ADRIAN, Mich. – Nearly 15 years ago, the small town of Morenci was forever changed when three young boys went missing.
The search for them has never stopped.
Their father, John Skelton, is at the center of the investigation. He faces charges of murder and tampering with evidence.
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, he was charged with three counts of open murder and three counts of tampering with evidence. The charges come roughly two weeks before he was scheduled to be released from prison.
---> Full documentary: The story of the missing Skelton brothers
Police said they’ve been receiving tips regarding their disappearance since they went missing.
“It’s huge,” said Morenci Police Chief Michael Creswell. “Anywhere I go, I get inquiries from other people.”
A judge declared the boys dead in March of this year, but stated there wasn’t enough evidence to prove they were murdered at the time.
Police said they believed Skelton was holding back information.
John Skelton was sentenced in 2010 to 10-15 years for unlawful imprisonment. The earliest time he could have been paroled was 2020. He was denied.
He was initially scheduled to be released from the Michigan Department of Corrections on Nov. 29, 2025, almost exactly 15 years since the boys were last seen.
He remains incarcerated at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Ionia, Michigan, located roughly halfway between Lansing and Grand Rapids.
If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in jail.
What we know
The three boys were 9, 7 and 5 years old when they disappeared from Lenawee County in November 2010. The boys were last seen with their father.
John Skelton had spent time with the boys over the Thanksgiving holiday amid a divorce and custody dispute with their mother, Tanya Zuvers.
He was supposed to return them to their mother on Black Friday, Nov. 26, 2010.
Police said they tracked John Skelton’s phone leaving his Morenci home and traveling about 25 miles southwest into Ohio before returning to Morenci.
When he failed to return the boys and did not provide clear information about their whereabouts, Zuvers called the police.
Federal and state law enforcement agencies have carried out massive searches across Michigan and Ohio.
For more than a decade, there have been more questions than answers in the disappearance of the three Skelton brothers.
John Skelton claimed he gave the boys to an underground group to protect them from their mother, alleging abuse by Zuvers, who denies the claims. Over the years, Skelton’s story has changed, sometimes mentioning the Amish as the group, but no such group has been identified or come forward.
Anyone with information about the case or the boys’ whereabouts is asked to call Michigan State Police at 1-517-636-0689 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.
Community, family response
The case still weighs heavily on the Morenci community.
Brandy Fenner, a friend of the family, says her feelings remain the same all these years later.
“You get that pit in your stomach that you had 15 years ago. We all want justice, and we all want answers. We deserve it.”
Roger Brantley, a Morenci resident, explains that the case is still deeply hurtful.
“It makes me feel really hurt,” Brantley said. “Hurt and upset, you know?”
Residents like Sheryl Kutzley are still deeply suspicious of the details surrounding the case
“The father said he did nothing, but then suddenly the kids were gone,” Kutzley said. “It’s a very sad thing that’s happened. I don’t think this town will ever forget this. It will be in their history forever.”
The mother of the boys released the following statement after John Skelton was charged with murder:
“I have been informed that murder charges have now been filed against John Skelton in connection with the disappearance of my sons.
This development marks a significant moment in a long and painful journey. While I understand the public interest in this case, I ask that my family’s privacy be respected as we process this news and continue to grieve the loss of Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner.
I want to express my gratitude to the law enforcement agencies and prosecutors who have worked tirelessly over the years to seek justice for my sons.
I will not be making further public comments at this time and ask that the media respect my request for privacy."
Tanya Zuvers
The family released a statement expressing their pain and hope for justice.
“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."