Balloon case referred to child protection workers

Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said today that his agency has talked with the county’s child protection agency about the Fort Collins family that lost control of an experimental balloon Thursday.

The Larimer Sheriff’s Office is now planning to re-interview Richard Heene, his wife and children, after a television appearance in which 6-year-old Falcon Heene said the balloon escape and belief he was aboard was part of "a show."

"In light of the boy’s statement, we want to clarify that and put it to rest," Alderden said during a noon press conference outside his Fort Collins office that was carried live on local television.

However, Alderden said that he is, at least for now, inclined to believe that the balloon escape was accidental and the family really believed Falcon was aboard.

Noting the speculation that the family might have staged the event to get attention, perhaps to star in their own reality show, Alderden said it seemed unlikely that "hyperactive" Falcon would have hidden himself for hours as part of a TV stunt.

"It seems much more likely that the boy was in fact frightened," Alderden said. "That seems like a credible story."

Detectives are planning to let the family rest today, then revisit them Saturday for more questioning if they consent, Alderden said. Meanwhile, his office has exchanged information with child protection workers that Alderden said "hopefully would lead to an investigation."

The sheriff also said that if the story is proven to be a hoax, charges would be likely against the adults and restitution for the search – a cost still not calculated – would be sought.

But so far, the family has been cooperative, and Alderden believes them. He pointed particularly to the family’s willingness to let detectives question Falcon immediately after he emerged from a garage attic – without the parents in the room.

The Heenes spent the morning making the rounds of television talk shows, insisting that the balloon flight that drew global attention was not a hoax.

The boy, his parents and his two brothers all appeared live this morning on national networks – CBS, NBC, and ABC – in interviews from their home.

All the interviews touched on the question of whether the incident was staged, to garner publicity for the family who had made reality TV appearances earlier.

During a CNN interview on Thursday night, a statement by Falcon – "You had said that we did this for a show" – fueled the question of the day: Accident or hoax?

Richard Heene, the boy’s father, told TV audiences this morning that Falcon was talking about TV cameramen who were outside the home Thursday, covering the runaway flight and then Falcon being found safe in the home.

"That’s what he was talking about – the show," Heene said.

Without citing sources, the celebrity gossip website TMZ reported this morning that Heene has been pitching a reality TV series to production companies including RDF Productions. That company is responsible for the series Wife Swap on which Heene and his family appeared.

All three boys looked a bit tired this morning, sometimes stifling yawns.

On ABC’s Good Morning America, Falcon became ill, getting up from a chair and racing to a bathroom where he could be heard in the background throwing up.

The family released video this morning, taken by 10-year-old Bradford, of the balloon escaping from their yard Thursday.

Both parents were present and Richard Heene is visibly upset, raising his voice in anger as he twists and kicks a wooden frame that had been supporting the balloon.

Heene told TV viewers he was upset because he thought his wife, Mayumi, had tethered the balloon, but she hadn’t.

"I just saw him (Falcon) go under the flying saucer," Bradford said on ABC. "I saw him go under it and I saw the door shut."

On The CBS Early show Falcon was asked if he was in the balloon: "Yea, and then I got out."

He said he "went to the attic to play."

Falcon said he eventually came out of the attic on his own.

The boys have hiding places all over the home, Richard Heene said. The family plans to discuss the hiding places.

"The kids like to hide in cabinets. They hide behind the sofa. We’d like to know where their hiding places are," Heene said. "If there is a fire, they can get trapped. There will be no secrets now."

The family thanked everyone who helped chase down the balloon and who looked for Falcon when they feared he had fallen from the sky.

"I can’t believe that many people poured their hearts out and helped," Heene said.

During the interviews both parents became emotional, each on the verge of tears.

Whether Falcon faces any family discipline over the incident remains to be seen.

"There is no room for that right now," Heene told Early Show viewers.