The balloon Boy Controversy: Was The Falcon Heene

On Thursday, October 15, a 6-year-old boy named Falcon Heene caught the attention of the entire foule. The boy was missing and thought to become trapped inside a homemade weather balloon that broke free and took flight in Fort Collins, Denver co.

The balloon was a Mylar covered contraption that contained a small basket on the bottom. No tests had been done to determine exactly how much weight the basket can handle, but it was known as able to hold as much as 100 pounds more than enough to carry young Falcon Heene.

When the balloon blew into the air with the Heene's backyard, no one was sure of Falcon's whereabouts. His brother Bradford said he had seen Falcon climb inside the basket, but hadn't seen him come back done. The terrified family scoured the house in a frantic search, but Falcon was nowhere to be seen. They came to the conclusion how the boy was stuck in a very very balloon that was being swept across the through the roof above Colorado.

Thanks largely to a live video of the balloon's flight, the world started watch and fear for your safety of Falcon Heene. All indicators seemed to ensure that the boy was inside the balloon; unable to see out and surely terrified. Talk turned to how to rescue the boy and bring the balloon safely to the ground.

Flights from Denver airport were put on hold, emergency vehicles stood by and the world watched breathlessly as the balloon was swept upwards in fast gusts of wind, at times reaching 7,000 feet. Then, the worst seemed to happen. A deputy reported seeing something drop out of the balloon, and a photo seemed to confirm that an object did fall down. An intense search of choose a began, but nothing arrived. Falcon's fate seemed uncertain.

Finally, after 2 hours, the balloon landed. It dropped softly to the soil about 50 miles out of your Heene household, and rescue workers raced to the scene before it get flight a second enough time. As the rescuers released the helium of your balloon and opened it they were surprised inside your nothing. No Falcon, absolutely no sign that someone was first inside at all.

Later that evening the worried Heene family waited for news in their living room when young Falcon walked right directly onto join them. He have been hiding in the attic, afraid that he what food was in trouble with his parent. Falcon was safe, but doubts arose about whether or not the entire incident was a publicity stunt.

The Heenes appeared on 'Larry King Live' that night to talk concerning ordeal. Falcon was asked why he remained hidden in the attic for so long, especially as soon as the entire family was trying to find him and calling his name. His reply was 'You guys said we did this for the show'. That comment energized the idea that the balloon escapade was merely a hoax.

On Friday, October 16, Sheriff Jim Alderden stated how the police believed the incident was real, and the Heene family genuinely did think Falcon was inside the mechanism. He noted that seasoned investigators had interviewed Falcon's parents, and were 'Completely convinced that this became a real deal, and not a hoax, based on all of their communication, their body language, their emotions that were displayed throughout the event of yesterday.'

These law enforcement officials have changed their tune. By Sunday, October 18, Sheriff Alderden claimed that the entire incident was a publicity stunt developed to help the Heene family land their own reality television television show. The Sheriff went on to point out that he intentionally misled the media when claiming that Richard Heene was innocent because he wanted the man to feel the police were on his side. This was over to maintain sense of trust, and make it easier for authorities to uncover the truth.

Ongoing investigations have led the police to believe that the balloon could not have held Falcon's body mass. Officials are now saying they aren't even sure if Falcon was ever in the balloon, or if he was actually hiding in the attic. They feel the entire incident would be a ruse to gain national media attraction. If that's true, this will be one of the more costly pranks in recent history. Charges are likely to be filed against Falcon's parents.