The Skelton Brothers: A Heartbreaking Reality

Summary

Crime Salad Podcast Summary: "The Skelton Brothers: A Heartbreaking Reality"

Introduction

In the March 7, 2025 episode of Crime Salad, hosts Ashley and Ricky delve into the harrowing case of the Skelton brothers—Andrew Alexander, Tanner, and their third brother—whose disappearance has left their mother, Tanya Zufers, searching for answers and closure for nearly 15 years.

Background of the Case

The episode opens with Tanya Zufers expressing her enduring hope and fear regarding the disappearance of her three sons in 2010. At [00:01], she shares, “I just feel they're going to come home. I was panicked, scared, hopeful someone would pull up with my children.” Despite years of searching, Tanya remains uncertain about her children's fate, believing deep in her heart that they are still alive until proven otherwise.

The Probate Court Hearing

Nearly 15 years after the boys went missing, Tanya stands in the Lenaway County Probate Court in Michigan with her attorney, seeking to have her children legally declared dead. Ashley narrates, “[...] making a request that no parent should ever have to make... an acknowledgement of the unthinkable, a declaration that her children, who vanished under the care of their father in 2010, are never coming home” ([00:41]).

The hearing, which commenced on March 3, 2025, aimed to provide Tanya with a sense of closure. Probate courts typically handle estates and guardianships, but in cases like this, they determine legal death when individuals have been missing for an extended period without any signs of life.

John Skelton’s Involvement and Behavior

John Skelton, the boys' father, participated in the hearing remotely from Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility, where he has been incarcerated since 2011 for unlawful imprisonment. Ricky summarizes John's stance: “[...] he's accepting responsibility without actually admitting that he was involved in the kidnappings of his sons” ([02:17]).

John originally faced potential charges for parental kidnapping but opted for a plea deal to reduce his sentence. During the hearing, he alleged that the boys were in hiding to protect them from their mother, claiming they were being sexually abused—claims for which there is no supporting evidence. Tanya vehemently disagrees, stating, “[...] a loving father would not have done what he did” ([03:48]).

Investigation Findings

The narrative takes a deeper dive into the events leading up to the boys' disappearance. In September 2010, John took the children on an unapproved trip to Florida, sparking Tanya's suspicions. She discovered that John had signed them out of school without her consent and sought legal action to regain custody. Despite efforts to co-parent, tensions escalated, culminating in the boys' last known contact on November 26, 2010.

Investigators uncovered alarming evidence from John's laptop, including internet searches about rat poison and spinal injuries, and a disturbing Facebook post: “I love my wife very much. May God and Tanya Forgive me” ([20:39]). Additionally, John had created email accounts under the name Joanne Taylor, the woman he claimed the children were with, suggesting a potential attempt to deceive authorities and Tanya.

Court Verdict

After a three-day hearing, Judge Catherine A. Sala declared the boys legally deceased as of November 26, 2010, citing Michigan law that presumes death after five years of unexplained absence. However, the judge noted the lack of direct evidence linking John to the murders, highlighting the emotional toll and unanswered questions surrounding the case ([30:38]).

Personal Reflections and Community Engagement

Ashley reflects on Tanya's heartfelt descriptions of her sons, portraying them as vibrant individuals with unique personalities. Ricky and Ashley express frustration over the lack of concrete evidence and the possibility of John Skelton's release in November 2025 without facing full accountability. Ricky shares, “[...] it's like that circumstantial evidence, you know” ([37:54]).

The hosts also encourage listeners to engage with the case, pondering whether the boys should be declared legally dead and if there's any chance they might still be alive.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Ashley and Ricky emphasizing the enduring pain of Tanya Zufers and the community's ongoing quest for answers. They invite listeners to share their thoughts and stay engaged with the unresolved mystery of the Skelton brothers’ disappearance.

Notable Quotes

• Tanya Zufers [00:01]: “I just feel they're going to come home. I was panicked, scared, hopeful someone would pull up with my children.”

• Ashley [00:41]: “[...] making a request that no parent should ever have to make.”

• Tanya Zufers [03:48]: “A loving father would not have done what he did.”

