oct. 17) — A sheriff said Saturday that his office will file criminal charges in the case of a 6-year-old boy who vanished into the rafters of his garage while the world thought he was zooming through the sky in a flying saucer-like helium balloon.

After the boy's parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene, met with sheriff's officials for much of the afternoon, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden didn't say who would be charged or what the charges would be, but he did say the parents spoke to investigators voluntarily and weren't under arrest.

Alderden previously said that if the balloon ordeal was a hoax, the parents could be charged with making a false report to authorities, a low-level misdemeanor.

"We were looking at Class 3 misdemeanor, which hardly seems serious enough given the circumstances," Alderden said Saturday. "We are talking to the district attorney, federal officials to see if perhaps there aren't additional federal charges that are appropriate in this circumstance."

He said deputies were seeking a search warrant for the family's home, and there would be more information at a news conference Sunday.

The Heenes were expected to speak to reporters outside their home later Saturday, after a strange day that began with Richard Heene knocking on the windows of journalists camped outside his home and promising a "big announcement." A few hours later, he did an about-face when he told reporters that they should leave questions in a cardboard box on the front doorstep.

As Heene walked away, a reporter shouted, "Can you tell us once and for all if this is a hoax?"

"Absolutely no hoax. I want your questions in the box," Heene said, waving a cardboard container before going back into his home.

A circus-like atmosphere formed outside, including men holding signs and occasionally yelling "balloon boy." One sign read, "Put balloon boy on TV: America's Most Wanted."

Other gawkers carried aluminum-foil stovetop popcorn makers that resembled the silvery balloon launched from the family's backyard Thursday, with Falcon believed to be onboard.

While Richard and Mayumi Heene were at the sheriff's office, the couple's three sons remained home, apparently being watched by sheriff's officials. Authorities wouldn't comment on what was happening.

Alderden had said that he wanted to re-interview the family after Falcon told CNN that "you said we did this for a show" when asked why he didn't come out of his hiding place. Then Falcon got sick during two separate TV interviews when asked why he hid.

The balloon was supposed to be tethered to the ground when it lifted off, and no one was supposed to be aboard. A video of the launch shows the family counting down in unison, "3, 2, 1," before Richard Heene pulls a cord, setting the balloon into the air.

"Whoa!" one of the boys exclaims. Then his father says in disbelief, "Oh, my God!" He then says to someone, "You didn't put the (expletive) tether down!" and he kicks the wood frame that had held the balloon.

Falcon's brother said he saw him inside the compartment before it took off and that's why they thought he was in there when it launched. Heene said he had yelled at Falcon before the launch for getting inside.

Alderden said earlier that he thinks it's likely that Falcon ran off because he was scared of getting in trouble, later falling asleep in his hiding spot. He said he doubted that such a hyperactive boy could be ordered to stay quiet for the five hours he was missing.

Over the years, Richard Heene has worked as a storm chaser, a handyman and contractor, and an aspiring reality-TV star.

He and his family appeared on the ABC reality show "Wife Swap," and the show's producer said it had a show in development with the Heenes but the deal is now off. TLC also said Heene had pitched a reality show to the network months ago, but it passed on the offer.

Despite his attempts to get on TV, Heene insisted Saturday that he didn't know what kinds of questions were being asked about him because he didn't have cable.

"I'm going to place the box out front. Please write your questions down, because friends are telling me they're saying this and that. I have no idea what the news is saying," Heene said.



Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

[catlover79]

http://news.aol.com/article/parents-of-balloon-boy-falcon-heene-will/719681?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fparents-of-balloon-boy-falcon-heene-will%2F719681

Balloon Boy's Parents Will Face Charges

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Oct. 17) — A sheriff said Saturday that his office will file criminal charges in the case of a 6-year-old boy who vanished into the rafters of his garage while the world thought he was zooming through the sky in a flying saucer-like helium balloon.

After the boy's parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene, met with sheriff's officials for much of the afternoon, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden didn't say who would be charged or what the charges would be, but he did say the parents spoke to investigators voluntarily and weren't under arrest.

