Update: Charges are being pursued this morning in Colorado against the Heene family. Below is an update on what led to this action.
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WARNING: DISTURBING LANGUAGE
It is disturbing as a parent to post a video like this. One of these boys is only six years old. However, I feel the children in this situation are likely pawns in a very, very gross situation. Whether this is "proven" to be a hoax or not, I find the underlying environment more alarming than the media being duped for 3 hours.
We have just been given a glimpse inside a family which seems to have an open-ended view of raising children which includes dangerous storm chasing, flagerent language, and low-level violence as a mainstay of family life. Of course, this is America, and thankfully we have our freedoms to do as we wish. However, is it possible these children are being put in harms way for publicity, or worse, their parents don't realize this isn't a good idea?
I get most of my news from C-Span (I know, I'm boring) and several Internet sources. My husband told me about this story yesterday afternoon while we passed in the hall, and because it was a story about a family interested in weather science, my mind flashed on this horrible episode of "Wife Swap" we watched while staying in a hotel this winter while our home was being repainted (I swear - I was bored).
Last night I was concerned enough to flip on the local news. To my amazement, there was this family! My husband thought I had turned psychic on him; I told him it was natural because I watch so little TV therfore they were fresh on my mind. The father made us both angry, the way he treated the "other wife" and encouraging his children to swear. The title of the show is horrible, and I wouldn't ordinarily watch it, but the psychology behind it was very interesting. I know, I know, I sound like I'm making excuses for watching; I probably am.
Anyway, I feel for these kids. I really do. I truly hope my gut is wrong on this one...
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Authorities lied to the media once the admission by Falcon Heene came out to the world on CNN's Larry King Live that, ""You guys said we did this for the show." Sheriff Jim Alderden of Larimer County, wanting to keep the trust of the Falcon family, originally claimed they had no reason to believe the incident was a hoax. On Sunday, he recanted, saying their statement to the media Friday was purposeful and after the admission on Larry King, "it became very clear to us at that point that they were lying."
Robert Thomas worked with Richard Heene as a research assistant last spring for about two months. Authorities will be questioning him soon; in the meantime he wrote a story and sold it to Gawker.com. He stated he was mostly a stenographer for reality TV show ideas rather than an assistant, explicitly writing a "balloon idea", although it did not include a child in the scenario. He also revealed Richard believed it would be easy to cook up, "a media stunt that would be equally profound as Roswell, and we could do so with nothing more than a weather balloon and some controversy."
This morning, the national networks were airing the family's attorney who stated he asked authorities to advise him when his clients are charged so they could turn themselves in without incident to avoid the attention of the media and to protect their children. As this is the natural consequence when you lie and break the law, I believe seeing their parents arrested may be the best lesson these boys could have. The sheriff said all three of the Heenes' sons knew of the hoax, but likely won't face charges because of their ages. The oldest son is 10. Although, I agree with the attorney somewhat on the media point, claiming to be concerned about "child abuse" now is crying wolf at this point.
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Great overview below on the overall event, from the media involvement to the case the sherrif's office is trying to bring against the Heene's.
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Comments
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@Cartouche - Way beyond...
@nofrillsDEVILmonkey - one internet site said CPS may be involved, but who knows. This may be a backwards blessing of sorts...I hope.
Rated!
Teeheehee. Mars Civilizations!! :)
@Andy - I hear you. I am fascinated with what "nuts" the parents are on both the show and then...this video. Anyway, what can I say. I hope the "hoax" story goes away and they stay on the CPS radar.
@Tink - thanks for coming by. Slow news day indeed...
this guy is about as much of a scientist as I am a space shuttle pilot. The parents are attention whores and they are raising the kids to be the same way. IMHO. Their 15 minutes are up, but Id like to see those kids in 15 years.
@Hope - I know.
@Janelle - I agree x infinity.
@Emma - I know - I did the same. I can't wait to see this come out, it was really eerie for me to have known it was him before I saw any news coverage - that's how much his behavior stuck with me. The wife was just "checked out" from reality. He is a classic narcissist bordering on delusional/sociopath behavior (putting his children in harm's way for his own gain). I recognized the behavior from my professional profiling, and am so thankful to see this family being reigned in.
@Stellaa - Well, hopefully, we will get some good out of a bad situation. I'm not sure the media could have done too much different. Like you, many were questioning the validity of a child being "held" in that. But, if they didn't cover it, and a child was there, they would certainly have missed the "Baby Jessica" type story. And, their continual pursuit of this is leading to arrests, the pressure stayed on. Maybe that is a win instead of a loss?
Did anyone ever figure out where the boy really was for those five hours? Apparently the Sheriff doesn't think he was really in the attic all that time.
I'm still interested in how the Sheriff's Department also punked us.
As far as the media goes, really, they can't win. They're criticized if they don't cover a story, and criticized if they do. Knowing some of the people behind the scenes at some of these major outlets, I know it's an issue. Just mention #cnnfail sometime.
Yes, the sheriff's office did punk us. However, if I were in their shoes, I would do the same thing. Often these tactics are used, it just isn't in the general public's purview. I think where they are getting dangerous is digging for charges to level. Because they have put their reputations on the line in a public venue (even if it is normal practice), they have drawn attention to themselves and you can be sure the Henne's attorney is going to after ever perceived glitch. The media is a double edge sword in this situation now.
@Dave - thanks! Yes..it would seem it was pretty big news Friday and now that it is a hoax we'll see what comes of it.
I don't hive a TV since digital became news.
I hope children in a first U-Tube go to Yale.
Then they can be itching with poison ivies.
Maybe they can anchor Fox pornography?
Let's take up a collection? I have a Windy?
A Windy coupon? Halve half/price Frosty!
The coupon is better than Harvard's MDs!
The children in the clip need a educations!
I'll send a glass of chocolate milk and fries!
I need to buy a TV? Maybe chew Red Mule!
apologies.
I come and go.
Life is a dream.
I sell my gadget.
Blogs are goofy.
@Jeannette - Definitely an excuse for parenting - I understand not wanting to bludgeon yourself with this story. I wouldn't either if I hand't heard the beginning of it.
@Karin - Me 2! I kept thinking, please let something positive come out of this for these children!!! I dearly hope so...it is gut wrenching to think all of those moments were acting.
@devilgrrl - Right on. This thing was a loose cannon from the get go. It was just so gut-wrenching I can't stand it.
@Michael Rodgers - You're right. My hope is they are seriously investigated for child endangerment and the kids get a chance at a better life; these parents are negligent on so many fronts. I really hope these children get a better chance at life.
@trig - too funny. Leave it to you to make it perfectly succinct.
@Beth - I know, huh? In some ways I wish my husband hadn't mentioned this to me, but on the other hand I'm thankful because it verifies I am good at what I do. I won't pickup watching the habit of watching the news again anytime soon though, it is just as disgusting as this damn story. I try to avoid it at all costs too...
but that's me. I lack compassion.
@NFDM - I think that is one myth of compassion, that you don't have accountability within compassion. I'm compassionate, but I still hold people accountable. I sense this about you...
@Byron - I know...and, when it is the parents who are the victimizers, it is the worse possible situation. It just adds to the complexity x1000. We'll put good ju ju out there for these boys (and for the best possible outcome in this situation.)