Re: ANDREW (9), ALEXANDER (7) & TANNER SKELTON (5) - Morenci, Michigan (USA) - 26/11/10

**Twiglet** Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:26 pm

Toledo Blade

18 March 2011

Judge sets trial date in Skelton divorce‎

The father of three missing Morenci boys appeared in Lenawee County Circuit Court Friday morning on issues in the divorce case filed against him by his estranged wife.

Judge Margaret Noe set a June 7 trial date on the divorce, with the issues of custody, parental time, and property to be addressed. John Skelton, 39, spoke briefly, asking the judge questions about property. He said he believes unspecified property that belongs to him was destroyed or taken from the East Congress Street home he once shared with his estranged wife, Tanya.

http://toledoblade.com/Courts/2011/03/18/Judge-sets-trial-date-in-Skelton-divorce.html

**Twiglet** Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:28 pm

Adrian Daily Telegram

18 March 2011

John Skelton to be his own lawyer in divorce trial‎

John Skelton agreed Friday he will represent himself in a divorce trial scheduled for June 7. He appeared in Lenawee County Circuit Court for a hearing in the pending divorce case that has taken a back seat to a criminal prosecution in the Thanksgiving disappearance of his three sons.

Skelton, 39, has been without an attorney in the divorce case since criminal charges were filed in December over the disappearance of the boys, Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5. An attorney who had represented him withdrew from the case at that time. A public defender was appointed for Skelton in the criminal case after he stated he had no money to hire a lawyer.

The unemployed truck driver has been in custody since the investigation began. He is currently held in the Lenawee County Jail in lieu of a $90 million bond.

http://www.lenconnect.com/news/x13285066/John-Skelton-to-be-own-his-lawyer-in-divorce-trial

**Twiglet** Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:30 pm

Detroit Free Press

19 March 2011

Morenci holds fund-raiser to boost effort to find 3 missing boys‎

Tanya Skelton thinks about her three missing sons all day, every day.

“I want to know where they are, what happened,” she said.

The Morenci community is supporting her in not giving up hope of finding out what happened to the three brothers, missing now for nearly four months.

A fund-raiser is being held this evening in the Morenci High School gym for the Skelton Brothers Reward Fund. Morenci Mayor Keith Pennington has said the fund was established to seek information that leads to the recovery of Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton — ages 9, 7 and 5, respectively — and information leading to the prosecution of those responsible.

Many donated items are being auctioned off, including NASCAR items, tickets for the Detroit Red Wings and Pistons, tools and handmade quilts.

http://www.freep.com/article/20110319/NEWS06/110319030/Morenci-holds-fund-raiser-boost-effort-find-3-missing-boys

**Twiglet** Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:32 pm

Toledo Blade

20 March 2011

Morenci tries to keep up hope for brothers' return‎

http://toledoblade.com/local/2011/03/20/Morenci-tries-to-keep-up-hope-for-brothers-return.html

**Twiglet** Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:34 pm

WWMT

24 March 2011

Weekend event raises $30000 to help find missing boys‎

People in Morenci are rallying behind the woman whose three sons disappeared on Thanksgiving Day.

A fund-raising event over the weekend raised $30,000 to go toward helping find the Skelton boys.

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/missing-1388689-boys-morenci.html

**Twiglet** Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:35 pm

Toledo On The Move

21 March 2011

Fundraiser gets $30K for search for missing Skelton brothers‎

http://www.toledoonthemove.com/neighborhood/story.aspx?id=595449

**Twiglet** Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:32 am

Adrian Daily Telegram

28 March 2011

June 3 preliminary hearing set for Skelton‎

A June 3 preliminary examination on kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges was set Monday in Lenawee County District Court for the father of three missing Morenci boys. Public defender John Glaser requested a date be set, although a final decision has not been made on whether to have an examination where prosecution witnesses would testify.

