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Hoaxed America Wants Its Pound of Flesh
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The parents of “Balloon Boy” are facing relatively minor charges for what officials are calling a hoax, but they’ll probably end up in jail, says Wendy Murphy. America doesn’t like being taken for a ride.
The “Balloon Boy” story is now an official hoax, and the boy’s parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene—who reportedly met during drama school, no kidding—will be charged with crimes ranging from filing a false claim with law enforcement to conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and attempting to influence a public servant.
The Heenes allegedly told their little boy to hide while they pretended he was in the balloon, then they let the story fly to generate publicity for a new reality show. Possible punishment ranges from minor fines to six years in prison. The children, all of whom apparently knew of the hoax, will not face charges, according to Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden.
Fortunately for them, nobody was killed during the rescue effort, or they would be looking at manslaughter charges. Nonetheless, the relatively minor charges they face will probably land them in jail because the natives are restless about being played—and they want more than a pound of flesh.
Making a child participate in a fraud is like using a kid as a mule to sell drugs. Any parent with the capacity to so disrespect their own flesh and blood deserves to lose custody of all their children.
The Heenes managed to destroy property during the search, as emergency vehicles drove like crazy in pursuit of the balloon, over private farmland and through the property of several landowners. The hoax also shut down the Denver International Airport for a while and overall forced the wasteful spending of countless tax dollars, which will probably lead to so many lawsuits and civil fines that the family could be paying claims for the rest of their lives.
It might not have gotten so out of hand if we were a more cynical society. But we still believe enough in the goodness of people that it’s hard to believe a seemingly ordinary couple could take advantage of their own child and exploit the emotions of a compassionate public.
I wish I could say I was among those who knew right away it was a hoax. A physics professor would have known that a balloon filled with helium and only 20 feet wide could hardly have stayed afloat, much less sped along at such a fast clip, with a small person inside.
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• Lee Siegel: Why We Watched Balloon BoyBut I was one of the idiots. And I was thinking like a mom—focused on the child, and imagining the kid’s parents running down the street, banging into telephone poles while looking up and screaming at the sky, begging the clouds to let the boy live. I thought about their helplessness, and how it must have felt like a bad dream, the kind I’ve had so many times, where something horrible is about to happen, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t save my child.
Such dreams are common for parents because we worry about letting go. We know it’s the right thing to do, to give kids “wings” so they can make it on their own. But it’s scary, too, because we want to protect them, no matter their age.
I’m thinking the Heenes also had a dream about helping their kids take flight—but it wasn’t a metaphor for independence so much as a money-making scheme. The Heenes had appeared in the reality show Wife Swap twice and were in the process of pitching other ideas for new shows. They were allegedly savvy enough to know the press would pay no mind to a story about a helium-filled balloon that became detached from its tether in the backyard of a nobody family in Colorado.
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Wendy is a former child abuse and sex crimes prosecutor who teaches at New England Law/Boston. Wendy specializes in the representation of crime victims, women and children. She also writes and lectures widely on victims' rights and criminal justice policy. Her expose of the American legal system, And Justice For Some, came out in 2007. A former NFL cheerleader and visiting scholar at Harvard Law School, Wendy lives outside Boston with her husband and five children.
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Wendy is a former child abuse and sex crimes prosecutor who teaches at New England Law/Boston. Wendy specializes in the representation of crime victims, women and children. She also writes and lectures widely on victims' rights and criminal justice policy. Her expose of the American legal system, And Justice For Some, came out in 2007. A former NFL cheerleader and visiting scholar at Harvard Law School, Wendy lives outside Boston with her husband and five children.
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Wendy is a former child abuse and sex crimes prosecutor who teaches at New England Law/Boston. Wendy specializes in the representation of crime victims, women and children. She also writes and lectures widely on victims' rights and criminal justice policy. Her expose of the American legal system, And Justice For Some, came out in 2007. A former NFL cheerleader and visiting scholar at Harvard Law School, Wendy lives outside Boston with her husband and five children.
NHBill
Attorney Murphy left out the potentially serious Federal charges that may be coming down on the Heenes. Messing with the FAA and the National Guard tends to upset Uncle Sam.
theturk
I think people we're generally concerned for the welfare for the child and when it's learned the parents have manipulate their own children, the media [not hard to do] and the public then there should be consequences for breaking the law [not minor laws IMO].
deborama
surprised the writer did not recognize this as a hoax from the get-go...as soon as I heard this was a wife swap family, i knew it was a setup...this country is obsessed with "celebrity" and as long as we continue to give folks like this their 15 minutes of fame, we will keep getting played...
JesCat
deborama,
I watched them on Wife Swap and was disgusted the entire time, but I didn't immediately think 'hoax' because I honestly believe that those two are irresponsible enough to lose their child in a balloon. I really wonder what the safety conscious mom who switched places with them thinks of the whole thing.
