I've read every thread but it's been so long, apologies if this has been discussed (I'm sure it has).
I can't stop thinking that GGP did see DeOrr follow his parents, and at that point is when something happened. IR had maybe walked out of sight and didn't see what happened (I don't think he knows). JA and VDK freak out, hide DeOrr, blame GGP and try to make him feel guilty for "not watching him" - maybe to take some of the blame off themselves, or maybe so he won't ask too many questions. They hide DeOrr while they "search". Then the differences in the story start coming out because no one really knows the real story and what they were told is confusing (JA and VDK can't keep their story straight). They may also all feel like they could get in trouble for hiding parts of the truth, but I also don't believe that they thought this would get as big as it has.
So my question is .. How fast was the water where they went fishing? Is there any possibility of DeOrr falling in, them not noticing, drowning, but then being able to recover him and deciding to hide it because of negligence?