The examination request was done in writing, and John Skelton was not brought to district court Monday for a hearing scheduled at his March 11 arraignment on the added charges that carry up to a life prison term

http://www.lenconnect.com/news/courts/x1405313909/June-3-preliminary-hearing-set-for-Skelton

**Twiglet** Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:34 am

The Republic

28 March 2011

Preliminary examination set for Michigan father of 3 boys missing since Thanksgiving

A preliminary examination has been set for the southern Michigan man whose three young sons have been missing since Thanksgiving.

The June 3 exam on kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges was set Monday in Lenawee County District Court for John Skelton.

The 39-year-old Morenci man was not in court. Public defender John Glaser requested the hearing but a decision hasn't been made on whether prosecution witnesses would testify.

Skelton has said he doesn't know the whereabouts of 9-year-old Andrew, 7-year-old Alexander and 5-year-old Tanner, who were last seen with him. He previously was charged with parental kidnapping.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/750a8cd463f54d6a828e13d0934a9f15/MI--Boys-Search-Michigan/

**Twiglet** Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:35 am

WHTC

29 March 2011

Morenci Father Court Date Scheduled‎

http://www.whtc.com/news/articles/2011/mar/29/morenci-father-court-date-scheduled/

**Twiglet** Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:50 am

Adrian Daily Telegram

4 April 2011

Skelton fights sale of house, but judge says it can proceed‎

The Morenci home where John and Tanya Skelton once lived with their three sons is up for sale, despite his objection.

The father of the missing boys told a judge Monday he opposed a sale of the home proposed by his wife, claiming he would lose personal property he left there after the divorce action started last year.

John Skelton, 39, has been in jail since December on criminal charges stemming from the Thanksgiving disappearance of the couple’s sons, Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5. A $90 million bond has been set in the criminal case while the unemployed truck driver awaits a June 3 preliminary examination in Lenawee County District Court on kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges.

He was before Lenawee County Circuit Judge Margaret M.S. Noe on Monday for a motion to sell the couple’s home on East Congress Street in Morenci. The sale is intended to preserve joint assets, said Adrian attorney David McFarland, representing Tanya Skelton.

John Skelton told the court he objected to the motion, “Basically to obtain my own assets that were in the house.” He said some personal belongings were left in the house when he moved out.

http://www.lenconnect.com/news/x675816625/Skelton-fights-sale-of-house-but-judge-says-it-can-proceed

**Twiglet** Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:53 am

Toledo Blade

5 April 2011

Judge hears petition in Skeltons' divorce‎

Judge hears petition in Skeltons' divorce
Suspect in abduction of sons voices concern about belongings

Accused of abducting his three sons who are presumed dead, John Skelton's only concern on Monday in a divorce hearing was the fate of his personal belongings he said were left in the house he shared with the boys and their mother.

He told Judge Margaret Noe he didn't want his estranged wife, Tanya Skelton, to sell their former home on East Congress Street in Morenci, Mich., because of uncertainty about items he left there.

"You give my wife sole use of the house. There was no courtesy call after she got the property she wanted out of the house," Mr. Skelton said during the hearing in Lenawee County Circuit Court.

http://toledoblade.com/Courts/2011/04/05/Judge-hears-petition-in-Skeltons-divorce-2.html

**Twiglet** Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:54 am

The Republic

5 April 2011

Home where 3 missing southern Michigan boys lived for sale as part of divorce case

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/863136a07fa2416fb874582c0fbbd719/MI--Boys-Search-Michigan/

**Twiglet** Mon Apr 11, 2011 5:57 am

My Fox Detroit

5 April 2011

Home in Missing Skelton Boys Case for Sale‎

The southern Michigan home of man whose three young sons have been missing since Thanksgiving is up for sale despite his objections.

A Lenawee County Circuit Court judge on Monday decided that the home where Skelton and his wife Tanya once lived with the boys may be sold. John Skelton is representing himself in the couple's divorce case, which is scheduled for a June 7 trial. He says he'll lose personal property if the house is sold.

John Skelton says the Morenci home is at risk of foreclosure.

He has said he doesn't know the whereabouts of 9-year-old Andrew, 7-year-old Alexander and 5-year-old Tanner, who were last seen with him. The 39-year-old is charged with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment, and is jailed on $90 million bond.