KarenF444
Exactly and I remember seeing this family on Wife Swap. The husband is an unappealing character and the wife seems like a doormat. How would that have made good reality TV? What works on reality TV are strong, even-to-the-point-of-obnoxious women; thats what the viewers like.
I'm not crazy about prosecuting the family because they probably don't have a lot of money and legal costs would come from the kids. However, I think they SHOULD be prosecuted as a warning to media companies. You can't stop or even discourage nuts who want to be famous but the companies might take heed.
sherbug
Why would we automatically doubt the parents that their son was in danger. That is not behavior you normally find in a parent. Sure, after everything came out about the parents, then we all got suspicious but I don't think you can say we are obsessed with celebrity because we took these parents at their word.
carouzer
deborama--you've got it exactly right.
I wish I could believe Ms. Murphy's assertion that these people won't earn a dime from this stunt. But the balloon loons will undoubtedly profit from it somehow--a book, a reality show, more publicity, more Today show interviews, more vomiting.... If you need proof of the American public and media's enduring appetite for idiocy, just consider Octomom. Could there be a less sympathetic and attractive individual?-OK, Richard Heene and his flaky wife, perhaps.
What is even more disturbing is that some people--and the media--will eventually buy or promote whatever they wind up selling.
I feel so sorry for those little boys. They don't have much of a chance at normal, productive lives, growing up with two parents who will do anything to get their faces in front of a camera.
LaylaS
In your article, you said, "Advertisers know that audiences tune in to reality shows when they can identify with the stars." I'm sorry, but I have a difficult time identifying with a couple who takes fertility drugs to have a litter of kids, or people who are morbidly obese, or any of the other losers on The Loser Channel who apparently decided it's worth big bucks to parade their problems before the public. And I identify even less with the voyeurs who watch them, or the producers who exploit them.
Cooper2
I totally agree with LaylaS. I don't watch that drivel, but I did check YouTube for the show that the Henne's were on and was completely shocked. The father was clearly deranged and little Falcon not only flips the bird, but curses (bleeped out). Why would anyone watch this show? Further, why are none of the medial outlets showing the clips so that we can see just how low these people are (and how low we've stooped to watching them?)
maddymappo
Falcon was not barfing because he "maintained a conscience". He was vomitting because the poor kid felt he was responsible for getting his parents in trouble because he failed to maintain their cover story. That is why the parents were so selfish and cruel to mix their kid up in their lie .
The only reason the parents can give for calling the FAA and media first, is that perhaps they can say that when they called the FAA and the media it was because they only were reporting the runaway balloon which could have caused a problem for air traffic and also in an attempt to find a way to get the balloon back. Then, after they called they realized that Falcon was missing so they immediately called 9/11. At that point it was a new plot - with the mother's very phoney sounding "Flying Saucer" garble on the phone. I think that was a clear giveaway. How long has this woman been in the USA? Would you started babbling about flying saucers when giving a description to the police to help your son in dire imminent danger? That was clearly crap.
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InedaName
You're not far off about a reality show as the new American dream. Think about it. What other employment options would most of these reality TV 'stars' have? Wal-Mart greeter? Pole dancer?
I read that Jon and Kate got $22,500 per episode and Spencer and Heidi of The Hills get $65,000 EACH per episode. Who cares about self-respect or the well-being of one's children when that much cash can be had?
I don't condone what Heene did, but I believe this is a desperate, uneducated, delusional man approaching 50 with a family to support, outstanding debts to pay, and few viable options or chances left.
I find this entire incident fascinating and horrifying from a cultural perspective.
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MrsMurgatroyd
It seemed like a hoax in the beginning. What parents or authorities would not search the whole house and area around where they live before reporting a missing child?
The authorities are partially to blame because they obviously did not make a house or garage search.
Bad parental decisions and poor official follow up is disgusting.
Naturally the world got caught up on the story of the poor child possibly sailing off to a bad ending.
On the other hand does this show that people really care about each other and children? I hope so!
simplicity
No remorse on the part of the parents for their behavior. I'll hope jail or not he is held accountable for the financial use of public monies, and the possible exploitation of the children is addressed.
djanimaequeen
Agreed. Simply stated.
hbaumann
I think this is irritating to the general public when all of these agencies involved in the search and rescue are stretched so thin with budget cuts--fire, police, coast guard, national guard etc. They can barely keep up with the demands placed on them. I would like to see restitution more than jail time.
svrdnx
Our corporate produced, public lap-dog mass-culture is so bankrupt. Our civil society is almost completely fabricless. Simply put, we suck.
Teuthida
Couldn't agree more. And it produces families like this, who consider "fame" more important than their own dignity or their children's welfare. These are some seriously fucked up people.
nickname72
I'll say 2 things about this:
1. It was pretty obvious it was a hoax from the start (to me at least).
2. The mainstream media outside of the outlet he contacted right away are also complicit in the hoax. They just like the parents could not care less about the truth or exploitation, they just wanted to make a buck. F$#% them too.
