Balloon parents: 'guilty of hoax'
Updated on 19 October 2009
Police say the parents who reported their six-year-old son was in balloon hurtling over Colorado faked the stunt to market themselves for a TV show.
Speaking at a news conference, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said that the whole thing was a hoax.
"We have evidence at this point to indicate that it was a publicity stunt done with the hopes of marketing themselves, or better marketing themselves, for a reality television show at some point in the future."
Sheriff Alderden admitted that the couple had "put on a very good show for us... and we bought it".
He said no charges had yet been filed and that the parents were not under arrest, but added 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.
He claimed the alleged hoax had been planned for at least two weeks, and investigators suspect that other individuals and a media outlet were in on it.
Documents showed that the media outlet in question had agreed to pay money to the family in connection to the balloon incident, Alderden said.
He did not name the media outlet, and it was not clear whether the deal was signed before or after the hoax, or whether the media outlet was a possible conspirator.
The couple's lawyers later issued a statement saying they were willing to voluntarily turn themselves in once charges had been filed.
Some of the most serious charges the parents could face each carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
The sheriff said that if charges were filed, his office would seek restitution, but he did not know the total cost of Thursday's rescue effort, which included military helicopters, a ground rescue and even a mounted posse.
Officials also rerouted planes around the balloon's flight path and briefly shut down some flights from Denver international airport.
When the balloon eventually landed without Falcon Heene in it, officials thought he had fallen out and began the grim search for his body.
The disappearance of the boy became a media drama that gripped the nation.
However, suspicions were aroused when he was asked during an interview with CNN why he had stayed hidden and he replied: "We did this for a show".
Falcon and his two brothers and his parents have given numerous TV interviews.
His father has repeatedly insisted his son's disappearance was not staged.
Richard Heene and his wife had previously appeared on the ABC television show Wife Swap, leading to speculation they were seeking publicity.
On Friday, Falcon got sick during two separate TV interviews Friday when asked again why he hid.
The sheriff said all three of the Heenes' sons knew of last week's hoax, but were unlikely to face charges because of their ages.
