I hate to say this, but you have to suspect the parents. If something happened to them, this is one way you could cover it up.
Not saying that happened, but you have to consider it.
Murder your son, then launch a balloon in air and claim the kid is inside knowing that the cops and media will find it empty and assume the tyke fell out somewhere and got stuck in a tree? I guess stranger things have happened.
You went further than I thought; I was of the mind they may have wanted publicity.
God forgive me if the kid did fall out and I thought that.
It just seemed strange not to have anyone talking to the parents (maybe just my coverage), freaked out or not.