MORENCI, Mich. — The mother of three Morenci brothers who went missing more than a decade ago is asking a Michigan court to legally declare them dead.
An attorney for Tanya Zuvers filed three petitions in Lenawee County Probate Court seeking to legally declare dead Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton.
Zuvers wrote in a statement posted publicly to her Facebook page, "In December 2023, three petitions were filed in Lenawee County Probate Court regarding my sons; Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner Skelton. I am asking the courts to declare Andrew, Alexander, & Tanner legally deceased."
Zuvers reported her three sons missing on Nov. 26, 2010. Authorities say their father, John Skelton, did not return them to Zuvers.
"This decision came after much thought & discussion with my family & friends. It did not come lightly and was definitely a difficult decision to make. No parent wants to lose a child, but to have to have the courts step in and declare them deceased is just unfathomable," Zuvers said in a written statement Friday evening.
You can read the family's full statement here:
The three brothers were young at the time of their disappearance in 2010; Alexander was seven, Andrew was nine and Tanner was five.
"At the end of the day, one person is responsible for the disappearance of my sons. That person, at one point, claimed the boys would hibernate until they graduate. As of today, June 14, 2024, all 3 boys are over 18 and all would have graduated high school, yet they have not been returned to me and are still missing," Zuvers said.
A judge sentenced John Skelton to 10-15 years in prison in 2011 after he was convicted of three counts of unlawful imprisonment, one for each son. He has been eligible for parole several times throughout his sentence, but the board has denied that application each time. His maximum sentence is set to expire on Nov. 29, 2025.
Skelton has claimed he gave the boys to an "underground group." Investigators have never released evidence that supported his claim.
Zuvers previously said she believes her sons are dead.
Zuvers said she and her family are asking for privacy as they continue to process the situation.