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/home-in-missing-skelton-boys-case-for-sale-20110405-mr

**Twiglet** Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:47 pm

Adrian Daily Telegram

19 April 2011

August trial set over WDIV claim for Skelton search documents‎

A legal battle over keeping secrets in the investigation of three missing Morenci boys is not over.

A trial was set Monday in Lenawee County Circuit Court for Detroit television station WDIV’s lawsuit, seeking access to search warrant documents. Attorneys for WDIV have claimed documents involving a search of John Skelton’s home should be made public. A prosecutor asked to seal the documents “to protect the ongoing investigation and to protect the privacy of the victims.”

WDIV claimed police searched Skelton’s home on Nov. 30, several days after his three sons were reported missing by their mother, Tanya Skelton. The couple are divorcing and John Skelton later said he gave sons Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5, to an “organization” for protection.

Morenci police announced in February the investigation has been refocused from a missing persons case to a homicide case while efforts continue to locate the boys.

A dispute over keeping secret the results of a search of John Skelton’s home went to circuit court after District Judge James E. Sheridan denied WDIV’s requests.
An agreement was reached at a Dec. 28 hearing that district court and the Lenawee County Prosecutor’s Office would follow state law with respect to releasing search warrant documents.

On Jan. 6, Sheridan signed an order submitted by Prosecutor Jonathan Poer, sealing “any and all search warrant documents” for 180 days or until the conclusion of the investigation, “whichever first occurs.”

http://www.lenconnect.com/news/courts/x1225331529/August-trial-set-over-WDIV-claim-for-Skelton-search-documents

**Twiglet** Wed Apr 27, 2011 11:49 pm

Adrian Daily Telegram

23 April 2011

Court can suppress records in Skelton search dispute, attorney claims‎

State law is on the side of a Lenawee County District Court judge in a battle over keeping secrets in the investigation of three missing Morenci boys.

That argument was made by an attorney for the court in an answer filed Friday to a Detroit television station’s lawsuit seeking access to John Skelton search warrant documents. The suit was scheduled for an Aug. 2 trial during a hearing in circuit court on April 18. Judge Margaret M.S. Noe also set a Friday deadline for district court to file an answer to the lawsuit WDIV started in December.

http://www.lenconnect.com/news/x528724493/Court-can-suppress-records-in-Skelton-search-dispute-attorney-claims

**Twiglet** Mon May 09, 2011 8:39 am

WXYZ

4 May 2011

The family of three missing boys from Morenci keeps the faith‎
The boys' father still won't reveal their location

As the weather improves and Spring turns to Summer the family of three missing boys wants everyone in the area surrounding Morenci to be on the look-out.

The grandparents of Tanner, Alexander and Andrew, five, seven and nine, told Action News they are still hoping for a reunion but they understand the reality of the situation.

“We are praying to be reunited, whether that be now or in heaven, it’s what we pray for,” Beverly Zuvers, the boys’ grandmother told Action News.

Beverly Zuvers and her husband Don want property owners, campers and anyone traveling through Lenawee County and beyond to keep a careful watch. Although there have been no large organized searches recently, they say informal searches are taking place on a regular basis.

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/the-family-of-three-missing-boys-from-morenci-keeps-the-faith

**Twiglet** Mon May 09, 2011 8:41 am

Adrian Daily Telegram

4 May 2011

Family, friends of missing Skelton boys urge public to stay watchful‎

ANDREW (9), ALEXANDER (7) & TANNER SKELTON (5) - Morenci, Michigan (USA) - 26/11/10 - Page 9 Zzzz_s10

Don Zuvers holds up a poster of his missing grandsons Tuesday. At right is his wife, Bev.

Grandparents and friends of the three missing Skelton brothers spoke to the media on Tuesday evening in Morenci, urging the public to remain watchful for any sign of them as spring begins and announcing a community picnic.

