MORENCI, MI (WTVB) – It’s a story that captivated the nation fifteen years ago this Thanksgiving, and in a stunning development that has reignited hope for closure in one of Michigan’s most haunting cold cases, 53- year old John Skelton, has been charged with three counts of open murder and three counts of tampering with evidence in connection with the 2010 disappearance of his three young sons.
The boys 9- year-old Andrew, 7-year-old Alexander, and 5-year-old Tanner, vanished without a trace after spending Thanksgiving with their father in Morenci, amid a contentious divorce and custody battle with their mother, Tanya Zuvers.
Skelton, who was slated for release from Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in two weeks after serving a 10- to 15-year sentence for unlawful imprisonment, now faces life in prison if convicted.
Prosecutors in Lenawee County allege the offenses occurred on November 25, 2010, the last day the siblings were seen alive.
The charges come months after a Lenawee County judge declared the boys legally dead in March of this year, citing insufficient evidence at the time to link Skelton directly to their murders, though suspicions had long swirled around him.
Throughout the investigation, Skelton spun elaborate tales, claiming he handed the children to an underground adoption network to shield them from alleged abuse by their mother.
Cell phone records placed him driving 25 miles to Holiday City, Ohio around the time of the disappearance, prompting searches of local sites like an abandoned schoolhouse a dumpster and wooded areas.
The family released the following statement following the murder charges being filed Lenawee County District Court.
“It has been fifteen long years since our three boys – Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner- went missing. Throughout this time, our family has lived with unimaginable pain, unanswered questions, and the constant hope that one day we might learn the truth about what happened to them.
“Today, we have been informed that an arrest warrant has been issued for John Skelton, who has been incarcerated for the past fifteen years and was scheduled for release in just over two weeks. This latest development has left us shocked and heartbroken all over again.
“Our priority has always been – and continues to be – finding out what happened to Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner and seeking justice for them. We ask that the investigation be allowed to proceed thoroughly and without interference so that the truth may finally come to light.
“We also ask for privacy and respect during this incredibly difficult time as we process these devastating developments and await further information from law enforcement.
“We remain deeply grateful to all who have supported us, prayed for us, and kept our boys in their hearts over these many years.”
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