• Tanya Zufers [09:25]: “We may not have their bodies, but their lives still meant something and there is a place to go.”

• Judge Catherine A. Sala [30:38]: “[...] the statutory presumption of death applies to their case.”

Final Thoughts

Crime Salad offers a comprehensive and emotionally charged exploration of the Skelton brothers' disappearance, highlighting the complexities of legal closure and the lingering quest for truth. For those following unresolved true crime cases, this episode provides a deep and thoughtful examination of a family's enduring struggle.

Transcript

[Tanya Zufers]

I just feel they're. They're going to come home. I was panicked, scared, hopeful someone would pull up with my children. As time went on, I began to wonder, who has my children? Are they safe? Are they scared? And I continue to wonder that. Because until they prove to me that they're no longer on this earth, I believe and I feel in my heart they're still alive.

[Ashley]

It's been nearly 15 years since Tanya Zufers last saw her three sons, Andrew Alexander and Tanner Skelton. But instead of a long awaited reunion, she's now standing in the Lenaway county probate courtroom in Michigan, along with her attorney, making a request that no parent should ever have to make. Tonya has come before the court to petition for her children, whom today would be adults, to be declared legally dead. After years of searching, hoping and fearing. It's an acknowledgement of the unthinkable, a declaration that her children, who vanished under the care of their father in 2010, are never coming home. And so, on March 3, 2025, the Probate Court hearing began in the state of Michigan. In usual circumstances, a probate court is used to address estates, wills, and guardianship. But in cases like this, where individuals have been missing for an extended period with no confirmed signs of life, probate court takes on an even grimmer rule, determining whether someone should be declared legally deceased. This hearing was about finality to get some form of closure, if that's even possible. The boy's father, John Skelton, remotely joined the proceedings from Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility, where he has been incarcerated since 2011, when he pleaded no contest to unlawful imprisonment in exchange for being spared a parental kidnapping charge.

[Ricky]

So basically, he's accepting responsibility without actually admitting that he was involved in the kidnappings of his sons.

[Ashley]

Yeah, exactly. Now, originally, he could have been charged with parental kidnapping, which might have carried a much longer sentence than the 10 to 15 years he got for unlawful imprisonment. That's why he took the plea deal, to avoid facing a potentially harsher punishment. And so he showed up virtually. However, the judge gave him the option to participate or not to participate. And so he took the easier offer, claiming that he was at a disadvantage. He didn't have legal representation. So this left Tonya alone in the courtroom.

[Ricky]

Wow, that says a lot.

[Ashley]

So John Skelton, he claims that his sons are in hiding, a move made to protect them from their mother because he claims that the boys were being sexually abused by her. Now, there's no supporting evidence of this. However, he states that once he is free from incarceration, he hopes to reunite with his boys. While Tanya Zufers, the mother of the three boys and ex wife of John, has always believed that John is lying. Her son's disappearance has been her worst nightmare come true. She believes that John killed their children, stating, quote, their dad showed them no respect. I shouldn't even say their dad, John Skelton, showed them no respect. Any loving father would not have done what he did.

[Ricky]

Well, to me, it just seems like the respect factor isn't there. I mean, he's not even willing to participate in the probate hearing to declare that his children are deceased.

[Ashley]

Right.

[Ricky]

So on the surface, we have a father who says he hopes to one day be reunited with his children. But. But then, on the other hand, we have a mother who's taking legal action to declare that her children are deceased. So despite all of this, the boys have never been discovered. So where are they?

[Ashley]

Great question. Now, of course, we know the truth is layered, and a surface level detail rarely gives us the full picture. So let's dig deeper to try to uncover the truth behind what happened to Andrew Alexander and Tanner Skelton. So today we will be discussing the heartbreaking case of the Skelton brothers disappearance and the recent court proceedings their mother initiated in hopes of gaining legal closure regarding the fate of her three boys. Now, before we dive into this story, please be advised that this episode comes with a few trigger warnings. This narration includes mentions of potential violence towards children, sexual assault, suicidal ideation, and the possible death of children. If any of those topics are sensitive for you, you may want to skip this episode and tune in next week instead. For now, we'll turn back to Tanya's heartbreaking journey of seeking some type of closure regarding her son's disappearance. I'm Ashley.

