Well, your suspicions was right. The sheriff in that county has stated it is a hoax and he will be filing misdemeanor charges of a false police report on the family.
Since federal resources was used in the search and rescue, the sheriff is looking into possible felony charges in federal court.
I hope the nutcake gets a felony conviction, two years in prison, a fine of double the amount that the search and rescue cost. Might make the next idiot think twice of pulling a similar stunt and tying up all those resources.
RELH