You know, we can always look 20/20 in hindsight at a situation and say: all of this commotion for nothing? But, at the time, you go with the best information you have.
And for the people accusing the parents of a hoax, the sheriff stated the parents were obviously, visibly, distraught.
They were described by folks on "wife swap" as "nut cases"
Just glad the kid is alive, but the whole thing was getting weird!