Jason Barclay is one of the most enigmatic figures in the case, partly because he died before anyone could investigate him systematically and partly because whatever role he may have played in events remains entirely speculative.

The specific details that have focused suspicion on Jason are limited but troubling.

The sighting: three months after Nicholas’s disappearance, Jason called police to report that he had seen Nicholas trying to break into the family garage in the middle of the night — and that Nicholas had run away when he was spotted.

Police investigated and found no trace of Nicholas.

The sighting was never confirmed.