WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Real or hoax? Parents, kids weigh in

Real or hoax? Parents, kids weigh in

By Melanie Ruberti - bio | email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - For more than three hours, the nation watched on live television as a homemade balloon thought to contain a 6-year-old boy flew for 50 miles over Colorado.

Among those watching were fifth graders at Isle of Hope Elementary School. 

"I thought that was cool, how he had made a balloon like that," said Wyatt Hale.

Student Michael Watson agreed. "I've never seen a balloon that looked like that before," he said. 

"It was just really frightening," said 10-year-old Jordan Coleman.

Frightening for law enforcement and 6-year-old Falcon Heene's parents as Army helicopters chased the balloon while emergency crews scoured the ground for miles in hopes of finding the little boy.

But when the balloon finally landed, Falcon Heene wasn't inside. He was found soon after, hiding in the attic of his family's home. 

"I don't think that was a very smart thing to do," exclaimed Michael. "Because if it were me, I would have got in big trouble."

And the Thursday incident may mean trouble for the Heene family. After seeing home video taken by the Heenes as the balloon flew away Thursday and listening to the family on numerous talk shows, some believe the whole thing was a hoax.

Psychotherapist Michelle Aycock, says the father's behavior seemed odd.

"Watching the little boy get sick [during talk show interviews], twice, and the parents continued the interview? That was kind of alarming to me," she said. "I think there should be a thorough investigation into why the boy didn't come out until after the balloon had landed."

Parent Malkia Stoddard, thinks the Heene's concern for their missing child was real. But she wonders about all the man power used to find 6-year-old Falcon.

"It was a lot of money from the tax payers," she said. "Maybe it will teach the little boy a lesson."

An expensive lesson learned by everybody, including the fifth graders at Isle of Hope Elementary.

"He shouldn't have been messing with it," exclaimed Wyatt. "He should have told his parents because he had a lot of people looking for him."

No word yet if the boy's father Richard Heene, will face any charges.

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