John Skelton denied parole in 2010 case of three missing sons in Morenci

Father is primary suspect in case of three missing Michigan boys

The imprisoned father of three Michigan boys who went missing in 2010 was reportedly denied parole.

John Skelton was charged in 2011 for the wrongful imprisonment of his three sons who went missing from their home in Morenci on Nov. 26, 2010.

Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton were 9, 7 and 5 years old, respectively, when they went missing nearly 10 years ago.

The day the boys went missing, their mother told Morenci police that her husband, John Skelton, was supposed to bring the children back to her -- but he never did.

An Amber Alert was issued and the FBI carried out massive searches spanning down through Ohio. The boys still haven’t been found to this day, but investigators have remained vigilant in their search over the years.

The boys' mother believes that the three of them are dead.

John Skelton’s original story was that he gave the boys to an underground group, but this part of the case remains a mystery. A group has never been identified or come forward, and John Skelton’s story has changed since his initial claim.

The father of the missing boys is currently imprisoned at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Ionia.

In a Facebook post, the missing boys' mother Tanya Zuvers (formerly Tanya Skelton) said that the family received a letter on Tuesday from the Michigan Department of Corrections saying that John Skelton was denied parole. The imprisoned father reportedly came up for a parole review in July.

The family says that the parole board will not reassess John Skelton’s eligibility for parole until 2022.

“We are very thankful that our prayers were answered and that the Parole Board came to the correct decision,” Zuvers wrote.

Click here to learn more about the case

Alexander, Tanner and Andrew Skelton.

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About the Author

Cassidy Johncox is a senior digital news editor covering stories across the spectrum, with a special focus on politics and community issues.

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