Alderden previously said that if the balloon ordeal was a hoax, the parents could be charged with making a false report to authorities, a low-level misdemeanor.

"We were looking at Class 3 misdemeanor, which hardly seems serious enough given the circumstances," Alderden said Saturday. "We are talking to the district attorney, federal officials to see if perhaps there aren't additional federal charges that are appropriate in this circumstance."

He said deputies were seeking a search warrant for the family's home, and there would be more information at a news conference Sunday.

The Heenes were expected to speak to reporters outside their home later Saturday, after a strange day that began with Richard Heene knocking on the windows of journalists camped outside his home and promising a "big announcement." A few hours later, he did an about-face when he told reporters that they should leave questions in a cardboard box on the front doorstep.

As Heene walked away, a reporter shouted, "Can you tell us once and for all if this is a hoax?"

"Absolutely no hoax. I want your questions in the box," Heene said, waving a cardboard container before going back into his home.

A circus-like atmosphere formed outside, including men holding signs and occasionally yelling "balloon boy." One sign read, "Put balloon boy on TV: America's Most Wanted."

Other gawkers carried aluminum-foil stovetop popcorn makers that resembled the silvery balloon launched from the family's backyard Thursday, with Falcon believed to be onboard.

While Richard and Mayumi Heene were at the sheriff's office, the couple's three sons remained home, apparently being watched by sheriff's officials. Authorities wouldn't comment on what was happening.

Alderden had said that he wanted to re-interview the family after Falcon told CNN that "you said we did this for a show" when asked why he didn't come out of his hiding place. Then Falcon got sick during two separate TV interviews when asked why he hid.

The balloon was supposed to be tethered to the ground when it lifted off, and no one was supposed to be aboard. A video of the launch shows the family counting down in unison, "3, 2, 1," before Richard Heene pulls a cord, setting the balloon into the air.

"Whoa!" one of the boys exclaims. Then his father says in disbelief, "Oh, my God!" He then says to someone, "You didn't put the (expletive) tether down!" and he kicks the wood frame that had held the balloon.

Falcon's brother said he saw him inside the compartment before it took off and that's why they thought he was in there when it launched. Heene said he had yelled at Falcon before the launch for getting inside.

Alderden said earlier that he thinks it's likely that Falcon ran off because he was scared of getting in trouble, later falling asleep in his hiding spot. He said he doubted that such a hyperactive boy could be ordered to stay quiet for the five hours he was missing.

Over the years, Richard Heene has worked as a storm chaser, a handyman and contractor, and an aspiring reality-TV star.

He and his family appeared on the ABC reality show "Wife Swap," and the show's producer said it had a show in development with the Heenes but the deal is now off. TLC also said Heene had pitched a reality show to the network months ago, but it passed on the offer.

Despite his attempts to get on TV, Heene insisted Saturday that he didn't know what kinds of questions were being asked about him because he didn't have cable.

"I'm going to place the box out front. Please write your questions down, because friends are telling me they're saying this and that. I have no idea what the news is saying," Heene said.



Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.
GOOD!!! :clap :clap :clap

[Chocoholic]

I just hope that no one in that area had a true emergency during that time, but were delayed attention because of this nonsense.

[Waterston_Fan]

Boy, this guy would be a lawyer's nightmare.

[catlover79]

Boy, this guy would be a lawyer's nightmare.
Np, I wouldn't want to be the defense attorney in this one. :eek:

[catlover79]

I don't think I'll ever think of the 5th Dimension song "Up, Up & Away" the same way again!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

"Up, Up & Away" (Jimmy Webb)

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon
Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon
We could float among the stars together, you and I
For we can fly we can fly
Up, up and away
My beautiful, my beautiful balloon
The world's a nicer place in my beautiful balloon
It wears a nicer face in my beautiful balloon
We can sing a song and sail along the silver sky
For we can fly we can fly
Up, up and away
My beautiful, my beautiful balloon
Suspended under a twilight canopy
We'll search the clouds for a star to guide us
If by some chance you find yourself loving me
We'll find a cloud to hide us
We'll keep the moon beside us
Love is waiting there in my beautiful balloon
Way up in the air in my beautiful balloon
If you'll hold my hand we'll chase your dream across the sky
For we can fly we can fly
Up, up and away
My beautiful, my beautiful balloon
Balloon...
Up, up, and away...

