Re: Gwen/Max
No. Not if there's even a possibility he'll come home safe. If that boy is alive - that there's a possibility he might be, they have to be certain of it. Even if you dredged the lake, you might not find a body. That mom, she'll be hurt if he turns up dead no matter when it happens. She'll be devastated. So part of it is her knowing everyone tried to heck to bring her boy home.
Because most people like to believe that the world revolves around them a little. That they're more important than eventualities. And facts don't necessarily convince emotions.