There remains a reward of up to $60,000 for information leading to the return or recovery of Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton. The boys disappeared after their father, John Skelton, failed to return them to their mother, Tanya Skelton, on Thanksgiving Day.

http://www.lenconnect.com/features/x449046876/Family-friends-of-missing-Skelton-boys-urge-public-to-stay-watchful

**Twiglet** Mon May 09, 2011 8:43 am

Adrian Daily Telegram

5 may 2011

Detroit TV station says it has Skelton search warrant records‎

Search warrant documents obtained by a Detroit television station show what police took from John Skelton’s home in Morenci in the days after his three sons disappeared.

Among the items seized from the house were a noose made of white rope, a .22-caliber bullet, a Bible and Skelton’s will, according to the documents, many of which are hard to read. The bullet was found on a stairway, the noose in the upstairs part of the house, the Bible on a living room table and the will in Skelton’s dresser.

The list did not say if the bullet was spent or not.

Skelton tried to hang himself the day after Thanksgiving. His boys, Andrew, Alexander and Tanner, were last seen at his home on Thanksgiving.

http://www.lenconnect.com/news/courts/x173158663/Detroit-TV-station-says-it-has-Skelton-search-warrant-records

**Twiglet** Mon May 09, 2011 8:51 am

Examiner

7 May 2011

John Skelton says his 3 missing sons are alive, explains noose found

On Friday, John Skelton said during a telephone interview his three missing sons are still alive and explains why certain items were found when authorities made an extensive search of his home.

Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5, were reported missing from Skelton’s Morenci home by their mother, Tanya Skelton, on November 26 -- the same day their father allegedly tried to commit suicide. They had been visiting him for Thanksgiving.

Skelton, 39, initially told police he gave the boys to acquaintance Joann Taylor, to spare them from seeing his suicide. Authorities have stated they don’t believe Taylor exists and question whether Skelton tried to take his own life at all. Later, he told authorities he gave the boys to an organization in an effort to protect them from their mother. He has been charged with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.

Skelton told WXYZ reporter, Tom Wait, that a noose found in his home was never seen by the children and claims it was for a project. He also said he did not know about the bleach and cleaning products found.

To read the search warrant and a list of items found in Skelton's home, click here.

The father of three also proclaimed from the Lenawee County Jail, “I have something to prove to the world. I didn’t hurt my boys.”

As for a bullet found on the staircase of the home, Skelton says it was from a gun collection he sold several years ago to pay some bills.

Skelton’s interview comes on the heels of a public announcement by the boy’s mother and her family, stating they don’t believe the children are still alive.

http://www.examiner.com/crime-in-national/john-skelton-says-his-3-missing-sons-are-alive-explains-noose-found-video

**pam supportfromireland** Mon May 09, 2011 7:11 pm

Thanks for all this Twiggy. It is unreal the torture of not disclosing the truth.

**Twiglet** Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:57 pm

Detroit Free Press

19 May 2011

6 months since Morenci boys disappeared, hope turns to agony

ANDREW (9), ALEXANDER (7) & TANNER SKELTON (5) - Morenci, Michigan (USA) - 26/11/10 - Page 9 Skelto10

Tanya Skelton of Morenci sits at her parents' home with three candles for her missing sons:
Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton. Six months after their disappearance,
their mother is still searching for answers. "There's no closure," she said.
/ May 9 photo by ANDRE J. JACKSON/Detroit Free Press

The yellow ribbons are still everywhere.

Some are faded, falling down around pillars. Others hang brightly on street signs and trees. They are symbols of a community missing three of its own: Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton.

It has been six months since the young Morenci brothers disappeared.

The home where they were with their father, John Skelton, before they disappeared has been in foreclosure, and Tanya Skelton, the boys' mother, said a judge gave her authority to sell it for what's owed.

After her sons went missing, Tanya Skelton said, she discovered much of the property in the home was destroyed. Cords were cut off appliances, Christmas decorations were broken and a china cabinet John Skelton bought when they purchased the home was smashed.

John Skelton remains in jail, charged in his sons' disappearance.

Earlier this month, crime scene tape still fluttered in front of the home.

Tanya Skelton is still searching for answers.