[Ricky]

And I'm Ricky.

[Ashley]

And this is crime salad. The three day probate court hearing that began on March 3, 2025, started off on a chilling note.

[Tanya Zufers]

Note.

[Ashley]

Even before the case was presented, the judge, Catherine A. Sala, reminded everyone in the courtroom that the trial would be on YouTube. With that in mind, she explained that typically when cases are being broadcasted like this, those involved avoid using children's names. Tanya's attorney, R. Brooke Castleberry, replied rather grimly, your honor, the children are adults at this point. All three of them are over the age of 18. We have no objection to using their names. In fact, we encourage it. Now, considering that Andrew was only nine years old when he went missing. Alexander was seven, and the youngest, Tanner, was only five years old, I think that statement alone served as a gruesome reminder of just how long the Skelton brothers have been missing.

[Ricky]

As far as we know, it's been approximately 15 years since the boys have missed, been seen, or even heard from.

[Ashley]

Right. Tanya, who's 58 years old at the time of this trial, was brought up to the stand to revisit old memories that I'm guessing must have a bitter edge, considering everything that went on since she married John Skelton in September of 2002. I can't even begin to imagine the devastation Tanya must feel at not only losing all three of her sons, but forced to accept that she'll likely never see them again, but also then having to go through the whole legal process to request that her children be declared dead.

[Ricky]

It's such a sad situation. And it makes me think about all of the other cases that we've covered where, you know, they're just clinging onto the hope that they might see their child alive. Like, every day they wake up and they're literally just surviving off of that hope. And for some people, yeah, they get to see their children again. But for most, they have to live the rest of their lives with this void, just hoping that one day they will see them again. And most of the time, they die before that happens or they die before they even get answers.

[Ashley]

Yeah. One case that comes to mind is the disappearance of Kyron Horman. I mean, that case will always stick with me because the mother is fighting, still fighting to find her child, and he went missing in June of 2010.

[Ricky]

Yeah, that one is heartbreaking.

[Ashley]

But then there's the case, like J.C. dugard, who was kidnapped in 1991 at a bus stop in South Lake Tahoe, California, while she was on her way to school. And at 11 years old, she was held captive by this guy and his wife, and she was kept in a compound in their backyard. And finally, 18 years after she disappeared, Jaycee, she was rescued in 2009. So it's like there is still that hope that, you know, these parents still try to hold on to, because you never really know.

[Ricky]

Yeah, exactly. I mean, you can't just give up on your child now.

[Ashley]

Unfortunately, cases like Jaycee's are pretty rare. According to the national center for Missing and Exploited Children, between the years of 2021 and 2023, only 117 children who had been missing for a decade or longer were recovered. Given how long the Skelton brothers have been missing and the circumstances surrounding their disappearance, Andrew, Alexander and Tanner have long been presumed to be dead. And their mother explained to the judge that she wants an official date of death to put on her son's grave markers as a way of showing them respect. So stating quote, we may not have their bodies, but their lives still meant something and there is a place to go. She believes the date that should go on her son's grave markers should be November 26, 2010.

[Ricky]

And I think for the mother, this is the closure that she needs.

[Ashley]

So what exactly happened the day after Thanksgiving in 2010 that leads Tonya to believe that was the day that her sons lost their lives? Now, to understand why Tanya suspects that her children were killed on November 26, 2010, we first must go back a few months prior when things in Tanya and John's life took a turn towards the darkness that would eventually engulf their once seemingly happy family. The foundation of the family was hit hard when on September 13, 2010, John took off with Andrew, Alexander and Tanner to Jacksonville, Florida for about a week in without their mother's permission. Tanya found out about this trip when she got a call from her son's school letting her know that John had signed the children out of school that day to take them on a family vacation to Florida.

[Ricky]

Yeah, that would be alarming, right?

