RSSTo the Surprise of No One … Balloon Boy Incident was a Hoax & Publicity Stunt … Heene Family facing Criminal Charges
It’s official … “Balloon Boy” incident was a hoax. Sheriff anticipates criminal charges.
Charges expected in Colorado balloon case. There may also be federal FAA charges as well. Richard and Mayumi Heene will not be winning any parent of the year awards anytime soon as they face many criminal charges in the near future including contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
This probably comes as a surprise to no one as many had speculated why law enforcement had not stated as much sooner. As we stated early on in this story, we should have all known better when the balloon at the center of the story looked like a tin foil hat. However, as Larimer County law enforcement gathered the facts and became increasingly suspicious of the story, it is as Sheriff Jim Alderden stated Sunday in a press conference … “Authorities know there was “a conspiracy” between Richard and Mayumi Heene and “It has been determined that this is a hoax,” adding police “believe we have evidence at this point that it was a publicity stunt.”
“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 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.
No charges have been filed yet and no arrests; however, this is only a matter of time. The Heene’s are facing a myriad of charges from conspiracy to delinquency of a minor. The Larimer County Sheriff stated that all three of the Heenes’ sons knew of the balloon hoax; however, they would not be charged of any crimes due to their ages.
The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office will recommend charges of conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, false reporting to authorities, and attempting to influence a public servant against the Heenes.
No charges have been filed yet, and neither Richard or Mayumi Heene are under arrest. Some of the most serious charges each carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
One must admit that as the story evolved of “Balloon Boy” it became more and more obvious that the story was a scam. How ironic that in the end it was not just the silver flying saucer balloon that was full of hot air, it was the Heene family.
People were questioning the truth of the story; however, when Falcon Heene stated the following in an interview with Wolf Blitzer, “We did it for the show,” all bets were off. It was some what stunning that a news organization like CNN did not pick up on this comment and question what the 6 year old meant. What would Anita Dunn say?
Out of the mouth of babes, “We did this for the show”
Then the story came out where 25 year old researcher Robert Thomas admitted to helping Richard Heene devise the media hoax. View the emails HERE between Thomas and Heene.
For the first time, 25-year-old researcher Robert Thomas reveals to Gawker how earlier this year he and Richard Heene drew up a master plan to generate a massive media controversy using a weather balloon. To get famous, of course.
Thomas spent several months earlier this year working on developing a reality science TV show to pitch to networks.
One had to speculate when this first occurred how could a video be running of the silver balloon when it was tethered by string not show the 6 year old boy getting into the balloon?
Authorities believe the family planned the hoax for at least two weeks prior to Thursday’s saga. “On the bizarre meter, this rates a 10,” Alderden said.
“These people are actors. Not only have they appeared in several reality shows…the way they established their relationship was at an acting school in Hollywood. They put on a very good show,” Alderden said. “Clearly we were manipulated by the family.”
Acknowledging that the media grew wary of the Heenes’ story before Sunday’s announcement, Alderden insisted that his office built an investigation based on facts.
“There was a lot of skepticism, a lot of conjecture,” Alderden said, “but we have to operate on facts.” Officials, alarmed by a series of bizarre television interviews given by the Heene family, carried out an investigation with “the goal of getting a confession” from the family, Alderden said.
UPDATE II: Watch Sheriffs Press Conference Here
UPDATE III: Heene’s, Balloon Boy’s Parents Willing to Turn Themselves In
The liar, lawyer, reprsentinging the parents of balloon boy said that his clients are willing to turn themsleves in and face the charges. Well that’s mighty big of them seeing they soon will not have a choice and the minute charges are formally filed they will be doing a perp walk.
Denver attorney David Lane says he’s representing Richard and Mayumi Heene. He says he wants to avoid “the public spectacle and humiliation” of police arresting them in the presence of their children.
Posted October 18, 2009 by Scared Monkeys Bizarre, Child Welfare, Crime, Media, WTF, You Tube - VIDEO | 13 comments |
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13 Responses to “To the Surprise of No One … Balloon Boy Incident was a Hoax & Publicity Stunt … Heene Family facing Criminal Charges”
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Its all about money, and fame. After looking at that toad Jon Gosselin on TV everyday, all the other toads want in on the gravy train.
TLC gave the Gosselin’s a organic cook, dry cleaning, nanny and maids.
Iam ready for TV. ACTION!
Despite the fact that it was a hoax, this won’t stop the media from hailing the boy as a hero.
I wanted to give the family the benefit of the doubt when the hoax allegations begun to surface but it is now obvious that it was indeed a hoax.
I am still trying to figure out how a run away silver balloon with a 6 year old boy inside was going to get them a TV reality show.
What was the premise?
Every week they would kid in a balloon, set it adrift and see if the kid crash landed and lived or died? Or did you have to guess whether the kid was or was not in the balloon’s basket like the carnival shell game?
I really hope they throw the book at the asses so that no one in the future gets any bright ideas.
I can’t wait to see the search price tag they are going to get from law enforcement for the waste of resources.
Heaven forbid anyone needed police resources during the tracking of this tin foil hat balloon.
R
The first time I saw the POS I knew it would not lift more than 6 pounds. The balloon looks as it was designed for stability but it lacks volume !!! I knew it was a hoax the second I saw the balloon and I hope it cost them $$$ instead of us the tax payers !!!
[...] by the family on a TV interview. To no one’s surprise, the county Sheriff said that the “Balloon Boy” incident was a hoax and criminal charges will be filed. It is sad that people will go to this length to get attention [...]
Not to even mention the fact that one of
the responders could have died chasing that
balloon.
It almost flew right into those high-voltage
power lines.
Did Heene factor the cost of human lives into
his “business plan” to snag a reality tv show?
…
However, Heene is also under the impression that
Hillary Clinton is a shape-shifting lizard…
hell bent on global domination.
…
So, I imagine he didn’t spend too much time
mulling the people’s safety issues over.
Look, I don’t like Hillary Clinton as much as the next fella… but I am pretty sure if she was a
shape-shifting ANYTHING… she would pick something at least a trite more visually pleasant than the shape she is in right now.
I mean, cut a brother some slack please.
JUS’ SAYIN’!!!
And thank you to Scared Monkeys for giving this fool and his family exactly what they wanted.
__________
SM: No, actually we are helping expose the fraud and make sure that no one ever do it again or face criminal prosecution.
The people that would watch such a stupid reality TV show would be giving them what they want.
I hardly think balloon boy parents want a perp walk.
Now repeat after me, today I will not be so hateful and do something constructive with my life. Have a nice day.
R
[...] is priceless!!! AVOID THE PUBLIC SPECTACLE!!! Isn’t that what this family wanted all along? Shouldn’t we give the balloon boy parents exactly [...]
[...] DA and Author Wendy Murphy will be discussing the Balloon Boy Case. What next for Falcon Heene and his parents, Richard Heene & Mayumi Heene who perpetrated this [...]
[...] DA and Author Wendy Murphy will be discussing the Balloon Boy Case. What next for Falcon Heene and his parents, Richard Heene & Mayumi Heene who perpetrated this [...]
[...] DA and Author Wendy Murphy will be discussing the Balloon Boy Case. What next for Falcon Heene and his parents, Richard Heene & Mayumi Heene who perpetrated this [...]
[...] is served for the “Balloon Boy” hoax perpetrated by the Colorado couple Richard and Mayumi Heene. They wanted to be noticed, they [...]