(I actually had a pulltoy music box that played this song when I was a baby!)

[Janice]

I just hope that no one in that area had a true emergency during that time, but were delayed attention because of this nonsense.
I can only imagine the cost. I heard 18 grand and surrounding counties helped as well. Someone could have been hurt. It's crazy that they can only get them for a misdemeanor. :crazy:

[Janice]

Geraldo Rivera is doing a story on them now on FOX.

[Schmoopie]

I didn't see any of this story until it was all over, and even then I was really disappointed in it. My coworkers made it seem like it was a little boy (like 3-4 years old). This kid looked way too big to be in that balloon in the first place. Plus, I was thinking it was like a hot air balloon. Why in the heck weren't the parents watching the kid. I can't figure out how, if he really got into the balloon, he ended up in the attic. Just nuts.

[Waterston_Fan]

The kid looked too old to be held by his dad and parents.

[Chocoholic]

The kid looked too old to be held by his dad and parents.
Six is not too old to sit on your parent's lap or be held by them.

[Sharop]

i think they should call him "Attic Boy", "Vomit Talker", or "Star Child", or maybe just "Future Attention Whore"

I see your point, but I don't think it's fair to judge the child by the parents. Just because his parents are likely attention whores, it doesn't necessarily mean that their children will grow up to be like them. They may do, but it's not a given.

Children do imitate their parents when they are young, but when they enter puberty and their teen years, friends and other role models start to take on a greater importance in their lives. Children begin to see their parents as flawed human beings and many may rebel. And, if the parents are unsavoury people, in some cases, the children may outright reject them.

If these parents are simply attention seekers and did indeed stage this as a publicity stunt, then I think that is disgraceful and it's a shame that their children are currently being raised in an environment where they are being taught that this behaviour is acceptable. But if this is the case, the children may come to see, in their own time, the flaws of their parents, and may be respectable people.

[waichingliu81]

Colorado sheriff: "balloon boy" case was a hoax

1 hour 42 mins ago
Reuters

The flight of a home-made helium balloon that sparked a frantic rescue attempt for the young boy thought to be aboard was a publicity-seeking hoax, a Colorado sheriff said on Sunday.

Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said the parents of 6-year-old Falcon Heene would likely face charges in the bizarre incident, which riveted television viewers across the United States for more than two hours on Thursday.

The airship took to the skies on Thursday morning and Richard and Mayumi Heene claimed that their son had climbed aboard, touching off a massive search and rescue operation as the odd silver craft drifted for 50 miles, trailed by U.S. National Guard helicopters. The boy was found not in the flying saucer-shaped craft but safe at home.

"It has been determined that this is a hoax, that it was a publicity stunt," Alderden told a press conference.

"We believe we have evidence at this point to indicate that it was a publicity stunt done with the hopes of better marketing themselves for a reality television show at some point in the future," he said.

Alderden said the parents would likely be charged with conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false police report and attempting to influence a public servant.

He said investigators believed that Falcon Heene and his brothers, who are 8 and 10, were "100 percent involved" in the caper but were not expected to face criminal charges because of their age.

"On the bizarre meter, this rates a 10," Alderden said.

Authorities had considered desperate measures to somehow bring the balloon down safely before it slowly began to deflate on its own and landed softly in a wheat field near Denver.

'PLAN WAS TO LAUNCH A SPACECRAFT'

Rescuers who raced to the balloon and found it empty then began to scour the countryside for Falcon, fearing that he had fallen out -- until the family announced that he was safe and had been hiding in a garage attic.

Questions were raised after a CNN interviewer told Richard Heene to ask his son why he had stayed in hiding so long when searchers were desperately calling his name.

