The mother of Falcon Heene, better known as 'balloon boy', allegedly told investigators the incident was a hoax meant to make them more marketable to the media. Mayumi Heene admitted the whole story of their 6-year-old son, Falcon Heene, once feared missing inside a runaway helium balloon was a hoax. It was done to make them more marketable to the media, according to court documents released Friday.
Mayumi Heene told sheriff's deputies that she and her husband, Richard, "knew all along that Falcon was hiding in the residence" in Fort Collins, according to an affidavit used to get a search warrant for the home.
Mayumi told investigators that she and the boy's father, Richard Heene, started building the flying-saucer-like craft 2 weeks before the incident specifically to carry out the hoax. Heene also said the parents instructed their 3 children to lie to the media for the sake of the story.
The affidavit stated, "The motive for the fabricated story was to make the Heene family more marketable for future media interest,"
On October 15, 6-year-old Falcon Heene was found safely at home several hours after the family's experimental balloon had people around the world fixated on this extremely odd event. It led to a frantic search for the child, who was feared to have fallen from the balloon.
Despite Mayumi Heene's admission that the event was a hoax, her husband Richard Heene still denies it. His lawyer, David Lane, said Friday he is waiting to see the evidence in the case.
Mayumi and Richard Heene and their sons were recently featured on ABC's Wife Swap reality show. The producer of "Wife Swap" had a show in development with the Heenes but said the deal is now off.
Sheriff Jim Alderden has said he will recommend charges against the Heenes including conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false report to authorities, and attempting to influence a public servant. The most serious charges are felonies and carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison.
Alderden said authorities also would be seeking restitution for the costs of the balloon chase, though he didn't provide a figure. Even with Mayumi Heene's admission of the balloon hoax, it will not be until next week that the sheriff's department forwards its findings to prosecutors to decide on charges.
Cheryl Phillips
Exclusive to HULIQ.com
sources: MSNBC, CNN, Zimbio
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