John Skelton, father of missing Skelton brothers, charged with murder

Missing Skelton boys' father now charged with their murder

After about 14 years in prison, John Skelton is due to be released but new charges have been filed in the latest twist in the tragic Morenci mystery.

LENAWEE COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - John Skelton, the father of three Michigan boys who disappeared in 2010 and were never found, has been charged with murder.

Three counts of open murder and tampering with evidence were filed against John Skelton on Wednesday in Lenawee County, according to court records.

The charges come just weeks before he was set to be released from prison for unlawful imprisonment of his sons, Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner.

The backstory:

The boys – Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5, spent Thanksgiving with their father in Morenci, Mich. in 2010. Their mother, Tanya Zuvers, was supposed to pick them up from her ex-husband the next day.

However, she stopped hearing from John Skelton, so she went to his house. He wasn't home because he was at a hospital after he broke his ankle. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, he told hospital workers that he injured his ankle while trying to commit suicide.

Police were able to get into his home, where they found the house destroyed, but the boys weren't there.

John Skelton is accused of changing the story of where they were while he was at the hospital. He said they were with friends before telling investigators that the boys were given to an unknown woman. He also told police that he gave them to an underground group that would keep them safe.

Phone records helped police place John Skelton the day after his boys were last seen. He had been in Morenci early Nov. 26, 2010. According to Michigan State Police, he went to Ohio. His phone pinged him in Ohio about 20 miles from his home, was shut off, then pinged him back in Morenci about 2 hours and fifteen minutes after he left Michigan.

Search parties looked for the boys, but they haven't been found, and John Skelton hasn't told anyone where they actually are or if they are even still alive, aside from his stories of giving them to unknown people.

According to Zuvers, John Skelton previously "claimed that the boys would hibernate until they graduate." All three boys are now old enough that they would have graduated from high school.

Dig deeper:

Up until November 2025, John Skelton was never charged in connection with the disappearance of his sons. However, he was sentenced to 10-15 years in prison for unlawful imprisonment after pleading no contest to the charges.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Thanksgiving Day 2010 wasn't the first time John Skelton took the boys from Zuvers.

John Skelton was accused of taking the boys out of school two months before their disappearance. It is alleged that he said he was taking them on a trip to Florida, where his parents live.

John Skelton and Zuvers divorced after this, and Zuvers was granted custody of the boys, just before they disappeared.

Boys declared dead:

Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner were declared dead by a judge earlier this year after Zuvers requested such a decision. In Michigan, a person is typically considered to be dead after they have been missing for five years.

What they're saying:

The family released a statement in response to the charges.

"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."

Bill Barnwell, a criminal defense attorney, spoke to FOX 2 about the case.

FOX 2: "Do the new charges suggest new evidence here?"

"One would think that perhaps there could be new evidence, or it could just be new eyes on the file," Barnwell said. "The powers that be right now might be looking at this thing saying, 'Hey the previous administration should have charged this case, there was probable cause. Let the chips fall where they may, let's take this to a jury and let's see what happens.'"

FOX 2: "Do you think the case was hampered due to the fact that Michigan State Police wasn't investigating from the onset? Because Morenci has a very small police department."

"It's always more helpful when you have a larger operation investigating major crimes," he said. "If there are any problems with the investigation, I one hundred-percent guarantee you, the defense counsel is absolutely going to pick that apart."

The Source: Previous reporting and court records were used in this story.