October 2009 will forever be remembered in infamy for bringing us the
'Balloon Boy' hoax scandal that played out for days in the national
press. And now, the flying saucer can be yours for just $1 million.
The Heene Family made headlines when their local Fort Collins, CO authorities were notified that a homemade helium balloon device had floated away with the family's six-year-old son Falcon inside of it.
Police and other emergency officials -- as well as camera crews -- followed the balloon to a nearby field to hurriedly rescue the boy. However, Falcon was nowhere to be found.
As it turns out, Falcon was safely hidden at home in what was revealed to be a hoax.
Richard Heene, the father of the family, pleaded guilty to a felony and was sentenced to 90 days in jail for his crime. His wife Mayumi Heene was also sentenced to 20 days in jail.
CNews reports that the family has decided to sell the balloon for Japan relief efforts. The family's website says that the transaction is being handled by a California attorney in a trust account to ensure that the funds arrive at their proper destination.