Young couple goes on van tour of US, boy comes back with van - no girl

We were having this dicussion at work the other day.
What you would do if you were his parents. Unless you have been in that situation, it is hard to say I would do x. I think its in a parents nature to try to protect their children, even when things like this happen. Does it excuse them of being shirty people, nope. But it does show human nature. On the show I Almost Got Away With it, the mom usually helps the fugitive out in some way, even if its minor like giving them a few bucks or just not telling police they had seen or talked to them.
Like i said its a shirty thing to do, and isn't an excuse.
Not saying they did any of this, just a rambling.