Thaindian News

Colorado, Oct 19 (THAINDIAN NEWS) The flight of a home-made helium balloon that touched off a frantic and a wide-spread rescue attempt for the young boy thought to be on board was a publicity-seeking hoax, a Colorado sheriff said on Sunday. Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said the parents of 6-year-old Falcon Heene would likely face four charges in the bizarre incident, which riveted television viewers across the United States and hogged the internet too, for more than two hours on Thursday.

It may be recalled that a publicity hungry Richard Heene had made a helium balloon and on Thursday, he claimed that his son was on that balloon which was in flight. He called the local TV and the News channels before even calling for help on 911. A big scale rescue attempt was launched to look for the six year old, who was later found in the house’s attic.

“It has been determined that this is a hoax, that it was a publicity stunt,” Alderden told a press conference.

“We believe we have evidence at this point to indicate that it was a publicity stunt done with the hopes of better marketing themselves for a reality television show at some point in the future,” he said.

Alderden said the parents could be charged with conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false police report and attempting to influence a public servant.

Investigators think Falcon and his brothers, who are 8 and 10, were “100 percent involved” in the caper, he said, but were not expected to face criminal charges because of their age.

“On the bizarre meter, this rates a 10,” Alderden said.