Colorado Balloon Drama

A Colorado couple’s report that their 6-year-old son was in a helium balloon that floated away from their home was a hoax, police said Sunday. Sheriff Jim Alderden said the husband and wife “put on a very good show for us, and we bought it.” Richard Heene’s son Falcon, center, had been the subject of an intense search during the ordeal.

David Zalubowski, AP

“We believe that 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,” Alderden said. He said the parents aren’t under arrest, but that 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 which carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

Will Powers, AP

Richard Heene holds Falcon during a press conference in Fort Collins, Colo., on Oct. 16. Alderden said all three of the couple’s children knew about the hoax, but likely won’t face charges because of their ages. Investigators are examining the possibility that other conspirators may have been in on the stunt, including “some media outlets,” Alderden said.

David Zalubowski, AP

After making the rounds on television news shows last week, the Heene family posted this note on the door of their Fort Collins home. On Sunday, Alderden said Falcon may not have even been hiding in the rafters in the garage during the ordeal, as originally reported. “For all we know he may have been two blocks down the road playing on the swing in the city park,” he said.

Will Powers, AP

Falcon shows reporters his purported hiding place. During an interview with CNN on Thursday, Falcon said he heard his family calling for him after the balloon floated away. “Why didn’t you come out?” Richard Heene said. Falcon answered, “You had said that we did this for a show.” Falcon vomited in two interviews when asked about why he hid, fueling speculation about fakery.

David Zalubowski, AP

The balloon took off from the Heene home late Thursday morning. It sailed for 50 miles before landing in a field near Fort Collins two hours later. Richard Heene said that he had scolded his son for getting inside a compartment on the craft while the family was working on the balloon Thursday. He said Falcon’s brother had spotted him inside the compartment before it floated away, but didn’t see him exit, leading the family to believe Falcon was inside it.

KMGH-TV / AP

Richard Heene and his wife, Mayumi, are storm chasers who appeared twice in the ABC reality show “Wife Swap,” most recently in March. They have three sons.

ABC

The belief that the balloon was carrying Falcon sparked a frantic search that involved military helicopters and briefly shut down Denver International Airport. Several witnesses reported seeing something fall from the balloon while it was in the air, leading officials to worry Falcon had fallen out.

KGW-TV / AP

Rescue crews surrounded the balloon after it landed. Jason Humbert, who saw the balloon land, said it “looked like an alien spaceship you see in those old, old movies. You know, those black-and-white ones. It came down softly. I asked a police officer if the boy was OK and he said there was no one in it.”

KMGH-TV / AP

It wasn’t clear how much the search operation cost. Officials said a Black Hawk helicopter searched in the air for nearly three hours, and a Kiowa helicopter flew for about one hour. The Black Hawk costs about $4,600 an hour to fly, and the Kiowa is $700 an hour. (Sources: AP, CNN)

Ed Andrieski, AP