Balloon boy mom’s interviews contradict husband’s claim he believed son was in balloon
By APSaturday, January 23, 2010
Balloon boy mom’s interviews contradict husband
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The mother of the 6-year-old boy purported to be in a runaway balloon in Colorado repeatedly told authorities it was all a publicity stunt, contradicting what her husband told media before he reported to jail.
The video interviews obtained by the Fort Collins Coloradoan newspaper show Mayumi Heene telling sheriff’s officials that the Oct. 15 event was a hoax that she and her husband orchestrated.
Mayumi Heene pleaded guilty to filing a false report, and her husband, Richard Heene, pleaded guilty to attempting to influence a public servant. He began serving a 30-day jail sentence Jan. 11. His wife will serve a 20-day sentence after him.
Richard Heene told The Associated Press before reporting to jail that he truly believed his son was in the balloon but pleaded guilty to prevent his wife from being deported to Japan.
Information from: Fort Collins Coloradoan, www.coloradoan.com
