I think that the majority of the IR interview was focused on the trip, the people there, what he saw, etc. Consider this -
LE has stated that the parents are lying and their stories have been inconsistent. They have also said that GGP's accounts have been at least somewhat inconsistent, referencing "confusion" on his part. They have said that IR's statements have been "the most consistent". That would mean obviously that IR is telling a different story than JM, VDK and GGP. And they apparently have evidence indicating that JM and VDK are lying. So, that would indicate that LE believes IR is telling a version that is true, or at least "most true" out of all of them. Combine that with JM and VDK being named suspects and not IR, and that further supports that IR is telling the most accurate version of events. I think it is safe to conclude that JM, VDK and GGP are telling a different version of events than the one IR is telling.
IR's account is the most independent of them all, as all the rest are family and in regular contact with each other (presumably), and can contaminate each others accounts. GGP may have some memory issues, according to the sheriff, so if he's not really sure what happened and when, he might be somewhat suggestible and his version could easily be influenced by whatever JM, VDK and the rest of the family were telling him at the time. The sheriff said GGP gets frustrated when he doesnt remember and says yeah maybe it was like that.
IR says in the interview that he and GGP were friends. He says that he hasn't talked to GGP "all winter" and obviously implies that that is a change from the norm. When a person says that someone that is/was a friend has "changed", that is usually a negative thing in the eyes of the person saying it, because it implies that the person is now different from the way they were when they became friends, when there was something that attracted the two to each other and made them want to be friends. He also states this in a way that sounded to me like it was either GGP's decision or that because IR decided to tell what is undoubtedly the most accurate version of events, which is an obvious conflict and problem that would not allow them to be friends any longer.
IR said he hadn't heard from GGP all winter but he didn't really take any stance on whether GGP had heard from IR, whether he tried to call but GGP never replied or if neither one bothered to make contact. He said they used to go camping and fishing, did they normally do that during the winter?
Why would GGP and IR not be able to be friends any longer, as a direct result of what happened on that trip, keeping in mind that it is most likely evolving into a murder investigation, with JM and VDK being named suspects? And, depending on whether or not LE believe that GGP's discrepancies are the result of "confusion" or not, if (when, I think..) charges are brought against the parents, it is very likely that GGP may also be charged with some sort of accessory/obstruction charge. I think the most likely reason they have not spoken all winter is that IR is telling a different story, one that implicates at least JM and VDK, and GGP isn't happy about it.
I hope you're right and IR is going to be the star witness for the prosecution.
But even if GGP isn't consciously lying and isn't anticipating an obstruction charge, I don't think it's unusual that friendships change due to stressful life events . People who need extra oxygen tend to be in pretty bad shape and may not feel up to socializing much in the best of circumstances and GGP is elderly, lost a great-grandson, has had to deal with the police multiple times, and now his granddaughter is a suspect. The stress might have taken a big toll on his mental or physical well being , and dealing with friends or this particular friend who is a reminder of what went on on the trip might just be too much.
I think if he were talking about the way the public has treated him in a negative way, I don't think that "people change" would be the choice of words he'd use.
On the other hand, if he wasn't talking about the public, would he have used the words "the public"? He has no problem calling his friend Robert Walton when hes talking about him in other contexts.
In light of his correct use of the term, "skeptimistic", I believe he'd have been a bit more clear, if talking about the public, maybe saying that people's opinions of him changed without knowing the full story, which led to him being treated as someone who is guilty of something. And he never refers to any of the negative things that people said about him in the beginning, like, "Oh, IR is the mysterious friend.. he must be involved." Or that his privacy was invaded by people trying to dig up dirt on him. He doesn't say any of that, IIRC.
http://www.eastidahonews.com/2016/01/isaac-reinwand-i-had-nothing-to-do-with-deorrs-disappearance/
He mentions social media reactions in a roundabout way several times in this interview and Nate Easton brought it up explicitly, asking him several questions about people being suspicious about him.
He speaks about how his friendship with GGP "changed" and later stated that people "change" in the blink of any eye. And I cannot make the "until it's too late" fit in with him talking about how poorly the public has treated him either in person or on SM. What's it too late for? To reach 1000 Twitter followers? Too late he realized people have a negative view of him? Too late for what?
Maybe just an expression of general helplessness? It must have been quite a surreal, helpless situation. At one moment you're an unknown entity camping in the middle of nowhere and the next moment people are speculating about wild theories about you on the internet, and theres absolutely nothing you can do about it.
IMO, he really wants to tell his story, and is giving as much information as he can while still following his attorney and LE's instructions. And his story is obviously one that casts, if not direct blame, but at least a negative light on JM and VDK, and one that GGP doesn't support him telling.
I don't think it's fair to draw the conclusion that GGP doesn't support telling the truth when we have never seen him or heard him give any statement and the sheriff has never said he thought GGP was lying, only the parents. He might be up to his neck in it , but it's not obvious to me, based on the information we have. No doubt he is not happy that JM and VDK were named suspects but I need to at least see the man and read a couple of quotes from what he said before I can state that he is intentionally covering for a murderer, or worse.
