Hot Topic (10/18): Should CPS remove the Heene Children?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

Police: Child Protective Services Contacted about Balloon Boy

Copyright 2009 ABC

Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden told reporters Friday that although his department did not believe that Mayumi and Richard Heene were attempting a hoax in announcing their son had lifted away on a balloon -- the department planned to re-interview the family on Saturday and has contacted Child Protective Services about the family.

He said that Child Protective Services has been contacted, but that the agency was instructed not to contact the family until police re-interview the family first this weekend.

Sheriff Alderden said that the family will be interviewed again because of a comment made by Falcon, 6, on CNN's "Larry King Live." In the interview, when fill-in host Wolf Blitzer asked why the boy didn't come out of his hiding place when he was called, Falcon looked at both of his parents, and said, "You guys said we did this for the show." The comment increased the public's speculation that yesterday's balloon drama was a hoax.

The sheriff, however, stated that police believed the parents, saying, "We were convinced yesterday after talking to the parents, and having investigators on the scene, that the parents were being honest. They appropriately expressed statements...and emotions that were consistent with what was taking place."

"Our people didn't think this could be fake or was being faked," the sheriff also told reporters. He later added that he thought it "just seems inconceivable" that a "hyperactive" boy could be coaxed in such a way.

He also revealed that the Heene's first called the FAA, then a local news agency, and then 911.

Sheriff Alderden said investigators searched the Heene home three times and did not find Falcon, adding that reports that he was found in a box were erroneous.

If the incident is determined to be hoax, Alderden said the Heenes could face misdemeanor charges. "If there's criminal conduct, we certainly would seek restitution," he said.

Police officials say they still have three videos to review, including one taken by the family moments before the balloon took off.

As of last night news reports on CNN have the Sheriff stating they want to talk to Federal officials to see if they can come up with stronger charges. They expect criminal charges to be made. At this time locally, they can only charge them with a class 3 misdemeanor.

Do you think they should be removed from this household? Why or Why Not?

[CSRodriguez]

honestly  I can't believe they  took so long to get there

I am not CPS happy but obviously somone needs some parenting clases     How could you not keep track of all your kidlings when you have a   experimental aircraft  in the  back yard   ,  Especiallyif  said kidlings are boys !  

That is assuming this wasnt planned .    If it was they really suck at  parenting ! Just  set major bad examples in so many ways ,  but   with intervention could be redeemed . 

[mmtosam06]

Quoting CSRodriguez:

honestly  I can't believe they  took so long to get there

I am not CPS happy but obviously somone needs some parenting clases     How could you not keep track of all your kidlings when you have a   experimental aircraft  in the  back yard   ,  Especiallyif  said kidlings are boys !  

That is assuming this wasnt planned .    If it was they really suck at  parenting ! Just  set major bad examples in so many ways ,  but   with intervention could be redeemed . 

I agree i saw it posted in another group that the sheriff is gonna press charges against the dad

[CSRodriguez]

dad is an idiot   imo   Do you think mom knew ?   If I had that thing in my back yard . I know my kid would be wanting to mess with it 24/7. I would not  be comfortable going pee  cause I know how  fast   he can  get into chaos  

Quoting mmtosam06:

Quoting CSRodriguez:

honestly  I can't believe they  took so long to get there

I am not CPS happy but obviously somone needs some parenting clases     How could you not keep track of all your kidlings when you have a   experimental aircraft  in the  back yard   ,  Especiallyif  said kidlings are boys !  

That is assuming this wasnt planned .    If it was they really suck at  parenting ! Just  set major bad examples in so many ways ,  but   with intervention could be redeemed . 

 

I agree i saw it posted in another group that the sheriff is gonna press charges against the dad

[CODYSMOM_00]

yes, cps needs to take their kids. the parents are crazy!!!!! thay think their aliens!!!!

[momofcali3]

Please tell me your joking ladies. Thats their Dad!!! So what if he believes in UFOs and such, my mom does and goes out to the desert with her magic crystals, she does now and did it when we were children. People would not be who they were if we all had cookie cutter parents, different up bringings are what make people unique. These days people are so busy trying to be "normal", it sucks.

If it was a hoax, then fine, some people need to seek attention. Thats between him and the local shariff to press charges. But the children where not harmed. If CPS does have a concern about the aircraft then say so. But to take children away??? Thats nuts. Only if the children are in harms way, or being abused. 

[Mary0791]

Quoting momofcali3:

But the children where not harmed. If CPS does have a concern about the aircraft then say so. But to take children away??? Thats nuts. Only if the children are in harms way, or being abused. 

Unfortunately, it is not true that the children were unharmed.  If this was a hoax, he made his small child hide in an attic for hours while investigators searched his home & property.  He told the media that he didn't do this in front of the child who was probably confused as hell.  He woke the children up at an ungodly hour to appear to the media &, in interviews that were televised the poor kid threw up twice. 

 

These "unharmed" children were also witness to their dad's bizarre behavior on two episodes of WifeSwap.  The father repeatedly belittled the woman that he LET into his home.  He threw some drink on her & consistently acted like a butthead.  Yes, I know, you can't have your children taken away for acting a fool, but this man has some stability issues.  I could care less about his belief in aliens (to me it's no kookier than anything else people believe in) BUT if this was a hoax, it definitely had an effect on his kids. 

 

Also, CPS is required to investigate whenever a claim is made, whether they deem it proper or not.

 

[trippyhippy]

I definatley think they need to be looked into.  This was a hoax, I am 100% sure at this point as the sheriff stated last night that charges were about to be filed and the cops searched the home last night to find more proof.  Oh and the tiny detail of someone coming out and stating that he was there when the dad came up with the idea.

[BigOlMommy]

I saw their episode of Wife Swap a while ago & they were hilarious. The husband started out as a big jerk, & *surprise* ended up changing because of the show... or something, lol. I loved the wife, she was great.

Not sure if the kids should be taken away, I don't really think so. But I would need to do some more research before giving a definite answer.

[Dylansmom32509]

Their children were in harms way. Their had this balloon in there back yard without any thing that would prevent the children from coming in contact with it and if it ends up to be proven a hoax it would mean that the kid was forced to wait between rafters in the atic where he could of easily gotten hurt. Not to mention the fact that they did morning interview after morning interview when the little boy was puking and obviously not feeling good and it took Diane sawyer to get them to stop and take care of the kids.

Quoting momofcali3:

If it was a hoax, then fine, some people need to seek attention. Thats between him and the local shariff to press charges. But the children where not harmed. If CPS does have a concern about the aircraft then say so. But to take children away??? Thats nuts. Only if the children are in harms way, or being abused. 

[Jess.Jo.King]

I think the first step should be monitoring over them. Its to bad they can't put cameras or something in there to watch over their daily activies and see what type of parents they are. It's such a toss up for me personally!