Forest Boy is a Hoax

Many of you may not remember me talking about this.  It was my second or third week working here and the Weird News From Across the Pond was about a boy who claimed he was living in the German forest with his dad for 5 years and ended up wondering into Berlin.  He claimed he had no idea who he was or where he came from.  Here is my original blog post from Sept.  In that post I said I hoped this wasn't a hoax.  Too many people were involved and spent too much time on who this boy is and where he came from. 

Now, nine months later, after most of us forgot about this "forest boy," we have our answer and it's very disappointing.  The boy, who called himself Ray, is actually a 20 year old from the Netherlands named Robin van Helsum.  His stepmother and friends positively identified him from the pictures German police put out to international missing persons links.  The German Police are very disappointed with the situation.  A spokes person said, "This is no joke anymore, He made right fools of us."  The boy could have to pay up for his prank and cover the cost of living at the social services for the past nine months and the extensive investigation to find out who he really is.

ABC's Good Morning America had more on the story.

I'm always up for a good prank but not when it involves people who could be spending their time helping people in real need.  Once the police, fire department, or other public offices get involved it's time to come clean and let those people get back to work that matters.  If this were a younger boy, maybe 12 or 13, I'd be more understanding but this "forest boy" is a 20 year old and a young man.  He should know what's too far.  He should be punished and have to cover the costs of his inconvenience.  But if things in Europe are anything like they are in the US, "Forest Boy" will be on the next "Road Rules" or "Survive."