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Balloon Family Feels 'Under Siege': Lawyer

Lawyer says stunt has turned into a "nightmare for the family."

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 19, 2009 4:56 PM CDT

(Newser) – Richard and Mayumi Heene are likely regretting the hoax they staged using their 6-year-old son and a balloon: With criminal charges looming and public opinion turning against them, the family feels “under siege,” their lawyer said today. The FAA has opened an investigation... Read full story »

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'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite

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Colorado • hoax • Denver International Airport • Falcon Heene • Richard Heene • balloon boy hoax • Falcon Heene hoax • balloon boy • Mayumi Heene

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FAA Starts Own Balloon Boy Probe

Flight delays at Denver airport during caper could result in fines

(NEWSER) - The Federal Aviation Administration is the latest agency to start its own investigation of last week’s Colorado balloon circus, with authorities looking into delays at Denver International Airport during the craft’s flight. And while local law enforcement wants criminal charges against the Heene family, any FAA violations would most likely draw fines or civil penalties, a rep tells the Coloradoan. More»

Sheriff: TV Paid for Balloon Stunt

Unnamed outlet blurs entertainment-news lines, says Alderden

(NEWSER) - A shady TV operation may have already paid the Heenes for its balloon boy stunt, the Colorado sheriff investigating the case has indicated. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the unnamed outlet paid the family for the launch and may be complicit in the hoax. An agreement from the media operation to pay the Heenes was found during a police search of the family's home, according to the New York Daily News. More»

'Swap Wife' Calls Heene Mad Wiz With Temper

'My dad can really yell,' son told her

(NEWSER) - The "swapped wife" who lived with the Balloon Boy's family as part of a TV reality program described dad Richard Heene as a mad scientist with a short fuse. Sheree Silver said Heene screamed at her, and son Bradford said: "My dad can really yell, can't he?" Silver doesn't believe Heene was capable of physical abuse, People reports. Colorado police, however, revealed that they tried to convince Heene's wife to move into a shelter after a a domestic violence call in February. More»

How I Helped Plan the Balloon Boy Hoax

Scheme was a campaign to return to reality TV: researcher

(NEWSER) - Balloon boy Falcon Heene's father, Richard, planned the hoax because he wanted to return to reality TV, claims a former research assistant. Heene "was often driven by ego and fame," Robert Thomas says in an interview with Gawker, which the website acknowledges it paid him for. "He was all about controversy, hoping to whip up something significant enough to eliminate our reality TV competitors." More»

Heene's Motivation: 2012 Apocalypse

More bizarre background on 'Balloon Boy' dad Richard Heene comes out

(NEWSER) - Richard Heene’s totally sensible motivation for his balloon hoax: He “believes the world is going to end in 2012," explained a lawyer for one of Heene’s researchers, who police recently interviewed. "Because of that he wanted to make money quickly, become rich enough to build a bunker or something underground, where he can be safe from the sun exploding,” the Telegraph reports. More on Heene: More»

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Balloon Family Feels 'Under Siege': Lawyer

Lawyer says stunt has turned into a "nightmare for the family."

Colorado • hoax • Denver International Airport • Falcon Heene • Richard Heene • balloon boy hoax • Falcon Heene hoax • balloon boy • Mayumi Heene

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How I Helped Plan the Balloon Boy Hoax

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More bizarre background on 'Balloon Boy' dad Richard Heene comes out

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