Balloon mum admits 'missing son' saga was a hoax

The mother of the six-year-old boy once feared missing inside a runaway helium balloon in the US admitted the whole saga was a hoax, according to court documents.

Mayumi Heene told sheriff's deputies that she and her husband Richard 'knew all along that Falcon was hiding in the residence' in Fort Collins, according to an affidavit, released on Friday, that was used to get a search warrant for the home.

She allegedly told investigators the incident was a hoax meant to make the family more marketable to the media.

"Mayumi described that she and Richard Heene devised this hoax approximately two weeks earlier. ... She and Richard had instructed their three children to lie to authorities as well as the media regarding this hoax," the affidavit said.

Richard has denied a hoax. His lawyer, David Lane, said he is waiting to see the evidence in the case. "Allegations are cheap," Mr Lane said.

Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden has said he will recommend charges against the Heenes including conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false report to authorities, and attempting to influence a public servant. The most serious charges are felonies and carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison.

Alderden said authorities also would be seeking restitution for the costs of the balloon chase, though he didn't provide a figure. In frantic calls to a TV station, the police emergency dispatcher and federal aviation officials, the couple reported that they feared Falcon was in the homemade, saucer-like balloon when it was accidentally launched from their back yard last week.

Millions watched on TV as media and National Guard helicopters tracked the balloon across the Colorado plains. It landed in a dusty farm field, where ground crews looked inside but found no sign of the boy.

Later, the relieved-looking couple reported Falcon had been hiding in their garage the whole time. But suspicion heated up when Falcon made a comment on CNN that sounded like 'You had said we did this for a show'.

Sheriff's deputies questioned the parents separately on October 17, two days after the flight. Mayumi told authorities 'she and Richard Heene had lied to authorities

on October 15, 2009 (the day of the flight)', the affidavit said.

She told investigators 'that the release of the flying saucer was intentional as a hoax. ... The motive for the fabricated story was to make the Heene family more marketable for future media interest,' the affidavit said.

The Heenes twice had appeared on the television reality show Wife Swap, on which wives from two very different families trade places for two weeks. Acquaintances said Richard Heene had plans for other possible shows.

The producer of Wife Swap had a show in development with the Heenes but said the deal is now off. The TLC cable network also said Heene had pitched a reality show months ago, but it passed on the offer.

Sheriff's officials declined to comment.