"There's nowhere to go," she said. "There's no closure."

http://www.freep.com/article/20110519/NEWS06/105190685/6-months-since-Morenci-boys-disappeared-hope-turns-agony?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

**Twiglet** Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:57 pm

Adrian Daily Telegram

1 June 2011

John Skelton waives kidnap hearing after three-month delay in Morenci missing boys case

A hearing that stalled John Skelton’s child kidnapping case for three months was waived Wednesday afternoon.

The Morenci father made a brief, unscheduled appearance in Lenawee County District Court to say he did not want a preliminary examination after all on kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment counts. Judge James E. Sheridan ordered him bound over to circuit court for arraignment on June 9.

Skelton, 39, remains in jail while the case proceeds to the next stage. He is charged with kidnapping his sons, Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5. They disappeared from Skelton’s home during a Thanksgiving visit. Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks announced on Jan. 31 the investigation had been refocused as a homicide case.

Skelton has claimed he turned the boys over to an “organization” for protection.

The Lenawee County Prosecutor’s Office originally charged Skelton with parental kidnapping counts carrying a maximum one-year prison term. A month after the case reached circuit court, Prosecutor Jonathan Poer filed additional kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment counts carrying potential life and 15-year prison terms.

http://www.lenconnect.com/news/x1293702551/John-Skelton-waives-kidnap-hearing-after-three-month-delay-in-Morenci-missing-boys-case

**Twiglet** Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:59 pm

WXYZ

1 June 2011

John Skelton waives preliminary exam‎

In a surprise move the father of three missing boys from Morenci has decided to forgo his rights to a preliminary exam in the case of his missing sons.

According to a release from Morenci’s Chief of Police, Larry Weeks, Skelton was brought before a judge in Lenawee County District Court at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday. At that time John Skelton waived his rights to a preliminary exam that was set to begin on Friday.

The case will now return to circuit court for an arraignment on Wednesday, June 8.

http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/john-skelton-waives-preliminary-exam

**Twiglet** Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:01 pm

Toledo Blade

2 June 2011

Missing boys case proceeds to Circuit Court‎

The father accused of kidnapping his three boys who have been missing since Thanksgiving weekend has waived his right to have a preliminary examination in Lenawee County District Court.

John Skelton, 39, was scheduled to appear in District Court Friday before Judge James Sheridan on three counts of unlawful imprisonment charges.

Instead, he was taken to court Wednesday at the request of his attorney John Glaser, who waived the hearing, Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks said.

An arraignment for Mr. Skelton in Circuit Court has been scheduled for next Wednesday.

Mr. Skelton, who is being held in the Lenawee County jail in lieu of $30 million bond, is accused of kidnapping his sons Andrew, 9, Alexander,7, and Tanner, 5, who were last seen in the backyard of his Morenci home Thanksgiving Day.

The next day, their mother, Tanya Skelton, told police her sons were missing. The disappearance sparked an intensive search after Thanksgiving around the Ohio-Michigan border town for the boys.

Mr. Skelton was arrested in Ohio on felony parental kidnapping/custodial interference kidnapping charges after he was released from a hospital, where he was treated for injuries he received from allegedly trying to commit suicide.

His case was bound over to Circuit Court in January and returned to District Court in February after Prosecutor Jonathan Poer filed the more serious kidnapping charges that could keep him locked up for life.

In an appearance in the divorce proceeding with his estranged wife, Mr. Skelton refused to divulge to a judge the whereabouts of his sons, insisting that he had turned the boys over to a person who came to his house on Thanksgiving night in a van.

http://www.toledoblade.com/Courts/2011/06/02/Missing-boys-case-proceeds-to-Circuit-Court.html

**Twiglet** Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:03 pm

FOX19

2 June 2011

Hearing waived for Mich. father of 3 missing boys‎

A southern Michigan man whose three young sons have been missing since Thanksgiving has waived a preliminary examination in the case.

The hearing for John Skelton on kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges had been scheduled for Friday in Lenawee County District Court. Instead, police say he appeared Wednesday before a judge at the request of his defense lawyer and waived his right to the hearing.

Skelton's Circuit Court arraignment is set for next week. He's also due in court for a divorce trial.

http://www.fox19.com/Global/story.asp?S=14825072

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