Six year old boy floats off in a balloon

[mookiemookie]

Is anyone else watching this? Apparently this kid climbed into a hot air...balloon...craft...thing...and he's now floating over Colorado. They have no idea how to get him down.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33330516/ns/us_news-life/

[XabbaRus]

Hey you beat me by a minute.

I hope they get him down but the balloon is at 7000ft. Also they say the door wasn't locked so he could have fallen out.

Sorry to say I reckon the poor lad is dead one way or another.

Hope I am wrong.

[SteamWake]

The balloon has 'landed' unfortunatly the boy was not inside.

His whereabouts are unknown at this time.

BTW it wasent a hot air ballon rather it was a static display not meant to fly and filled with helium.

[mookiemookie]

No kid makes me start thinking this thing may be a hoax. What better way to get national exposure for your "experimental aircraft" than to pull this sort of thing.

[August]

I hope this is a hoax or else it means the kid fell out before it landed.

[SteamWake]

Just read that this balloon was being built by the boys family in their back yard ?!

Also the family had been on the show 'wife swap' :o

Gets weirder by the minute.

http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-balloon-101509,0,919382.story

[SteamWake]

and stranger

Here is a video with the boy and his brothers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBWJXXgaYBo&feature=player_embedded

[XabbaRus]

Hmm it is odd. Well let's hope it is a hoax then.

[longam]

CNN is saying there sending up helicopters for the search, so hmm.

[Aramike]

Okay, just an aside, the kid's name is "Falcon"...

The irony is a little too thick here...

[Spike88]

Okay, just an aside, the kid's name is "Falcon"...

The irony is a little too thick here...

Maybe he flew out of the balloon.

[Zachstar]

Based on reports it IS possible that the boy could have been in the basket when the craft lifted off thankfully it would rise slowly because it was not likely designed for that weight and the balloon would have been malformed. Giving the boy a small amount of time to escape.

However if he missed that point either he is hiding in the grass or he is dead. I am praying that the boy is just running around scared thinking he is going to be in serious trouble and will eventually try to go home.

[Task Force]

where were the parents when this happend I wonder...

[Zachstar]

where were the parents when this happend I wonder...

Obviously not close enough to the craft however this is NOT the time to ask that question. There are even some sickos who are saying not 3 hours after the incident that this was murder.

Is the father a little weird? Yes he believes in mars pyramids. Yet that does not make him less of a father. Accidents happen period.

[Zachstar]

HE IS ALIVE!!!!!

Found inside the very house!!!

Edit: Little ******* hid inside a box in the garage in the attic. I know he was scared but GEEZ!

[Zachstar]

Ok now that this little ******* in my opinion has been found it is time for the jokes.

Why I guess he is now a grounded falcon!

[Aramike]

Ok now that this little ******* in my opinion has been found it is time for the jokes.

Why I guess he is now a grounded falcon!:haha::haha::haha:

How long before the Photoshop artists get ahold of this one?

[Aramike]

Oh this is rich:The Heene family appeared on the ABC television show "Wife Swap." A website for the show said when Heene family members aren't together chasing storms, "they devote their time to scientific experiments that include looking for extraterrestrials and building a research-gathering flying saucer to send into the eye of the storm."http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-balloon-boy-found-101509,0,6905331.story

[Zachstar]

One thing is for sure the state is going to be asking tough questions on why they spent thousands of dollars to try to find this kid.

If it was a hoax someone is going to jail.

[SteamWake]

I think its gonna come out that these kids are in alot of trouble.

[Zachstar]

I think its gonna come out that these kids are in alot of trouble.

It depends. Technically the kid did not have access to the media so was unaware that his disappearance was becoming international news. So you can't charge him for just hiding from his parents. He will get a stern warning from the sheriff and the national guard but that is about the extent of trouble he is with the authorities.

His parents that is another matter. Hiding from the media instead of searching the ENTIRE PREMISES cost the state a great deal of money. Instead of thinking about their next PR statement they ought to have make damn sure the theory about the kid hiding was proven false instead of assumed false. A fine is likely in order and if the rumor that this was a premeditated stunt is true they will serve jail time.

[TarJak]

Bizarre story it live coverage over here as well. I'm voting for publicity stunt of some kind but I'm stuffed if I can work out what for.:hmmm:

[Zachstar]

CNN is doing an interview. It does make it more plausible that this all started due to a confused kid. Look I don't want to be too hard on them. Kids do not understand how much a search costs. How much fuel has to be expended as vehicles chase this craft. The resulting costs of repair and refurbishment of any damage done as a result of the search (Nobody cares about bumps and stress when there is a life in danger) The off duty units called up to assist in the search and the massive paperwork.

