Just to play the devil's advocate here...
Had the two boys turned themselves in, Pony (and possibly Soda) would probably have been taken into custody and removed from the care of Darry. Johnny would probably have been released into the care of his parents, who would have beaten him for causing them trouble. The two boys would have been charged with some form of murder or manslaughter; perhaps this charge would have been overturned if Cherry and/or Randy decided to tell the truth. However, Randy may not have chosen this path if he was immediately questioned by the police; he and Cherry only decided to tell the truth after Pony and Johnny became heroes by saving the children from the church fire.
If they had turned themselves in immediately, Pony and Johnny (and Dallas) wouldn't have become heroes; nor would the kids at the church been in danger since it was Pony and Johnny's carelessness which caused the fire in the first place. Johnny would not have been injured, and Dallas would not have felt the need to choose suicide by cop.
In retrospect, of course the two boys should have turned themselves in, and any responsible adult would have suggested as much. Johnny and Dallas would have lived much longer lives, and Ponyboy would have been much happier living without the additional notoriety.
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