Parents of ‘balloon boy’ pardoned by Colorado governor

Colorado Gov. Jared polisJared Schutz PolisSouth Carolina Governor Tests Positive For COVID-19 After Wife Diagnosed 20% of U.S. Prisoners With COVID-19: Research COVID-19: Where Are The Prisoners? MORE (D) on Wednesday pardoned the parents of the so-called “balloon boy” hoax in 2009 in which they claimed their 6-year-old son flew in a homemade helium balloon.

Polis said in a statement that the couple had “paid the price in the public eye” and did not deserve to have a criminal record for the rest of their life, according to the Associated Press.

Richard and Mayumi Heene told authorities in 2009 that their son flew away in a silver helium balloon shaped like a UFO.

Their demands briefly gripped the country, prompting an immediate response from dozens of emergency responders, including two Colorado National Guard helicopters, who attempted to rescue the boy supposedly trapped in the balloon as he floated in. the sky on national television.

Their son was eventually found safe at their home in Fort Collins. According to the AP, authorities accused the couple of organizing the event for the purpose of advertising the reality TV shows they wanted to feature. The couple had previously appeared on the “Wife Swap” reality show.

Richard Heene served a month in prison after being convicted of a felony of attempting to influence an official. Mayumi Heene spent 20 days in jail for filing a false report and the couple were sentenced to $ 36,000 in restitution.

In an interview with ABC News, the couple argued that the incident was not a hoax and that they did believe their son was inside the balloon.

The couple were part of 16 pardons and four commutations issued by Polis.