Robert Thomas Reveals Richard Heene's Balloon Boy Hoax on Gawker

Ground Report October 17, 2009

UPDATE: Larimer County is expected to file criminal misdemeanor charges against balloon boy father Richard Heene. Read more here.

25-year-old researcher Robert Thomas has come forward with proof that Richard Heene planned the balloon boy scare that capitivated the nation earlier this week, in a paid Gawker exclusive. Gawker has not yet disclosed the sum for Thomas' statement.

In a post titled, I Helped Richard Heene Plan a Balloon Hoax, Robert Thomas describes his experience working with Heene to pitch a science-focused reality TV show, including an orchestrated media event.

The stunt, described by Heene in his proposal, is eerily similar to this week's event:

We will capture the footage on film, and will utilize the media as a means with which to make our presence known to the masses. This will not only provide us with incredible footage, but will also generate a tremendous amount of controversy among the public, as well as publicity within the mainstream media. This will be the most significant UFO-related news event to take place since the Roswell Crash of 1947, and the result will be a dramatic increase in local and national awareness about The Heene Family, our Reality Series, as well as the UFO Phenomenon in general.

After watching the television coverage, Robert Thomas said he thought to himself:

"Wow, Richard is using his children as pawns to facilitate a global media hoax that's going to give him enough publicity to temporarily attract A-list celebrity status and hopefully attract a network."

For more evidence that the balloon boy chase was a hoax, read GroundReport's Was Balloon Boy Chase a Hoax?