'Balloon boy' drama was staged, sheriff says Millions suspected it. And on Sunday, authorities confirmed it. That free-floating homemade balloon that a tearful Colorado family said might contain their 6-year-old son was not a strange accident. It was a hoax. The "aha!" moment that led authorities to realize what had happened was an interview with the family Thursday night on CNN's "Larry King Live," Sheriff Jim Alderden of Larimer County said- I knew it! as soon as i heard that this faimly was on wife swap I knew they were just looking for another 15 mins of fame. fullstory-http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/18/colorado.balloon.investigation/index.html