Boy, 6, floats away in homemade balloon in Colorado

[B.C.]

He's leaving himself wide open.

[mrs.v]

Guy Claims He Helped Plan Balloon Boy Hoax

Posted Oct 17th 2009 7:25PM by TMZ Staff
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.
Authorities Preparing to Charge Heene Family

Posted Oct 17th 2009 9:14PM by TMZ Staff
The Larimer County Sheriff's Department is preparing to file charges against members of the Heene family over the balloon incident earlier this week.

Sheriff Jim Alderden indicated criminal charges could be filed against one or both parents.

The charges would likely be misdemeanors.

UPDATE 9:40 PM ET -- Word on the scene is that Richard Deene's question box presser won't actually happen.

Story developing ...

Read more: Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Celebrity News | TMZ.com

[Brookie]

Fail!!!!

[Elisa]

So the police are only figuring out now to file charges? The frickin' public had this figured out long before them.

[fgg]

using your children like that is disgusting. way to set a good example.

[ekee]

they are having a press con now.

[McJag]

Originally Posted by FloridaGatorGirl

using your children like that is disgusting. way to set a good example.

Just who the heck did they think was going to care for these kids while they are in jail? I don't think they really cared!

[Seapharris7]

^ I doubt BOTH with get jail with the kids, either one will or both will get probation. And other judges in cases like these have given couples rotating shifts, like husband serves his time first and then a few weeks after he gets released, she goes in.

Or... CPS could take care of them...

[AliceInWonderland]

so sickening, fuck them! the idiot guy and the stupid azz wife

[Brookie]

From CNN:

(CNN) -- Three days after the world watched a giant balloon fly through the air and a tearful family express fears that their 6-year-old boy could be inside, authorities announced what millions already suspected: The whole thing was staged.
The balloon is displayed at the sheriff's department in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Sunday.

It was carried out by a couple who met "in acting school in Hollywood" and "put on a very good show for us," Sheriff Jim Alderden of Larimer County said Sunday. Authorities know there was "a conspiracy" between Richard and Mayumi Heene, he said.
"It has been determined that this is a hoax," the sheriff said, adding police "believe we have evidence at this point that it was a publicity stunt" by the family in hopes of "better marketing themselves for a reality show at some point in the future."
The dramatic announcement included an admission by Alderden that authorities misled the media on Friday when they said they still believed it was not a hoax.
In fact, after a comment on CNN's "Larry King Live" Thursday night by Falcon, the 6-year-old boy, "it became very clear to us at that point that they were lying," Alderden said. But in order to get to the truth, "it was very important that they maintain their trust with us." So investigators misled the media while they carried out their "game plan" of gathering the truth. Watch Alderden tell how police recognized "hoax" »
The words that triggered concern: "You guys said we did this for the show." That's what Falcon told his parents when they asked him, on live television, why he had not come out from hiding when they were calling for him.
The "nonverbal responses" from the children at that moment made it clear, Alderden said. The children looked at their parents at that moment, seeming unsure how to react. Watch body language expert analyze Heene interview »
The Heenes denied any hoax Friday during an interview with CNN and said Falcon's remark was a reference to the media that had assembled in front of the family's home.

The Heenes had no immediate response to Sunday's announcement.
Charges have not been filed, but authorities expect to recommend felony charges including conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and attempting to influence a public servant, Alderden said. They also plan to recommend a charge of filing a false police report, which is a misdemeanor.
He also said it is "unlikely" that someone convicted of these charges would face jail time. "We have to allocate our space to" those who commit more serious crimes or have a record of felonies, he said.
One key question remains unanswered, Alderden said: Where was Falcon as police searched for him? On Friday, Alderden said it had been determined that the boy was hiding in an attic in the garage and had fallen asleep. Now, authorities are unsure. Alderden said the boy may not even have been in the home. "The biggest error we made is when we searched the house, very clearly we didn't search the house as thoroughly as we should," he said. Authorities had assumed a 6-year-old boy could not have reached that attic, he said, so they were willing to believe the story the Heenes told the next day.
The Heenes have previously appeared on the ABC program "Wife Swap." Richard Heene chases storms and brings the family along.
After the Hollywood gossip Web site TMZ.com reported that the Heenes had been "pitching a reality show about the wacky family," one of the networks mentioned -- TLC, which produces the show "Jon and Kate plus 8" -- told CNN that "they approached us months ago, and we passed."
He has been described as a meteorologist, but his education ended at the high school level, Alderden said.
Alderden also said authorities are concerned about the safety of the three children, ages 6, 8 and 10. In fact, authorities spoke with Mayumi Heene "at length about domestic violence" and the children's safety, Alderden said. "But we didn't have enough that would allow us or Child Protection Services to physically take the kids from that environment."
There was a 911 call from the home earlier this year that led authorities to a "suspicious circumstance" that Alderden said may have involved "domestic violence, perhaps against the wife."
In an interview Friday with CNN's "American Morning," the Heene parents -- looking exhausted -- expressed relief that their son was alive. "I'm feeling very, very grateful that Falcon is among us," Richard Heene said.

