'BALLOON BOY' PARENTS: WHAT'S THE APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT?
12:54 PM October 19, 2009
When I first saw the balloon flying through the air with six-year-old Falcon Heene reportedly trapped inside, I wanted to be sick. As a parent, it was a worst-nightmare times ten. It was that nightmare that every parent has had of their child being scared and in danger because of their own neglect or stupidity. I felt for the boy's parents and prayed for the young child. I hoped (aloud on the air during our breaking news coverage) that the balloon would somehow have a soft landing and the child would emerge unharmed.
When the balloon did have a soft landing and rescuers were able to secure it, they found no child inside. My heart sank again as I wondered if that child had fallen out as the balloon flew through the air. Later that day, we would all learn that little Falcon Heene was alive and well and had never been in danger.
While I was relieved to hear the child was O.K., my relief slowly turned to anger over the weekend. Certainly not at the boy--he's six-years-old. He's innocent. He was doing what children do--trying to please their parents. My anger is aimed at his parents after the local sheriff in Colorado alleged that the boy's father, Richard Heene, and the boy's mother Mayumi Heene, staged the entire affair as a hoax to promote a reality show. As an attorney for the Heene family points out, they are certainly innocent until proven guilty. But if true, what kind of a person would do this? And if they are convicted, what do you think the punishment should be?
According to a Robert Thomas of Denver, Richard Heene was pitching a TV show that would portray him as a "mad scientist" who carries out scientific experiments. Thomas sold his story to the website gawker.com, providing what he says are e-mail exchanges between him and Heene on this show. In one, Heene reportedly says: "This will be the most significant UFO-related news event to take place since the Roswell Crash of 1947, and the result will be a dramatic increase in local and national awareness about The Heene Family, our Reality Series, as well as the UFO Phenomenon in general."
The local sheriff, Jim Alderden of Larimer county confirmed emails are among the things investigators are looking at. "We certainly know that there's a conspiracy between the husband and wife, you've probably seen some of the e-mails and some of the things on the internet suggesting that there may be other conspirators," Alderden said.
As for Mr. Heene's alleged "mad scientist" proposal, Alderden said: "He may be nutty, but he's not a professor."
Among the worst moments of this story--when little Falcon appeared on CNN and other TV shows to talk about what happened. He literally became ill and vomited off-stage. Was the poor child sick? Nervous? Or being asked to carry out a lie that his parents were asking him to tell. We'll no doubt know the truth sooner or later. But I'm with Falcon. It made me want to be sick when I heard he was in danger. It makes me sick now to think his parents might have been using their child and all of us to promote a dumb reality TV show.
Posted by Frank Buckley | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)
Cane them and put it on pay per view.
Posted by: Frank | January 27, 2010 at 09:25 AM
I really feel these parents need to be made an example of. If they in any way are allowed to get away with this without some kind of punishment to deter this from happening again somewhere, then it will in fact happen again, and again, and again. Next thing you know Octomom will need to up the anti for fame and fortune and it will elevate further. This has to be nipped in the bud NOW. There are too many important things happening in this world for media resources to be covering hoaxes. There are too many people out of work, too many people losing their homes, and only 20% of Americans identify themselves as Republican now! OK. I had to throw that last bit in for levity. After all that's the best news from Charlie Gibson on ABC tonight!!!!
But, these parents need to be made an example of and suffer huge consequences for this.
Posted by: Dan | October 19, 2009 at 07:12 PM
Frank:
Hoorah! You are back blogging!!! It's been a long time . . . over a month or more.
I didn't watch any of this on TV as it was happening; I found out about this story when I watched the evening news. When the sheriff first stated that the family would not be charged with anything, I thought, "Gee, they should at least pay for the whatever it cost the taxpayers to run down this stupid balloon. Do they have a permit to launch something like that and interfere with air traffic?"
The second thought that occurred to me was, "That father has a terrible temper. I would hate to be around him all day."
My final thought was, "Why weren't those kids in school that day? Was it a school holiday?"
Whatever happens, both parents should have to pay for the expense of running down that stupid balloon.
Posted by: Helen | October 19, 2009 at 04:54 PM
DatGirlG has the best solution yet - "They should be used in a series of National Public Service Announcements." I love it!!
The Heene's want fame. They should be charged for misdirecting public services.
They used poor judgment but ultimately the kids were not in physical jeopardy.
The Heene's were trying to be creative. They failed. Then they tired to lie their way out of the mess. Again they failed when their computers and media outlets they'd contacted about a reality show came forward. LOL. The Heene's can't catch a break.
Yup, let them work it off like a prominent celebrity works off a DUI.
.