The boy responded: "You guys (his parents) said that, um, we did this for the show."

The Heene family has appeared on the ABC television reality show "Wife Swap" in which families swap mothers to deal with family problems.

They gave interviews on a series of U.S. morning shows on Friday to emphatically deny the incident was staged. Falcon vomited repeatedly on camera.

Alderden said his investigators determined that the incident was a hoax after interviewing all five members of the Heene family and searching the home.

"This has been a planned event for some two weeks," he said. "The plan was to launch the spacecraft for a reality TV. The plan was to create a situation where it appeared that Falcon was in the craft to gain publicity. To obtain notoriety to obtain publicity for a television show."

The sheriff, who on Friday had largely dismissed suggestions from reporters that the balloon flight might be a hoax, said that he had, to some extent, manipulated the media in order to gain the trust of the Heenes.

"I bumped against the line of misleading the media," he said. "I hope I didn't cross that line. I bumped up against it by perhaps overstating our assurance or belief that there was nothing behind this."

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb, editing by Jackie Frank)

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20091018/tpl-oukoe-uk-usa-aircraft-20b2d2f.html

[Hollow]

glad this had a good outcome. the little boy is safe after all and the monster who made authorities waste all that time and money isn't getting away with it. he wanted his 15 minutes of fame and boy did he get it. hopefully people won't blame falcon for this as he gets older. children that young have no idea that there are situations when you can disobey your parents for ethical reasons.

[catlover79]

glad this had a good outcome. the little boy is safe after all and the monster who made authorities waste all that time and money isn't getting away with it. he wanted his 15 minutes of fame and boy did he get it. hopefully people won't blame falcon for this as he gets older. children that young have no idea that there are situations when you can disobey your parents for ethical reasons.
Sarah, you just brought to mind the old adage of "be careful what you wish for, you just might get it"!! I hope that moron is happy now. :mad:

[Waterston_Fan]

I"m just reading posts about this like on this site so...

Could it be that when Falcon had said something about 'doing this for a show' maybe he overheard them talking about doing some show?

Not to give the family an excuse for doing this hoax but you know kids can misunderstand things..

[catlover79]

I"m just reading posts about this like on this site so...

Could it be that when Falcon had said something about 'doing this for a show' maybe he overheard them talking about doing some show?

Not to give the family an excuse for doing this hoax but you know kids can misunderstand things..
Misunderstanding or not, I think they all got a lot more than they bargained for!!! :eek:

[Sharop]

hopefully people won't blame falcon for this as he gets older. children that young have no idea that there are situations when you can disobey your parents for ethical reasons.

Exactly. :) The father is to blame in this situation. The boy was only six and most likely had no idea that this was wrong. Children shouldn't be blamed for the wrongdoings of their parents.

[catlover79]

Exactly. :) The father is to blame in this situation. The boy was only six and most likely had no idea that this was wrong. Children shouldn't be blamed for the wrongdoings of their parents.
Especially a kid that young. A teenager, yes, but not a 6-year-old.

[Sharop]

Especially a kid that young. A teenager, yes, but not a 6-year-old.

Yes, a teenager would deserve some blame, although I think that even if the boy had been in his teens, that the father should face more blame/responsibility, because a lot of teenagers can be easily influenced. However, clearly in this situation, it was the father who was entirely at fault.

[comedyfreak]

There goes any hope for a reality show of their own.

[catlover79]

There goes any hope for a reality show of their own.
GOOD!! :clap

[browneyes106]

This morning on the Today Show they talked about Henne wanted a reality show for years and he even had a theme song recorded. The theme song sounded pretty cheesy.

[MrRetro_08]

GOOD!! :clap

I agree, I find it pretty sad that the guy did all this in order to try and get a TV show :rolleyes:

[catlover79]

This morning on the Today Show they talked about Henne wanted a reality show for years and he even had a theme song recorded. The theme song sounded pretty cheesy.
In the immortal words of my sister, "That's messed up". :nod:

[Tweety]

Even after the kid threw up on the Today Show, the parents still wanted to continue the interview :eek: The kid might have been the one to vomit, but it's really the parents who are sick!

