IONIA, Mich. – In a stunning development nearly 15 years after the disappearance of the Skelton brothers, Michigan authorities have charged their father, John Skelton, with three counts of open murder and three counts of tampering with evidence. The case, which has haunted the state since 2010, remains one of Michigan’s most heartbreaking unsolved mysteries.
The new charges come just two weeks before Skelton’s scheduled release from prison, where he has been serving time for unlawful imprisonment connected to his sons’ disappearance.
A Decade and a Half of Unanswered Questions
Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner Skelton were just 9, 7, and 5 years old when they vanished from their father’s home in Morenci, Michigan, over the Thanksgiving holiday in November 2010. The boys were supposed to be returned to their mother, Tanya Zuvers, on November 26, but never were.
Police later traced John Skelton’s phone traveling roughly 25 miles southwest into Ohio that morning before returning home to Michigan. Despite exhaustive searches and national attention, the children’s remains have never been found.
A judge officially declared the brothers dead in March 2025, citing the length of their disappearance but noting there was previously insufficient evidence to pursue homicide charges. That changed this week.
“It has been fifteen long years since our three boys — Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner — went missing,” the family said in a statement. “This latest development has left us shocked and heartbroken all over again. Our priority has always been finding out what happened to them and seeking justice.”
Timeline of the Investigation
John Skelton, now 53, was convicted in 2011 of unlawful imprisonment and sentenced to 10–15 years in prison after authorities determined he had taken the boys under false pretenses and refused to disclose their location.
He was initially eligible for parole in 2020, but the Michigan Parole Board denied his release. His scheduled release date had been November 29, 2025—almost exactly 15 years to the day since the boys vanished.
Instead, on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, prosecutors filed new murder and evidence-tampering charges, ensuring Skelton remains incarcerated at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Ionia, Michigan.
If convicted, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Custody Dispute and Conflicting Stories
The disappearance occurred during a bitter divorce and custody battle between Skelton and Zuvers. Investigators say Skelton had been granted visitation rights over the holiday but never returned the boys.
Over the years, Skelton has offered multiple and conflicting explanations, claiming he handed the children over to an “underground organization” to protect them from alleged abuse by their mother — allegations that authorities and Zuvers have strongly denied.
At various points, Skelton’s account included references to religious sects or Amish groups, though no evidence has ever supported these claims. Investigators have repeatedly emphasized that they have no indication the boys are alive.
“For more than a decade, we’ve lived with pain, unanswered questions, and the constant hope that one day we might learn the truth,” the Skelton family said. “We ask for privacy and respect as we await further information from law enforcement.”
Ongoing Search for Answers
Despite the murder charges, Michigan State Police say the case remains active, and investigators are still seeking information that could help locate the brothers’ remains.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children continues to feature the Skelton brothers on its list of long-term missing cases, using age-progression photos to show what they might look like today.
Anyone with information about the case or the boys’ possible whereabouts is urged to contact the Michigan State Police at 517-636-0689 or NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST.
As the legal process moves forward, the small community of Morenci — and families across Michigan — continue to hold out hope that justice for Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner may finally be within reach.
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