Internet sleuths and family alike were rocked this week after two explosive clips from self-proclaimed insider “Derwood” hit the web, claiming he knows where Jack and Lily Sullivan have been all along—and it’s not the First Nations reserve most people assumed.

In a June 19 upload on the “Clutch Them Pearls” channel, Derwood asserted the children couldn’t possibly be on the reserve: “The council’s on the reservation will not take those risks.” But just one day later, in a follow‑up clip, he reversed course entirely — insisting “The kids are safe… being protected by the native community. Probably not the native community in Shubanaki… maybe not even in Canada… It’s ironclad. 1,000%.”

These wildly inconsistent statements triggered a full-blown family feud. Biograndmother Belinda Gray reportedly contacted the reserve chief—who was reportedly angered by the insinuations and defended the community’s stance. Meanwhile, Janie McKenzie (step-grandmother) publicly criticized Belinda’s sudden urgency to find the children after years of no contact, and slammed Derwood’s credibility for fueling the rift.

The fallout continued as Janie mused over who truly knows the children’s whereabouts—and whether the dispute is heading toward court. “If you don’t hear it from the horse’s mouth, stop listening to the ask-who-told-you,” she challenged skeptics online. The drama has split family lines and left watchers wondering: Is anyone telling the whole truth—or is Derwood merely stirring chaos?

With accusations of doxxing, backtracking testimony, and legal threats emerging, the focus has shifted from rescue mission to lawsuits. The Sullivan mystery has taken a perilous turn into family infighting, raising a troubling question: with so many voices clamoring for attention, are Jack and Lily’s chances of being found slipping away?

Stay tuned as we pore through the drama—but one thing’s clear: the louder these squabbles grow, the more the children’s safety fades from view.

Internet Sleuths, Family Drama, and a YouTube Insider: The Sullivan Case Spirals Into Chaos

The already tangled case of missing siblings Jack and Lily Sullivan has entered a volatile new phase—one that now includes viral conspiracy theories, bitter family divisions, and a social media circus pulling focus away from what should be the central priority: finding the children.

At the center of the storm is a man who calls himself “Derwood,” a self-proclaimed insider whose explosive video posts on the “Clutch Them Pearls” YouTube channel have triggered both public frenzy and private family fallout.

In a video uploaded June 19, Derwood confidently dismissed popular speculation that the children were hidden on a First Nations reserve, declaring, “The council’s on the reservation will not take those risks.” But in a stunning reversal less than 24 hours later, he contradicted himself completely, claiming: “The kids are safe… being protected by the native community. Probably not the native community in Shubanaki… maybe not even in Canada… It’s ironclad. 1,000%.”

The internet lit up with questions. Was Derwood blowing smoke—or did he actually know something real? Why the sudden change in narrative? And most urgently: where are Jack and Lily?

The ripple effects of Derwood’s statements went far beyond Reddit threads and TikTok reaction videos. They ignited a bitter family feud that had long been simmering beneath the surface. Belinda Gray, the children’s estranged biological grandmother, reportedly reached out directly to Shubanaki’s tribal chief to inquire about the children. According to sources close to the council, the chief was incensed at the suggestion, calling the accusations baseless and deeply disrespectful.

“Dragging sovereign communities into baseless internet conspiracies is not only irresponsible — it’s dangerous,” a tribal representative said in a statement, defending the community’s reputation and flatly denying any knowledge or involvement in the children’s disappearance.

Meanwhile, Jack and Lily’s step-grandmother, Janie McKenzie, unleashed her frustration online, questioning both Derwood’s credibility and Belinda’s sudden re-entry into the search. In a scathing Instagram story that has since been screen-recorded and circulated widely, Janie said, “You can’t be MIA for years and then show up screaming with a YouTube theory in hand and expect everyone to applaud. These kids need calm, not chaos.”

The war of words didn’t end there. Janie went further, hinting that some family members might be using the case to pursue their own agendas. “If you don’t hear it from the horse’s mouth,” she warned, “stop listening to the ask-who-told-you.” Her cryptic phrasing seemed to call out not only Derwood, but also those she believes are amplifying misinformation for clout.

All the while, Derwood has doubled down, promising “more drops soon” and teasing “shocking information” in upcoming livestreams. But he has yet to provide any verifiable details or law enforcement corroboration. Critics have labeled him a “grifter,” an “opportunist,” and, increasingly, a “distraction.”

Unfortunately, the Sullivan case is now tangled in something far more than a missing persons investigation. As YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok users dissect every frame of Derwood’s videos, real-life implications are setting in. The family is reportedly exploring legal options against Derwood for alleged defamation and doxxing, while his supporters claim he’s being silenced for “speaking uncomfortable truths.”

The online frenzy is bleeding into official channels. A spokesperson for the Cedar Falls Police Department, speaking anonymously, expressed frustration: “Every time a new theory goes viral, it takes resources away from where they’re actually needed. We have to chase down leads that end up being based on internet fiction. It’s exhausting, and it’s slowing progress.”

What was once a unified search effort has now devolved into a media spectacle. Family members who initially stood together at press conferences are no longer speaking. Allegations of hidden agendas, custody motives, and media manipulation are flying in every direction. Meanwhile, the children’s faces — once plastered on posters and rallying cries — are getting lost in the noise.

Experts in child abduction warn that this kind of attention spiral can be dangerously counterproductive. “When the focus shifts from the facts to personal drama, public attention becomes diluted,” says Dr. Leah Romero, a criminologist specializing in missing child cases. “It becomes about who’s fighting with whom, not about who took the children or where they might be.”

And yet, the spectacle rages on.

The tragedy is compounded by the absence of clarity. Every new claim — whether it’s about a secret safehouse, a mystery car, or a hidden motive — muddies the waters. Every clickbait headline, every viral video, every emotional post, pushes public discourse further from the heart of the matter: two children are missing, and time is running out.

What’s perhaps most troubling is the real possibility that if Jack and Lily are alive and being hidden — by anyone — these social media theatrics might be giving their captor(s) more time, more distraction, and more ways to manipulate the narrative. If someone is planting false trails or feeding Derwood fabricated information, it’s working. The focus is fractured, and the family is splintering.

Whether Derwood is a con artist, a misguided tipster, or someone closer to the truth than anyone realizes remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that this public saga is no longer just about Jack and Lily Sullivan. It’s about who controls the story. And in that battle, the children’s safety has tragically become a footnote.

The clock is ticking. But with lawsuits looming, family members turning against each other, and YouTube influencers profiting from every twist, the question grows more urgent by the day:

Is anyone actually looking for Jack and Lily anymore?

Or has the circus taken over the search?