Cops to Re-Question "Balloon Boy" Family

Colorado Police want to Make Sure Falcon Heene's Disappearance was not a Hoax

(CBS/ AP)  A police official in Colorado said authorities do not believe at this point if Falcon Heene's disappearance was a hoax but he would meet with investigators Friday to decide whether to look into the matter further.

After a CNN interview in which Falcon said he was hiding for "a show," Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden told the AP: "It has raised some questions. Our personnel who were dealing with the family all day are convinced this is a legitimate incident and this is not a hoax."

Still, in light of the interview, Alderden said, "We intend to go back and further ask the family to cooperate with our investigation through answering more questions and resolve this issue."

Photos: The "Balloon Boy" Incident

The Heenes aren't the types to shy from attention, with boys featured in a rap music video on YouTube and the whole family appearing on the ABC show "Wife Swap."

The show promoted the Heene family as storm chasers who also "devote their time to scientific experiments that include looking for extraterrestrials and building a research-gathering flying saucer to send into the eye of the storm."

It was five hours from the time the oldest boy reported that Falcon, the youngest, had climbed into a saucer-shaped balloon that had drifted off, setting off a search that included military helicopters and a plan to either lower a person to the craft of place weights on the balloon to bring it down. Officials rerouted planes around the balloon's flight path and briefly shut down Denver International Airport.

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The Family behind the "Balloon Boy" Story

Heene said the family was tinkering with the balloon Thursday and that he scolded Falcon for getting inside a compartment on the craft. It was designed to hover about 50 to 100 feet from the ground but it broke loose from its tether.

Falcon's brother said he had seen him inside the compartment before it took off and that's why they thought he was in there when it launched. But the boy had gone to the garage rafters at some point and was never in the balloon during its two-hour, 50-mile journey through two counties.

"I was in the attic and he scared me because he yelled at me," Falcon said. "That's why I went in the attic."


During a live interview with CNN, Falcon said he had heard his family calling his name.

"You did?" the boy's mother, Mayumi Heene, said.

"Why didn't you come out?" Richard Heene said.

Falcon answered, "You had said that we did this for a show."

Later, Richard Heene bristled when the family was asked to clarify and said he didn't know what his son meant. He didn't ask his son what he meant by "a show."

"I'm kind of appalled after all the feelings that I went through, up and down, that you guys are trying to suggest something else," Richard Heene said.

Neighbor Bob Licko, 65, Licko said that while the balloon floated over Colorado Thursday, Mayumi Heene seemed distraught.

Richard Heene said he called the Federal Aviation Administration first before calling 911.

The saucer-like craft tipped precariously at times before gliding to the ground in a field.

With the child nowhere in sight, investigators searched the balloon's path. Several people reported seeing something fall from the craft while it was in the air, and yellow crime-scene tape was placed around the home.

Then, came news that Falcon had been hiding in a box in rafters in the garage.

A short time after sheriff's officials and reporters left the house Thursday evening, the three boys had wrapped themselves in the yellow police tape that had surrounded the house.

"They were just very adventurous kids," said Josh Dengler, 32, another neighbor. "I don't think it was a hoax. I don't think they were hiding him, I think he was just a genuinely scared 6-year-old hiding."

[Dedecee]

While I will be the first to embrace a story with a happy ending, the children in this story seemed to be being coached by the mother. The father's emotions didn't seem genuine to me. The child's comment about "the show" says it all. Looking at the balloon it seemed evident to me hat the father should have known that it wasn't possible for the child to ride in it. Also, it didn't look to me like the bottom area had ever been opened, especially not by a 6 yr. old.

[chonder2]

During two hours of drifting with live tv coverage Dad didn't tell any one there was NO access to to that balloon "base" anyway.The press was led to believe that a "box" attachment was missing all the while again Dad didn't tell anyone that the launch was on film "minus" the box.

Dad is going to end up footing the bill because we all know average Joe needs to be held accountable.Corporations that lose trillions and wreck the economy can't help it.

[credibility2]

The dad can't man-up because he's not a man. He's used his wife and kids to further his own sick and disgusting publicity stunt. What a loser! Hope the authorities are able to slam him for lying and incarcerate him and charge him for all of the wasted taxpayer dollars on this hoax.

[Oregon_State_OSU]

When this Balloon came down and you saw a guy running in the Field to get one of the guide ropes. This Balloon was smaller then what I thought.

Was this Balloon actually Large enough and had enough lift to wisk away a 6 year old to those altitudes. I would have though that it would have had to be larger then what it was.

[mtcolquitt]

The "tether Broke". Yeah right! Send them the bill for this stunt and get them off T.V.

[jsilver2th]

The kids could hace played a prank on their own.

[docpeter1953]

I am voting on family hoax.

Considering that this family has appeared on "Wife Swap" on, reportedly, 2 occasions and with his "storm chasing" I am thinking this family feels the need to be in the spot light. They got their 15 minutes of fame. They will try to make movie rights somehow.

Sorry for being cynical, I just no longer buying their story.

[timdgrim]

Canidate for 'America's Most F***ed Up Family', possible new reality show for 'America's Most F***ed Up Network....FOX!

[CompletelyFrustrated]

This is a joke and cheap publicity stunt!

They claim the boy was in a basket attached to the balloon - watch the video footage of when that thing took off - there was no basket attached, what the news reported as and object falling was probably a bird, but not a basket. Look carefully at the construction - it looks sealed, where was this boy suppose to be???? This is a farce.

The whole psychobabble analysis is another joke, this was a stunt. They have said different things depending on who (what media source) they were talking to in this story
"During a live interview with CNN, Falcon said he had heard his family calling his name.

"You did?" the boy's mother, Mayumi Heene, said.

"Why didn't you come out?" Richard Heene said.

Falcon answered, "You had said that we did this for a show."

On a radio interview the boy said he went into the attic to play. This dirtbag is making his kids lie to get some publicity.

I hope they have to pay for all of the resources they burned on this farce and if I was Denver Airport I would sue them too!

This was a cheap stunt that cost the tax payers a bundle!

Man up dude and admit this was a hoax to get attention!