But geez luweez ALOT of stress could have been avoided if A) Falcon had woken up to all that commotion earlier or B) They truly searched the entire place.

[August]

His parents that is another matter. Hiding from the media instead of searching the ENTIRE PREMISES cost the state a great deal of money. Instead of thinking about their next PR statement they ought to have make damn sure the theory about the kid hiding was proven false instead of assumed false. A fine is likely in order and if the rumor that this was a premeditated stunt is true they will serve jail time.

If it was a stunt I totally agree, but if not I could certainly forgive the parents for not being thorough enough. After all their stress level must have been enormous and they fully believed he was aboard so it's understandable that they would have been totally focused in that direction.

[Zachstar]

If it was a stunt I totally agree, but if not I could certainly forgive the parents for not being thorough enough. After all their stress level must have been enormous and they fully believed he was aboard so it's understandable that they would have been totally focused in that direction.


After seeing this interview I guess I ought to let the authorities complete an investigation before saying things like that about the parents.

[Spike88]

If it was a stunt I totally agree, but if not I could certainly forgive the parents for not being thorough enough. After all their stress level must have been enormous and they fully believed he was aboard so it's understandable that they would have been totally focused in that direction.

This reminds me of the time my little brother went missing about 3 years ago. It was around nine o clock when we realized we didn't know where he was, we checked all the rooms in the house. My mom who was at work sped to the house in her patrol car. We searched around the house and my parents plus several neighbors started to look for him around the neighborhood. I go into my parents bedroom again with a friend, and lift up the sheets. Lo and behold he was asleep in my parents bed.Because of the way he was it looked like the bed was empty unless you actually lifted the sheets. :rotfl2:

[Zachstar]

Ok the finishing of the interview was a little weird. I really dont know what to say.

First of all I would have ended the interview after the 3rd reference to the hoax theory. If I had been in his shoes and child had said something stupid like "It was for the show" then I personally would have asked him/her to explain what they meant by that just to clarify I would not have given a damn what the populace thought by it. The populace are not detectives the police are.

but he got way to defensive about it. Talking about the media on his lawn and interviews next week do not help his case. Again he ought to not give a damn but the whole thing is alot more suspicious because of that.

Frankly unless there are a bunch of hidden details it does not sound like book material. If it was a PR stunt it was a poorly crafted one.

[SteamWake]

I put this on the kids and a hoax in order to gain fame.

All in on this one :salute:

[Zachstar]

Well that conclusion is spreading through the net like wildfire right now. Most seem to now believe its a hoax.

Well I think the police will figure out if its a hoax or not. And no police do NOT take kindly to hoaxes that waste valuable funds. Arrests will be made if it is a hoax and the book will likely be thrown.

[Blacklight]

I'm just assuming that the kid's older brother and he concocted the thing as a prank that went too far and got way out of control. The older brother was the one who told everyone that he saw his younger brother get into the balloon before it took off. And he re-iterated that story to the police as well.

Somebody's DEFINITELY grounded in more ways than one in that household, I think.

[nikimcbee]

Bizarre story it live coverage over here as well. I'm voting for publicity stunt of some kind but I'm stuffed if I can work out what for.:hmmm:

I think that's my vote too.:shifty:

[SteamWake]

LOL check out this video by the father...

"Shape shifting Hillary Reptilian" :har:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu7Wwz5B9CE

[Platapus]

A few things stynk about this.

Looking at the size of the balloon and the fact that it was filled with Helium, I would estimate that its effective payload would be about 10 pounds. The Balloon appeared only have enough gas to fill 1/2 of the envelope as the rest of the space would be for the expansion at altitude.

Watching the balloon in flight, it did not seem to have much ballast (weight) in the base.

In looking at the recovery imagery, there is no opening for the kid to get in to the base. That base looks like a foundation for mounting the instrument package to the bottom of the base.

Now that we have seen the lift off imagery, there is no instrumentation box attached to the foundation.

Something is rotten in the State of Denmark.

[Task Force]

After seeing the baloon... there is NO way at all that thing could float with him in it...

[Zachstar]

The press confrence sounded a different tune as instead of saying they had no evidence of a hoax. They changed it to "Charges expected to be filed, Class 3 misdemeanor but working with feds to see if charges ought to be upgraded (One of them being the FAA)" While not announcing who or what charges are aimed at. There is NOBODY else other than the parents who could fit this description.

