Washington ( CNN ) -- The wife of a Colorado father at the center of the `` balloon boy '' saga told authorities that the giant helium balloon was specifically created for a hoax to draw media attention , according to court documents released Friday . Mayumi Heene told Larimer County investigators that she and her husband , Richard Heene , knew that their 6-year-old son , Falcon , was hiding at their Fort Collins home the entire time , even as police and military scrambled to search for the boy , according to the documents . The admission by Mayumi Heene was made October 17 , just two days after the balloon was released , according to the documents . The Heenes initially told authorities that they believed their child had flown away on the balloon , and when the balloon landed without him , they expressed concern that he may have fallen out of the device . The couple hatched the plan about two weeks before the incident and `` instructed their three children to lie to authorities as well as the media regarding this hoax , '' according to the documents . Their motive ? To `` make the Heene family more marketable for future media interests . '' Calls to David Lane , Richard Heene 's attorney , and Lee Christian , Mayumi Heene 's attorney , were not immediately returned Friday . Richard and Mayumi Heene are each facing a number of local charges , including conspiracy , contributing to the delinquency of a minor and attempting to influence a public servant , Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said Sunday . Lane has said that the sheriff was overreaching and that the family deserve the presumption of innocence . The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating the incident . Richard and Mayumi Heene met in a Hollywood acting school and pursued fame for their family in the world of reality TV , Alderden has said . The Heenes have appeared on the ABC program `` Wife Swap . '' Richard Heene also chases storms , brings his family along and takes videos . TLC , which produces the show `` Jon & Kate Plus 8 , '' said the Heenes had `` approached us months ago '' about a possible show , `` and we passed . ''
Mayumi Heene says she and husband knew 6-year-old was safe during scare . They told authorities child might have blown away inside giant balloon . Couple told children to lie to authorities and media , document says .