Mayumi Heene said that the family was sitting in their living room, distraught and terrified for missing Falcon, when he walked into the room.
"[It] felt like from nowhere. When I first saw him, I couldn't even believe it. I couldn't comprehend right away," she said, adding that the next moment she was "just jumping, calling his name." She began to "scream and cry, and I just enjoyed that moment."

Nice try, asswipes.

[AliceInWonderland]

if they don't get jail, make them pay and give those kids to normal people! how fucking sad that they would do this to their kids it really makes me sad that they would do all this at the cost of their kids for publicity and becoming famous

[KristiB]

DAN ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer Dan Elliott, Associated Press Writer – 32 mins ago

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The parents who set off a worldwide drama by reporting their 6-year-old son was inside a flying saucer-like helium balloon hurtling over Colorado concocted the stunt to market themselves for a television show, a sheriff said Sunday.

Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said at an extraordinarily candid news conference that the boy, Falcon Heene, may not have even been hiding in the rafters of the family's garage during the intense five-hour search for him Thursday afternoon.

"For all we know he may have been two blocks down the road playing on the swing in the city park," the sheriff said.

Alderden said the parents Richard and Mayumi Heene "put on a very good show for us, and we bought it."

The sheriff said no charges had been filed yet, and the parents weren't under arrest. He said he expected to recommend charges of conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false report to authorities and attempting to influence a public servant.

Some of the most serious charges each carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Richard and Mayumi Heene were shopping at Wal-Mart with their three sons as Alderden told reporters at the sheriff's station that the whole thing was a hoax.

Richard Heene said he's "seeking counsel," though it was unclear whether he was talking about hiring an attorney.

"This thing has become so convoluted," Heene told The Associated Press as tears welled up in his eyes.

He said his wife was holding together better than he was.

The sheriff said all three of the Heenes' sons knew of the Thursday hoax, but likely won't face charges because of their ages. The oldest son is 10. One of the boys told investigators he saw his brother get in the balloon's box before it launched.

Heene, a storm chaser and inventor, and his family have appeared on the reality show "Wife Swap." Alderden said the couple met in acting school in Hollywood. Richard Heene has described himself as an amateur scientist, but Alderden said Heene has only a high school education.

"He may be nutty, but he's not a professor," Alderden said.

Alderden said interviews with the parents Saturday resulted in enough information to get a warrant to search the house. He said they were looking for computers, e-mails, phone records and financial records.

Alderden said the children were still with the parents Sunday morning, and child protective services had been contacted to investigate the children's well-being.

Alderden was asked whether officials had concerns for Falcon's safety after the child's comment on CNN that raised doubts for investigators. The boy turned to his dad during the interview Thursday night and said what sounded like "you said we did this for a show" when asked why he didn't come out of his hiding place.

On Friday, Falcon got sick during two separate TV interviews Friday when asked again why he hid.

"Clearly, from all indications, Mr. Heene has somewhat of a temper," Alderden said.

Alderden said officials tried Saturday to persuade Mayumi Heene to go to a safe house, but she declined.

"We talked to her at length about domestic violence, about her safety, about her children's safety," the sheriff said. "We have a concern, but we didn't have enough that would allow us or child protective services to physically take the kids from that environment."

A Colorado State University physics professor, using dimensions given by Richard Heene, had told sheriff's officials as they were tracking the balloon Thursday that it was plausible for it to lift off with 37-pound Falcon inside.

Once the device landed, sheriff's officials discovered it was made with plastic tarps taped together and covered with aluminum foil, with a utility box made of a very thin piece of plywood, cardboard on the side, held together with string and duct tape, Alderden said.

Using the true dimensions, the professor determined it could not have launched with the boy inside, Alderden said.

Colorado sheriff: Runaway balloon saga was hoax - Yahoo! News

[AllieCat]

Epic Fail

[tulip]

I am SO happy. I thought the sheriff's dept were filled with idiots when they kept confirming that they thought nothing was afoot, but, in fact, they were brilliant. That cocky famewhore Heene bought into it hook, line and sinker and is now in a heap of trouble. Love it!

[Brookie]

Yepper - hoaxed by your own hoax.