[catlover79]

Even after the kid threw up on the Today Show, the parents still wanted to continue the interview :eek: The kid might have been the one to vomit, but it's really the parents who are sick!
BINGO!! :clap :clap :clap

[PlayOn]

Couldn't resist. Saw this on Fox News close to after it happened and looked for it on Photobucket just now.

[Liza]

These parents are just twisted. I hope they throw the book at them, and even if they can't send them to jail forever, at least make them pay through the nose. Yeah, and take away all their toy balloons as well.

[Zebra 3]

I heard that the cost of the "rescue" efforts was in the $2 million range, I don't know how accurate that is. The genius who came up with that figure should get his own reality show and balloon. The reality is it didn't cost the taxpayer extra for a bunch of cops to get out of the donut shop to chase a balloon.

[catlover79]

These parents are just twisted. I hope they throw the book at them, and even if they can't send them to jail forever, at least make them pay through the nose. Yeah, and take away all their toy balloons as well.
:clap

[Schmoopie]

Not sure if you guys have seen this yet, but.... http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/23/colorado.balloon.investigation/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

I'll say one thing about the dad. He sure put on a convincing act when he was so 'relieved' that his son was found safe. So pathetic. The fact that he's a storm chaser should have tipped off the authorities. I hope they charge them big time for this.

[Hollow]

from the fake twitter page: "My dad got the reality show he wanted, but I don't think he planned on doing it for free while wearing an orange jumpsuit." sums it up PERFECTLY. :rofl:

LOL @ the wife coming clean too. boy has his cover been blown. good god, if you're so desperate to get famous, just go do a really horrible audition on american idol.

[Liza]

The genius who came up with that figure should get his own reality show and balloon. The reality is it didn't cost the taxpayer extra for a bunch of cops to get out of the donut shop to chase a balloon.

Uh, yes it did. It costs a ton of money to send out just one helicoptor. Let alone all the vehicles that were sent to tail the thing. Additionally they were diverting planes in the area, which caused some huge problems to hundreds of people. And what about people that may have had a true emergency, but couldn't get help because every policeman in several counties were off chasing the balloon?

[Zebra 3]

Uh, yes it did. It costs a ton of money to send out just one helicoptor. Let alone all the vehicles that were sent to tail the thing.
Let me guess, one million dollars per helicopter plus tax!

[Liza]

Let me guess, one million dollars per helicopter plus tax!

One helicoptor alone was estimated to cost over $4,500 an hour. Multiply that by what, five or six helicoptors that were there. Plus ambulance plus cars and fuel and manpower.

Take a look here, if you don't believe me:

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13573121#

[Zebra 3]

One helicoptor alone was estimated to cost over $4,500 an hour. Multiply that by what, five or six helicoptors that were there. There was two military helicopters, which the taxpayer is on the hook for fuel and maintenance, one according to the Air National Guard is at $4600 an hour for almost three hours, the other at $700 for one hour, not $4600, the rest are private which were paid by the media whores. Enough already with the fuzzy math.

[Liza]

There was two military helicopters, which the taxpayer is on the hook for fuel and maintenance, one according to the Air National Guard is at $4600 an hour for almost three hours, the other at $700 for one hour, not $4600, the rest are private which were paid by the media whores. Enough already with the fuzzy math.

My point is that they ain't free, and the taxpayers are going to have to foot the bill if the parents aren't held responsible.

[catlover79]

My point is that they ain't free, and the taxpayers are going to have to foot the bill if the parents aren't held responsible.
The parents SHOULD pay - the mom herself admitted it was all a hoax!!

[James]

this is really funny, by the way. http://twitter.com/boyintheballoon

:brent

Now I think I know how Twitter works and what it's for! :rotflmao:

[catlover79]

:brent

Now I think I know how Twitter works and what it's for! :rotflmao:
That is so messed up. :rofl: :brent