GRRRR I just wrote out this whole long reply and it logged me out.
Anyway so hopefully this doesn't offend anyone but maybe this could lead in another direction?
Could there have been some sibling rivalry? The brother could have been jealous of JP's financial situation, career, or future career? It just seems odd to me, and I could have totally misread something, that the brother went to the unlocked apartment and waited around for about an hour without noticing it was "robbed". Also wouldn't it have thrown up a red flag if he didn't come back within a five minute period of time and left his doors unlocked because from what I understand it wasn't the safest area? I think there was said to be drugs, murders, and a high crime rate? I know personally living in a high crime area unless I'm running to the trash can that door is locked. Instead he waited around for an hour and then came back and told his mom there was no sign of him. Also, that "about an hour" gives him enough time to stage a "robbery", get rid of a body, clean up a mess from the night before, hide evidence.. etc.
The brother was also the one in the car with Justin when they found the missing car. It could have been just as easily the brother was leading or they were in it together? He was also the first one at the car so he could have easily staged something as well and Justin may have been in on it because he was "promised" something? Money, magic cards, keeping another secret? On the other hand though the first places I would check if my brother was missing would be his favorite places he frequented.
My other opinion could it be that maybe the family wasn't really as close as the mother says they were. Anyone who she's ever let come her and speak for her, as far as I can see, is an outsider to the family and only met them AFTER JP's disappearance. I haven’t seen anyone who actually knew them prior to the disappearance come out and speak for them?
Remembering back to when I was 18 I wanted nothing to do with my family. I was all about school, friends, my life, and my priorities. The fact that JP was pretty independent, lived on his own, was financially stable, could also mean that he was pulling away from his family. Maybe he held resentment for being made to leave his Hollywood life?
His brother could have easily “helped” him disappear because he was tired of the lime light, or maybe there were issues within the family? I perceived he was a rather intelligent 18 year old so he could have easily been putting away money to get away from the life he was living, and possibly unhappy with.
I personally highly doubt the fact that he disappeared but no stone should go unturned. I really feel as though he met with foul play, and I feel like the brother aspect was never looked into. There has to be a reason why the mother won’t allow people to get close, or release information as I said before. If it were my kid, sibling, spouse I’d be out there giving every piece of information to get some sort of closure to the case. Especially after 7 years without your child.. every stone would be turned over.
Does anyone know the age difference between JP and his brother?
I’m sorry if this offends anyone but I’m trying to look at it as a different point of view and the family really perplexes me on the lack of information. Now I’m going to end my rambling!