Father Faces Murder Charges in Decade-Old Disappearance
A Michigan man, long suspected in the mysterious disappearance of his three young sons back in 2010, has now been formally charged with their murders. John Skelton, 53, is facing three counts of murder and one count of tampering with evidence in connection with the deaths of his children, according to records from Lenawee County District Court.
A Thanksgiving Tragedy Unfolds
The brothers, 9-year-old Andrew, 7-year-old Alexander, and 5-year-old Tanner Skelton, vanished without a trace during a Thanksgiving visit with their father in 2010. The incident took place in Morenci, a small town located 100 miles southwest of Detroit near the Ohio border. At the time, Skelton and his wife, Tanya Zuvers, were experiencing marital problems and living apart.
The boys were supposed to be returned to their mother the day after the holiday. Instead, they were never seen again, sparking a massive investigation and countless searches across Michigan and Ohio that have continued for years.
Long Road to Justice
The new charges, filed on Wednesday, 13th November 2025, arrived just days before Skelton was due to be released from prison. He was serving a 15-year sentence for the lesser charge of failing to return the boys to their mother, which had been the only conviction in this heartbreaking saga until now.
Police investigators stated that Skelton repeatedly misled them with a series of false claims about his sons' whereabouts. He directed authorities to an old schoolhouse in Kunkle, Ohio, and a dumpster in Holiday City, Ohio, but these leads proved fruitless. Additional claims that he had handed the boys over to unnamed individuals for their safety were also determined to be completely false.
No Doubt About the Outcome
In March, a lead investigator on the case, Michigan State Police Detective Lt. Jeremy Brewer, testified at a hearing to have the boys declared legally dead. He stated he had “no doubt whatsoever” that Skelton was responsible for the brothers' deaths. During this emotional proceeding, Skelton declined to participate, stating via videoconference from prison, “Anything I say isn’t going to make a difference.”
Despite the extensive searches and national attention, the bodies of Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner have never been found. The prosecutor's office has not yet provided comment on the newly filed murder charges.
