BACK in 2009, Richard and Mayumi Heene were the masterminds behind a devious deception involving their son Falcon.
They told authorities that the six-year-old floated away in a silver helium balloon shaped like a UFO — here’s everything you need to know.
Who Are Richard & Mayumi Heene?
Richard and Mayumi Heene were the couple at the center of the infamous “Balloon Boy” hoax that captivated the world in October 2009.
The Heenes claimed their six-year-old son Falcon floated off in a homemade, helium-filled silver balloon shaped like a flying saucer in Fort Collins, Colorado.
On October 15, 2009, Richard and Mayumi alerted authorities and the media, stating that their son Falcon was trapped inside the runaway balloon.
The balloon drifted for nearly two hours and covered roughly 70 miles before landing northeast of Denver International Airport, with millions watching the spectacle unfold on live broadcast.
When the balloon was finally recovered, Falcon was not inside.
Authorities launched a frantic search, fearing he had fallen out.
Falcon was later discovered hiding in the attic of the family’s home, safe and unharmed.
Balloon boy lie unravels
Suspicion quickly arose about the authenticity of the parents’ story, especially after a CNN interview in which Falcon.
When asked why he was hiding, the then six-year-old said: “You guys said that — we did this for the show.”
Investigations swiftly determined that the Heenes had orchestrated the incident to draw media attention and increase their prospects of securing their own reality TV show.
The couple previously appeared on Wife Swap, while Richard had pitched several reality TV concepts, including one about investigating scientific mysteries.
Legal consequences
Both parents eventually confessed to their roles in the hoax.
Richard pleaded guilty to attempting to influence a public servant — he was sentenced to 90 days in jail and ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution.
Mayumi pleaded guilty to false reporting and received a 20-day weekend jail sentence.
The couple also faced eight years of probation and were required to perform community service.
Motivation behind the stunt
Richard is described as a self-styled inventor, storm chaser and aspiring reality TV personality.
He met Mayumi, originally from Japan, at an acting school in Hollywood, and they married in 1997.
The couple ran a film-editing business and were known for their eccentric pursuits, including storm chasing and UFO hunting, often involving their three sons — Falcon, Bradford and Ryo.
Aftermath
Despite their guilty pleas, the Heenes have maintained their innocence, claiming they were pressured to confess under threat of Mayumi’s deportation.
In 2020, Colorado Governor Jared Polis pardoned both Richard and Mayumi Heene.
The family has relocated to Florida.
Trainwreck: Balloon Boy
A documentary directed by Gillian Pachter revisits the notorious 2009 Balloon Boy hoax.
The film is part of the Trainwreck anthology series, which explores headline-grabbing disasters and media frenzies from around the world.
Episodes of Trainwreck started dropping on Netflix on June 10, 2025, with Balloon Boy available for streaming from July 15.
