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Child-Protection Office Eying Balloon Family

Cops to re-interview Heenes as hoax suspicions rise

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 17, 2009 5:34 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Colorado child-protection officers have spoken to the sheriff's office about the Heene family following Thursday's bizarre balloon incident, said Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden, who hopes an investigation will follow. Police plan to re-interview the family today following a CNN interview in which 6-year-old Falcon said he hid in an attic while his dad's home-made balloon was airborne "for the show," Alderden told the Denver Post.

"Clearly, that has raised everybody’s level of skepticism again,” the sheriff said, “and we feel it’s incumbent upon us to go back to the family and re-interview them to establish whether it was a hoax or a real event." He added that he believed the incident was no hoax.

Media gather at the front door of the home of Richard and Mayumi Heene in Fort Collins, Colo., yesterday.
Media gather at the front door of the home of Richard and Mayumi Heene in Fort Collins, Colo., yesterday.   (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
Six-year-old Falcon Heene is shown with his father, Richard, outside the family's home in Fort Collins, Colo.,
Six-year-old Falcon Heene is shown with his father, Richard, outside the family's home in Fort Collins, Colo.,   (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The Heene family, clockwise from back left, Richard, Mayumi, Ryan, Falcon and Bradford are shown at their home in Fort Collins, Colo.
The Heene family, clockwise from back left, Richard, Mayumi, Ryan, Falcon and Bradford are shown at their home in Fort Collins, Colo.   (AP Photo/ABC)
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Richard Heene blasts his wife about tethering as his home-made balloon becomes airborne.   (WeDidThis4theShow)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
lauriec67
Oct 18, 2009 12:14 PM CDT
are these people insane? is everybody but me nuts????? that guy looked drugged! the mother looks nutty, the kids look sick & terrified! & his name? Falcon Heene? I thought for the 1st 2 days his name was "fanconneenee! I was feeling sorry for him w/such a weird name! cause there are no falconneenee's right? like thats a female falcon? no..of course not..but then I figured it out, & that kid has WAY more problems than a weird name! lol
shrinkess
Oct 18, 2009 3:39 AM CDT
I feel really sorry for Falcon.
NxBigmouthery
Oct 17, 2009 12:41 PM CDT
It's worth getting to the core of this thing.

 
Colorado • Falcon Heene • Richard Heene • balloon boy hoax • balloon boy throws up • Falcon Heene hoax • balloon boy

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