Balloon boy hoax

The "Balloon Boy" hoax happened on October 15, 2009, when a homemade helium-filled gas balloon shaped to look like a silver flying saucer was released into the air above Fort Collins, Colorado, by Richard and Mayumi Heene. They then said that their six-year-old son Falcon was trapped inside it.  Falcon was nicknamed "Balloon Boy" in the media.

After flying for more than an hour and about , the balloon landed about  northeast of Denver International Airport. When Falcon was not found inside and it was reported that an object had been seen falling from the balloon, a search was begun. Later that day, the boy was found hiding in the attic of his home, where he had apparently been the entire time.

Many people later believed the entire event was a hoax. After Wolf Blitzer asked why he was hiding, Falcon said to his father, "You guys said that, um, we did this for the show." On October 18, 2009, Larimer County sheriff Jim Alderden announced his statement that the event was a hoax and that the parents would likely face many felony charges. 

On November 13, 2009, Richard Heene pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail and ordered to pay $36,000, and Mayumi Heene was sentenced to 20 days of weekend jail.Balloon boy parents are sent to jail for hoax 

On December 23, 2020, Governor Jared Polis issued pardons to the Heenes.

References

Category:2009 in the United States
Category:Hoaxes