Investigators are looking into the possibility a media outlet conspired with alleged hoaxers Richard and Mayumi Heene, who punked the world by reporting that their 6-year-old son was inside a homemade “flying-saucer” balloon careening over Colorado. The fake emergency played out on live TV Thursday afternoon, riveting the country for hours.
Larimer, Colo., Sheriff Jim Alderman said he’s examining the “the possibility that . . . some of the media outlets may have had some knowledge about this.”
Documents show that one outlet agreed to pay the Heenes with regard to the balloon incident, Alderden said.
He didn’t name the outlet, but said it was a show that blurs “the line between entertainment and news.”
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It wasn’t clear whether the deal was signed before or after the alleged hoax.
“Let’s call it [my statement], short of speculation, that a media outlet was in on the hoax, but let’s not discount the possibility,” he said.
Suspicion first was raised when the boy, Falcon Heene, blurted out a clue during a live TV interview after he was discovered safe at home.
During the CNN interview, the boy, asked why he didn’t come out of his supposed hiding place in the family garage during all of the search hoopla, calmly replied, “We did it for the show.”
Alderden said, “If you look at the nonverbal responses, as well as some of the verbal cues, not only from him but from the family, the children, their reaction . . . it became very clear to us at that point that they were lying.
“This has been a planned event for at least two weeks. The plan was to launch a spacecraft to garner media publicity” for an upcoming reality show.
The stunt temporarily shut down Denver’s airport and caused the National Guard to scramble two helicopters, at a cost to taxpayers of $14,500, in an attempt to rescue the boy.
The sheriff said he expects to recommend felony charges be filed against the parents — including conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The top counts carry a maximum of six years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
Falcon and his two equally rascally brothers will not face charges.
Caught in tears yesterday at a local Wal-Mart, Richard whined, “This thing has become so convoluted.”
Heene, a storm chaser and inventor, and his family once appeared on the reality show “Wife Swap.”
Alderden said the couple met in acting school in Hollywood.
Officials tried Saturday to persuade Mayumi to go to a safe house, but she declined, the sheriff said, adding that Richard “has somewhat of a temper.”
Richard Heene has described himself as an amateur scientist, but Alderden said the dad has only a high-school education.
“He may be nutty, but he’s not a professor,” Alderden said.
With AP