BigTom
This family "planned" this hoax so well, they carefully planned it many months in advance. They triggered the FAA first, then the local media with news helicopters, then 911 dispatch with sequenced evidence. The emergency responders risk life and limb to save a 'boy' in imminent danger, that is their job and their sacrifice.
VERY, VERY, savvy. NO ONE who saw the balloon IN FLIGHT could have seen it as definite hoax. It is total BS that anyone who saw the events unfold would have known for sure that the events were a hoax. Manned balloons DO get away and do kill their occupants. I am a private pilot , these things do happen, and the Heene's knew just what to do by making a fraudulent "emergency" seem viably real. The real-time reports even included a search for a payload "box" (gondola) that was alleged to have been attached. Don't say you KNEW it was a hoax all the time, no one is that smart. Don't say its the medias' fault. REMEMBER the media coverage of airplanes hitting buildings on Sept 11, 2001? I'm sure some of "you" knew exactly what was occurring then. If some assh*** screams FIRE in a crowded theater, don't tell me you won't head for the door. If someone points a gun at your head, don't say latter you knew it was fake.... these fraudulent "scare tactic" jack-asses who perpetrate fraud on an unsuspecting public should pay a heavy price.
magicman
Anyone versed in physics would know it was a HOAX at first glance. What was being alleged was simply impossible to begin with. But, our Law Enforcement Community is not versed in physics, so naturally they jumped at the bait. They did the same thing on 911, when running into a building that could only do one thing...fall on top of them. I had a lovely day that day, screaming at the TV, wondering why everyone was running off to their death in such a hurry. Our Law Enforcement 'Professionals' are simply no longer up to the job....they need to be retrained in basic things like Math, Physics, the US Constitution (see Police Break In at Professor Gates' home).
millerny
Magicman-so sorry YOU had such a terrible time that day.
magicman
@ millerny
And to think that the Police advised everyone over the Public PA at the World Trade Center that everyone should stay inside the building. Brilliant!!! Absolutely Brilliant!!!
MOZART
I would think that ninety percent of the people in this country who were aware of this thought it was a hoax. I certainly thought so.
If the news networks did not have such a hideous race to be the first they would have known this also and would not have even mentioned it.
hink of all the money and time spent on this debaucle!
The authorities should send that couple a bill for the whole thing and then put them in jail.
The neighbors say these kids are completely out of control. Guess who is going to rob you four years from now.
Aredee
There is enough cause for those kids to be placed in a foster home NOW. The parents are obviously unbalanced, and I'd rather see a little overzealous precautions takien now than to see what happens to the kids when their parents go wacko under this scrutiny. A foster home placement can be reversed. You can't say that about physical or mental damage to those kids.
SchellingOut
Bully for those who knew immediately this was a hoax. CNN presented it so breathlessly that I was taken in. As a parent, my reaction was much like Ms. Murphy's -- immediate empathy. Given the choice between smart and stupid, my own boys would choose stupid every time, so I figured the kid was aloft. I couldn't stand to watch it. Maybe that's why I'm not nearly so outraged as all those who spent time watching and fretting. I was relieved he was OK -- though I guess that's a relative term. His parents sure seem wacky. I feel sorry for everyone involved -- but not so sorry that I don't believe restitution shouldn't be imposed!
timeflies
Oh c'mon. That the news media produced hours and hours of ohmygod shows around this nonsense should've been a HUGE tip off, in addition to what was clearly a mylar inflatable balloon not capable of rapid upward motion with a 50 or 60 lb. kid aboard. And that this oily dad and silent mom had been on a reality show. Rule of thumb, people: just remember what P.T. Barnum said. Exploiting this kind of dumb stunt is seemingly cable's purpose these days. As for being sucked in because one is a parent. Doesn't fly (pun intended). At first glance, this parent just laughed and thought "What next, phone home E.T.?"
BigTom
There was no huge tip-off.
SO many folks seem to 'know', Ex post fact o, that it was a hoax.
As a former military pilot and current private pilot, the first thing I thought was there is an unidentified craft with apparent payload compartment heading for the city of Denver, or Denver International Airport. I knew what the immediate result would be: an defense scramble with F/A-16 or F-18 TACTICAL FIGHTER(s) or a helicopter gunship. Military pilot(s) loaded "hot and heavy" would be awaiting orders on what to do with that "unknown intruder" into Denver D.I.A. airspace. And some of you folks think you KNOW it was just a hoax. Get real, that balloon-thing could have just as easily been much-much-much worse of a payload vessel. Thank God it was a hoax.
timeflies
Tommy, my boy, it's not a competition or blah, blah military whathaveyou, or about "knowing," or being the smartest kid in the class. There's a difference between being compassionate and being gullible. Many Americans in search of constant entertainment will believe anything corporate media serves up. Ditch the tin hats and don the thinking caps, folks. Protect your integrity. Wise up. Ask questions. There are a lot of creeps and bozos out there. There's another one like this Heene guy surely headed our way soon.
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