By Saleem Mubarak
A court in Colorado, USA, sentenced a couple to prison on charges of lying about their six-year-old son being trapped in a helium balloon that disappeared into the sky.
The Obsession with Reality TV
A man identified as Richard, an inventor, was dead set on launching his own reality TV show. He believes in strange ideas and often claims that all humans are, in fact, descendants of aliens.
Because of this belief, Richard was pulling all the stops to get a TV show where he could share his novel ideas. Having participated in a few TV shows, he was struggling to start his own show.
Like Richard, his wife, Myumi, was also eager to see her husband as a TV show host. To materialize their plan, the couple repeatedly contacted different TV networks and pitched their ideas. However, they were rejected.
The Birth of a Fake Drama
When the couple failed to get a positive response from the TV networks, they allegedly devised a plan–one that was crafted only to gain media attention.
To set the plan in motion, Richard started building a helium balloon vehicle powered by batteries. He planned to use plastic roofing and other materials, shaping it like a flying spaceship.
After strenuous efforts, Richard completed the vehicle and placed it in his garden, where he filled it with helium. The helium-filled balloon made him cheerful. He rushed to install cameras throughout the garden to record all the experimental events.
The Call That Triggered a Frenzy
During the recording session, the tied balloon began its flight toward the sky. Sensing the situation, Richard immediately called the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and informed them that his six-year-old son, Falcon, had mistakenly entered the balloon vehicle.
He explained that the balloon, filled with helium, was now in the air, and it was moving through the sky. He requested immediate help to save the life of his son.
Following this information, the local authorities contacted a news station to send a helicopter so the balloon’s movement could be tracked efficiently. The balloon’s tracking was all over the media, and people were praying for the safe recovery of the poor boy.
Besides, the couple also called emergency services (911) and repeated the story they had told the FAA.
A Nationwide Sensation
As soon as the news hit the headlines, the police intervened. News stations began broadcasting every movement of the balloon. This became a national headline.
Everyone was shocked because it seemed impossible for a child to get trapped in a balloon that flew into the sky. They were surprised by how it was possible for him to enter the balloon, especially with his parents nearby.
This story spread across the media not only in America but around the globe. It was the first time that people had heard of a six-year-old child accidentally flying away in a balloon.
The Dramatic Landing
The balloon remained in the air for about two hours, covering a distance of around 50 miles. Everyone watching the balloon’s movement on TV was anxious. They were unsure about the health status of the child inside the balloon.
Finally, the balloon began to descend as its gas pressure decreased.
When the balloon landed, police and rescue teams rushed to the balloon and immediately started the rescue operation. They opened the balloon, hoping to recover the trapped child. However, to their utter surprise, they found the balloon was empty, and no child was inside.
Where Was the Child?
The entire world watched as news channels reported that the balloon was empty. The situation shocked the public, and questions began to arise about the child’s whereabouts.
Majority of the viewers were under the impression that the child might have fallen along the way. This situation also worried the police and rescue teams.
The couple was sharp as a tack and immediately picked up on the shifting situation. They had wasted no time clearing the air with the public and officers, accepting they had made a mistake.
They explained that they had thought their son was in the balloon, however, they were wrong. They said Falcon had gone to the garage and hidden inside a cardboard box.
The Truth Begins to Unravel
Explaining the reason for his hiding, they said that Falcon believed they were upset with him. Feeling like he was in hot water, he preferred to hide in the box to avoid them.
When they found he was missing, they put their heads together and began searching the house but could not find him. They assumed that he must have been in the balloon that had accidentally flown away.
People have started to point the finger at their story. Similarly, police officers were also not buying their version. Smelling a rat, the police silently started an investigation into the issue so that the actual situation could be brought to light.
The Moment of Exposure
But Richard and Myumi were very happy, as they were expecting the same result. They allegedly chalked out this plan only to get media attention, and things were going in the right direction.
They were in the news, and everyone was talking about them and their child. On top of that, the news organisations were also contacting them to schedule their interviews.
But now, things were about to go badly.
In an interview, they were asked why Falcon remained inside the box when his parents were calling his name. Falcon abruptly truthfully answered, “I thought they said we were doing this for a show.” This was the moment when everyone watching said, “Aha! They have been caught red-handed!”
The Final Blow
The next day, Richard’s family turned up in another interview, where they were asked to explain Falcon’s comment that he made in the last interview. During the interview, Falcon threw up. It looked like he was feeling under the weather.
After seeing this interview, the viewers started to think, “Is this child spilling the beans on TV that his parents staged the entire drama?”
As we have mentioned above, the police were already suspicious of their statements and were investigating the issue to clear the air.
Three days after the interview, the police categorically announced that it was a fake incident. The officer said that it was nothing but a publicity stunt.
The Legal Consequences
He explained that police had thoroughly examined the balloon and detected that Richard had lied about its weight. The balloon was unable to lift his six-year-old son, Falcon, because the child was heavier than the balloon could carry.
Ultimately, the police summoned Richard and Mayumi for questioning. During the investigation, they stuck to their guns that they had provided wrong information to the FAA and the police.
Police officials were aware that Mayumi was hailing from Japan. So they played their cards by threatening to have her deported if she continued to pull the wool over their eyes.
Finally, Mayumi buckled under pressure and confessed to her crime. She told police that they had cooked up the whole story for the sake of their show.
However, later, Mayumi backpedaled her statement, claiming that she had been forced into making that confession.
On the other hand, Richard refused to back down and denied that they had planned the drama. He said it was not a lie, claiming that he had done nothing out of line.
After the interrogation, the police sent the case to court, where Richard was sentenced to 90 days in jail. Similarly, Mayumi also faced 20 days of community service.
Despite the sentence, Richard remained firm to his claim that it wasn’t a lie. He said he truly believed his son was missing and had mistakenly entered the balloon.
