FORT COLLINS — Colorado couple Richard and Mayumi Heene acted alone when they fabricated a story about their son floating off in a runaway balloon to gain publicity, sheriff’s officials said Monday.
Days after a 50-mile balloon chase captivated a global audience in October, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said investigators were examining the possibility of conspirators, which may have included media outlets.
On Monday, two days before the aspiring reality-TV stars were to be sentenced on charges stemming from the stunt, sheriff’s spokeswoman Eloise Campanella said the possibility of co-conspirators was not substantiated.
Police examined three computer laptops, several hard drives, video cameras and tapes seized from the Heene home in Fort Collins in their investigation.
At a sentencing hearing Wednesday, a judge will determine whether the Heenes owe restitution, and if so, how much.
