Balloon boy hoax

amiamish

Have we talked about this? Apparently the parents are going to admit it was a hoax...?

michaeltrish

Apparently, the boys have already admitted it to investigators and the husband's emails prove it.  At this point, the biggest issue is what kinds of charges can be brought against them.  Their lawyer said an arrest will be made today.

cristiana

God, they are such weirdos.

joy143dh

They should be charged and invoiced for the expense of the search.  

I was really mad before, but now I'm just sad.  Those poor boys. The parents are such attention whores and reality show freaks, those kids will never know what it is like to be accepted for just being themselves. 

PearlieGirl'sMom

How sick can the parents be to do that and involve their kids? I hope they get charged and have to pay back all the money that the law enforcement, military, FBI and news agencies spent for covering their "story."

EliseB0323

The parents could get felony charges and up to 6 years in prison, plus a fine up to $5000, plus the cost of the search, which could be more than $25K. In reality, they will probably have to pay for the search and get community service/probation. I think they should also be banned from ever appearing on another TV show.

Complete and utter idiots.

mlm1128

Shutting down air space around Denver airport for 90 minutes alone had to cost millions.  They need to be held responsible for this.

amiamish

I hope they have to pay back all those bills too. Apparently they may only be able to be charged with "false police report" or something like that, which is a misdemeanor.

The sad part is, the boys think this is ok to lie to the authorities like that.

Andrewsgal

EliseB0323:

The parents could get felony charges and up to 6 years in prison, plus a fine up to $5000, plus the cost of the search, which could be more than $25K. In reality, they will probably have to pay for the search and get community service/probation. I think they should also be banned from ever appearing on another TV show.

Complete and utter idiots.

I heard that they used Norrad (sp?) to track the balloon which means we are talking in the millions, these people have no money. How will they ever pay it back? They won't!

breezee_bean

they are so lame. 

aprilmomtobe

Besides the huge dollar amount spent, what about the risk of human life?  I mean, really, someone could have died trying to rescue this boy!!  It's infuriating to me, I can't imagine how the first responders must feel.

amiamish

Andrewsgal:

EliseB0323:

The parents could get felony charges and up to 6 years in prison, plus a fine up to $5000, plus the cost of the search, which could be more than $25K. In reality, they will probably have to pay for the search and get community service/probation. I think they should also be banned from ever appearing on another TV show.

Complete and utter idiots.

I heard that they used Norrad (sp?) to track the balloon which means we are talking in the millions, these people have no money. How will they ever pay it back? They won't!

they should at least have to try! What they did was so irresponsible and cost others money...

EliseB0323

Andrewsgal:

EliseB0323:

The parents could get felony charges and up to 6 years in prison, plus a fine up to $5000, plus the cost of the search, which could be more than $25K. In reality, they will probably have to pay for the search and get community service/probation. I think they should also be banned from ever appearing on another TV show.

Complete and utter idiots.

I heard that they used Norrad (sp?) to track the balloon which means we are talking in the millions, these people have no money. How will they ever pay it back? They won't!

Yeah, there's no way they can pay back millions of dollars and the authorities know it. What I heard is that they are looking to make them pay for the search helicopters and other expenses by the local authorities. Not the expenses of Federal officials or the cost of shutting down the airport, etc.

Andrewsgal

EliseB0323:

Andrewsgal:

EliseB0323:

The parents could get felony charges and up to 6 years in prison, plus a fine up to $5000, plus the cost of the search, which could be more than $25K. In reality, they will probably have to pay for the search and get community service/probation. I think they should also be banned from ever appearing on another TV show.

Complete and utter idiots.

I heard that they used Norrad (sp?) to track the balloon which means we are talking in the millions, these people have no money. How will they ever pay it back? They won't!

Yeah, there's no way they can pay back millions of dollars and the authorities know it. What I heard is that they are looking to make them pay for the search helicopters and other expenses by the local authorities. Not the expenses of Federal officials or the cost of shutting down the airport, etc.

I totally think they should have to pay as much as they can.

butterbeansmama

I called this when the story first aired and most people in that thread thought I was insane for thinking that. Hmmmmm.

I heard that when the charges are filed that the parents are just going to turn themselves in because they don't want to be arrested and handcuffed in front of there children. IMO, I think they should be arrested and handcuffed in front of there children so that there children realize and are shown that there is a consequence and punishement for illegal and bad behavior.

UBMyBaby

I have a pretty BS radar, and right when they "found" the kid in the attic, I said to DH, "I call PR stunt." 

They are total eccentrics, and those kids are already out of control from the clips I've seen of them flipping off people left and right.  Those parents deserve the entire sentence and huge fines.  They are so pathetic. 

How do people get so nutso?

hopefulmom

When the story first hit the TV I happened to be listening to the radio (and on the computer)....multi-tasking.  Anyway, a guy called in (it was news-talk radio) and said that because of the size of the "balloon" there is no way it could carry more than 8 lbs. so there is no 6 year old child inside.  He said maybe a small cat or tiny dog...but certainly no child.  He was a balloonist who called in.  So I knew when it finally "landed" there was no one inside and I'm sure many of the others there did too since basically all they did was hack it to pieces.  Umm...they obviously weren't afraid to hack the "child" that was supposed to be in it.  I had to laugh at the police standing around with hands on guns...like there was an alien going to come out of it.  I think they were more afraid that it might explode.

Because it could have been some type of bomb...the FBI and military were involved.  I doubt the couple would have to pay for that.  Same goes for the airport being shut down.  It was flying through airspace so they couldn't very well let planes go.