I will still say in my opinion but I do not think I will have to say that after tomorrow.

So in my opinion...

People its a hoax!

[Submarine]

Just some more pathetic crap for publicity and celebrity status in a country that is so obsessed with celebrity its sick.

[CastleBravo]

My understanding is that Child Protective Services has opened an investigation. Once those anti-family rights facists get involved don’t be suprised if a parent’s worst nightmare begins. So the class three midameanor won't be the worst of it.

[Submarine]

My understanding is that Child Protective Services has opened an investigation. Once those anti-family rights facists get involved don’t be suprised if a parent’s worst nightmare begins.

People need to mind their own business and not freak out at the littlest thing.

The kid is fine, no need to involve anyone.

[Zachstar]

My understanding is that Child Protective Services has opened an investigation. Once those anti-family rights facists get involved don’t be suprised if a parent’s worst nightmare begins. So the class three midameanor won't be the worst of it.

Now is not the time to be quoting Alex Jones CB....

This is not a case of taking children away for a few dirty dishes. This is a case where the parents likely tried to convince their children to perpetrate in a lie that would have likely have had to keep secret under intense media pressure for years. Likely forced them to participate in this scheme under penalty of punishment as well.

I dont want those kids anywhere near those nutjobs in my opinion they are already going to have to grow up being known as hoaxers.

[mookiemookie]

Once those anti-family rights facists get involved

Child abuse and neglect is not a family right.

[CastleBravo]

Father's drive propels Heenes, say friends

Some interesting background on the Heenes.

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20091018/NEWS01/910180340

[CastleBravo]

Breaking: The Larimer County Sheriff's Office says they have evidence the "balloon boy" incident was an orchestrated publicity stunt to promote a reality TV show.

I think many realized this days ago! But law enforcement was duped.

[Tribesman]

Once those anti-family rights facists get involved don’t be suprised if a parent’s worst nightmare begins.
These parents worse nightmare happened when their pitch to the stations for their own reality show got turned down.
Their next nightmare began when the publicity whores decided to exploit their own children but apparently got exposed.

[SteamWake]

Breaking: The Larimer County Sheriff's Office says they have evidence the "balloon boy" incident was an orchestrated publicity stunt to promote a reality TV show.

I think many realized this days ago! But law enforcement was duped.

Linky?

[CastleBravo]

Linky?

Check your favorite news outlet, or a Denver/Ft Collins area outlet, its all over the place now.

[August]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8313439.stm

[CastleBravo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8313439.stm

Thank you August.

There is no news outlet more reliable than the BBC. [sarcasm off]

Nothing snide against August, but it does show how far the news has travelled and that I don't believe the BBC to be reliable. Remember the staged pix from a couple/few years back?

[AngusJS]

What staged photos?

[CastleBravo]

What staged photos?

If you are too young to remember I would suggest a search. Before FOX News there was the AP and the BBC.

[Zachstar]

Thank you August.

There is no news outlet more reliable than the BBC. [sarcasm off]

Nothing snide against August, but it does show how far the news has travelled and that I don't believe the BBC to be reliable. Remember the staged pix from a couple/few years back?


*Resists great urge to post bunch of images of Fox News shenanigans*

BBC is fine. especially as this is not a political issue. One of the few times I will even click on a fox news link (No need tho as CNN is fine for me on this)

[CastleBravo]

*Resists great urge to post bunch of images of Fox News shenanigans*

BBC is fine. especially as this is not a political issue. One of the few times I will even click on a fox news link (No need tho as CNN is fine for me on this)

Another guy who doesn't remember the staged BBC photos of casualties from Lebenon when hezballa attacked Isreal in 2006. Zachstar was 12 yo at the time and is now an expert on all things. LOL.

But Neal always allows his daughters to say what ever they wish. So long as they don't go too deep. yep, quadruple meaning.

[Zachstar]

Thanks for that completely ageist comment. However there is no need to derail the topic anymore so again ill resist the urge to post the images.

Edit: I just read that again? I was born in July of 88 so how does that make me 12 in 2006? Its 2009

[Reaves]

Thanks for that completely ageist comment. However there is no need to derail the topic anymore so again ill resist the urge to post the images.

Edit: I just read that again? I was born in July of 88 so how does that make me 12 in 2006? Its 2009


Don't argue with the old men. They'll soon get tired and go off for a nap.

