I saw that a while back and didn't think it was real.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/people/peppers.asp
We've got to keep praying for Dylan. I have a strong feeling that LE knows way more about his whereabouts than we are being told, and that they are telling us publicly that he is likely dead to keep his captor from running with him and/or killing him before Shasta can tell them where he might be. Until a body is found, we have to hang onto hope.