Posted by: jozielee | October 19, 2009 at 04:30 PM
I woke up 2 FOX11 in LA showing video cvrg of balloon early on. Had 2 check my watch because FOX was not 2B on at this time. Odd they were covering this it must be real, I assumed. So I blindly watched as they blindly reported. No source checking. I think sources were young boy in family & sheriff. Can child be a reliable source? Did anyone look up family on internet to see spotty history? What is apparent 2 me is that I & and I'm sure alot of people, blindly follow the news. Another thing that shocked me is that FOX11 in LA would interrupt normal programming to show this fiasco LIVE, but could not show tape/or even mention the President awarding his first Medal of Honor (1 of 8 aawarded since Viet Nam). How sad. So the message FOX11 is telling me is Balloon Boy more important a story the someone who gave their life in war trying 2 save someone's life. No longer watch that News Station. It's your turn to let me down or disappoint. Hopefully U won't.
Posted by: Tom S Los Angeles, CA | October 19, 2009 at 04:14 PM
One of the many tragedies of the over-saturation of "reality TV" is that it brings out the worst in those craving attention: a mother of six has eight more babies in one throw and now this.
I know for a fact there are many good, creative, mostly out-of-work writers in our business; if only we could find more producers and show runners willing to get back to creative television.
Posted by: Jon McPhalen | October 19, 2009 at 03:39 PM
Upon watching this event on TV which had me spellbound for about 25 minutes, I shuddered in terror and disbelief to think about what would happen to the ballon if it were traveling toward the ocean with the boy possibly inside.... SMH OMG.
My first thought was... WHERE IN THE HELL WERE THE PARENTS??? Duh????? Helium?.... a LARGE Ballon with a cord attached and a 6 year old child that weighs less than 100 pounds with No supervison??? This is James & The Giant Peach 2009... the sequel!!!! LOL
But in anycase, I would say If they want to be famous.. let's give the people what they want. They should be used in a series of National Public Service Announcements of how NOT to Abuse ANY 911 emergency services for personal gain, & waste TAX PAYER Dollars. Also they should be ordered to pay for the services MISUSED that day. I know we all want to be famous someday, and they have had their 15 minutes of fame.... but don't waste MY TAX Dollars on your lost highway to stardom.
Posted by: DatgirlG | October 19, 2009 at 01:37 PM
Give them their reality show. I didn't see the video until later: I was driving around going about my day with the radio on, while this remarkable story unfolded. My sister called while the saucer was in the air. She thought then, that it was a hoax. I said i doubted it: they wouldn't be able to get away with it. Turns out that we both were right. I think you all should get over it. We all got entertained for a few hours by something other than football or terrorists. Nobody died. It's all good.
Posted by: john | October 19, 2009 at 01:26 PM
For the first few minutes of watching this balloon, I too, was caught up in it. But then, after awhile, watching how it seemed to float around so easily, I began to think it was empty! When it landed, & how easily it moved around, I knew the kid was not in there! True! After watching this family on 'Wife Swap', I thought this father was 'way too out there'..& told others with me that, there's nothing in this balloon...the kid is probably hiding somewhere. Turned out my thoughts were right on the money! I think it's really pathetic that people..GROWN people want that much attention, that they will put their children in this type of media scheme. Then to go as far as getting the authorities involved...they SHOULD be ashamed of themselves!! Not only did they take authorities away from REAL crimes & people in trouble, but they also made the airport delay flights! These parents SHOULD pay for ALL THE EXPENSES INCURRED to come to their phony 'aid'..they should have a stiff penalty for delaying flights for all those stranded passengers and incoming flights...AND they NEED counseling!!!!!! What a bunch of idiots! WHAT happens the NEXT time something REALLY goes wrong at their house...WHO'S going to believe them??? If they don't get fined-or have a stiff punishment, then they'll be seen back in the news AGAIN..doing something else really stupid! They are PATHETIC!!!
Posted by: Debbie W. | October 19, 2009 at 01:21 PM
That family should have the book thrown at them as far as jail time and repayment of all the costs in searching for the kid. I would be interested to know how many people that may have needed real help didn't get it because rescuers spent valuable time investigating a hoax. How much did the National guard, law enforcement and the media spend on aviation fuel ? If nothing is done to punish these Idiots, what's to stop others from wasting valuable resources in the future ?
Posted by: Paul Hjorting | October 19, 2009 at 01:17 PM
I am with you on all that you said. I too was sickened and scared for the child, and my heart just dropped when the balloon landed and he was not inside. I didn't want to think that he possibly fell from the balloon in flight. I hope his parents are made an example of to the fullest extent of the law. Also, I strongly feel they should be made responsible for all costs associated to the entire hoax, from news coverage to rescue efforts. Just shameful.
Posted by: Darice | October 19, 2009 at 01:07 PM