Father Charged With Murder of Three Morenci Brothers; Bond Set at $60 Million

(LENAWEE COUNTY, MI) - The father long suspected in the disappearance of his three young sons is now formally charged with their murders, 15 years after the boys vanished from Morenci, Michigan. John Skelton, 53, appeared in a Lenawee County courtroom on Monday after being transferred from the Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility, where he was nearing the end of a 15-year sentence on charges related to the case. A judge set his bond at $60 million, according to Michigan State Police. Skelton now faces multiple counts, including homicide open murder and tampering with evidence, in connection with the presumed deaths of his sons--Alexander, Andrew, and Tanner--who were last seen in November 2010. For years, the lack of physical evidence has complicated the investigation. The brothers' remains have never been found. Earlier this year, however, a judge declared all three boys legally dead, a ruling that cleared the way for prosecutors to pursue more serious charges. Skelton had been serving time for unlawful imprisonment and was scheduled for release on Nov. 29, 2025. His transfer to the Lenawee County Jail marks a major development in the long-running case, allowing authorities to move forward with the newly authorized charges tied directly to the boys' deaths.