a radical move, on anyone's part, .. considering he , Brian , actually had the real estate of Gabby, the van. If they believed Gabby was alive, they'd be concerned about accusations of theft, and whatnot.. fraud, etc....
But they knew she was not alive, because Brian had told them when he did his little hitchhike stuff into town to a phone, ...one could almost pinpoint Gabbys death by the time the Laundries stopped answering the phone.
It's a bit puzzling to report your son ' missing'.. and then close the door!!.. wierd.. you wouldn't see that in a hundred years. It is not what a parent who's child actually IS missing does.