[CastleBravo]

Thanks for that completely ageist comment. However there is no need to derail the topic anymore so again ill resist the urge to post the images.

Edit: I just read that again? I was born in July of 88 so how does that make me 12 in 2006? Its 2009

Thats much like a legist comment. You have one leg longer than it should be. Too funny. Perhaps not chronologically 12, but certainly mentally/emotionally.

[CastleBravo]

Don't argue with the old men. They'll soon get tired and go off for a nap.

And yet us 'old men' have fought and died so you young men can insult us? Silly sod.

Look around you...everything you see was done by those nappers. This site included.

[Zachstar]

Don't argue with the old men. They'll soon get tired and go off for a nap.

There is no need to go to the opposite end of ageism. He made an ageist comment in my opinion and I pointed it out. He derails his own arguments about the validity of the BBC there is no need to make this a junkfest.

[Tribesman]

Another guy who doesn't remember the staged BBC photos of casualties from Lebenon when hezballa attacked Isreal in 2006.
A guy with memory problems?
Ah you mean the pictures Reuters sent out to news agencies that they had got from a freelance photojournalist which they then published.
I wonder if you remember the fake footage of the missile attacks the IDF put out to the news agencies that they also published.

But anyway back to the topic , if this comes to trial will the family be able to make a few bucks by selling film rights to their hoax and the following events. If so will they be looking to get a cameo role in the TV movie?

[AngusJS]

A guy with memory problems?
Ah you mean the pictures Reuters sent out to news agencies that they had got from a freelance photojournalist which they then published.Exactly. That wasn't the Beeb, that was freelance Lebanese photographers. I couldn't find any reports of the BBC faking photos. There was a foul up with a photo of a rally in Iran during the crisis, but that sounded more like an honest mistake than anything else.

[SteamWake]

Its offical !!!

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh312/UlteriorModem/derail.jpg

[AngusJS]

Are you sure that photograph hasn't been faked?


:D

[Safe-Keeper]

Depends. Was the train Palestinian or Israeli?

[Platapus]

In a desperate attempt to get this thread back on track...

It appears that our initial understandings of this issue were correct

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/23/colorado.balloon.investigation/index.html
Documents: 'Balloon boy' dad had hoax in mind, wife says




Mayumi Heene says she and husband knew 6-year-old was safe during scare
They told authorities child might have blown away inside giant balloon
Couple told children to lie to authorities and media, document says

(CNN) -- The wife of a Colorado father at the center of the "balloon boy" saga told authorities that the giant helium balloon was specifically created for a hoax to draw media attention, according to court documents released Friday.


Mayumi Heene told Larimer County investigators that she and her husband, Richard Heene, knew that their 6-year-old son Falcon was hiding at their Fort Collins home the entire time, even as police and military scrambled to search for the boy, according to the documents.


The admission by Mayumi Heene was made October 17, just two days after the balloon was released, according to the documents.


Strange that we are only hearing about this now :06:



The Heenes initially told authorities that they believed their child had flown away on the balloon, and when the balloon landed without him, they expressed concern that he may have fallen out of the device.
The couple hatched the plan about two weeks before the incident and "instructed their three children to lie to authorities as well as the media regarding this hoax," according to the documents.


Their motive? To "make the Heene family more marketable for future media interests."


Calls to David Lane, Richard Heene's attorney, and Lee Christian, Mayumi Heene's attorney, were not immediately returned Friday.


Richard and Mayumi Heene are each facing a number of local charges, including conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and attempting to influence a public servant, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said Sunday.
...

The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating the incident.
....

I guess we called this right from the get-go. :yeah:

"Attempting to influence a public servant?

That's a weird one. Evidently in Colorado, there have been cases where the state has claimed that lying to a police officer is a violation of State Law

Section 18-8-306 provides:
Any person who attempts to influence any public servant by means of deceit or by threat of violence or economic reprisal against any person or property, with the intent thereby to alter or affect the public servant’s decision, vote, opinion, or action concerning any matter which is to be considered or performed by him or the agency or body of which he is a member, commits a class 4 felony.

This, however, has been challenged in appeal courts. The latest being The People of the State of Colorado vs. Derek Dee Beck 15 May 2008 where this interpretation was supported.

In Colorado, a Class 4 felony is punishable by 2-6 years $2,000-$500,000 fine.

Not such a funny harmless hoax now is it Heenes? :nope:

[Oberon]

http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/9995/wjjtge2rrph7otvrum65ada.gif

[Task Force]

It was a publicity stunt went rong... to put it short...