[Ashley]

It was a complete surprise, but not a good one. And to note, she was still married to John at the time. Now, according to Tanya, the couple had talked about moving to Jacksonville, Florida before. However, Tonya was reluctant to uproot her family family, especially since the boys had just started school. Plus, there was a pesky legal matter that kept her questioning if moving to a different state would even be feasible. It turns out Tonya had a questionable past of her own that kept her from moving around as freely as she might have wished to. Back in 1998, Tonya pleaded guilty to fourth degree criminal sexual conduct for having sex with a 14 year old boy. The conviction earned Tonya a spot on the Michigan sex offender registry. Now, at the time of the release of this episode in March of 2025, Tonya is no longer on the registry. However, at the time, she was worried about the logistics of the move, given her status as a registered sex offender. Though her community had mostly accepted her despite the status, she feared that strangers at a new home might not be as understanding. So Tanya, she was shocked by the vacation. For one, she wasn't invited to it and she wasn't informed of it. So she called law enforcement connected to chief of police Larry Weeks, who assured her he'd called John and try to convince him to come to the station. Frustration persisted when John met up with Tanya at the police station and was vague about his plans and when he would be returning with the children. Now, at this time, they weren't divorced, but they were separated. And there's records that show that she had full custody of the children. However, the reasons behind John Skelton's sudden trip to Florida with his sons remain unclear. He did start telling people that he wanted a fresh start. He told people he planned to begin a new life with his boys away from Michigan. Another possibility that stands out. He frequently expressed disapproval of Tanya's past, citing her 1998 conviction as a reason they didn't want her raising their children.

[Ricky]

I mean, those definitely could be the reasons, but it seems like he's manipulating custody. I mean, you said that Tanya had full custody at the time, and taking the boys to Florida may have just been an effort to gain control.

[Ashley]

Yeah, that could have been it too. Now, Tanya, she looked into other avenues to get her children back and was told that the only way to get custody of her sons was to file for divorce from her husband, John. She agreed to do whatever was necessary to ensure her children were brought home safe with her and quickly took legal action to get the boys back into her custody. So after working with attorneys in Florida, where John had taken the children and their home state of Michigan, Tanya successfully filed for divorce from John and was granted custody of their sons. The whole family returned back to Morenci, Michigan, where Tanya says she, she and John started working on a parenting schedule with the help of their attorneys. And this schedule included the boys spending Thanksgiving, November 25th with their father and then returning to their mother's care by around 3pm the next day, which is Black Friday, November 26th.

[Ricky]

So it seems like they were taking the steps to co parent. And I don't want to speculate, but maybe John really didn't like that. You know, he didn't like splitting his time with the children.

[Ashley]

I'm thinking that too. So Tanya, she spent Thanksgiving of 2010 at her sister's house, which was on the same road as John's house, so she could easily peek out of the window to see what was going on over there. And while she was at her sister's, she continued to ignore John's attempts to contact her until the end of the night. She was frustrated with him after hearing that John had told the boys about her time in jail. Tanya fought with him throughout their phone call that night. And during that phone call, John asked Tanya if she thought they would ever get back together. Tanya told him that she didn't think their marriage was repairable, especially not after everything that happened that week leading up to Thanksgiving. Tanya texted John the next morning asking if she could pick up her sons early so that she and her father could go pick out new clothes for an upcoming football game that the boys were super excited about. John told her that they weren't home at the time and that he didn't know when they would be home. Tonya accepted this and asked him to keep her updated as she spent time with her friend while waiting for her boys to return home to her. Sadly, Tonya would not be reunited with her sons that Friday as planned. In fact, Tanya hasn't had any contact with her children since the day they said their goodbyes before joining their father for the Thanksgiving holiday. Acceptance turned into suspicion when Tanya noticed a vehicle pull into John's driveway, granted a clear view of John's house from the house she was in. After watching two people come out of the house, get in the car and leave, Tanya messaged John to ask if he was home yet. That's when John told Tanya that though he had been home, the boys weren't with him.

[Ricky]

Wait, the children weren't even with him?

[Ashley]

Yeah. So he explained that they were with his friend Joanne Taylor. Now, remember this name, Joanne Taylor. It comes up later in the story. John was currently on his way to the hospital, having injured his foot when he fell off a ladder. He assured Tonya that Joanne would bring the boys back at three, the time they agreed upon. Tonya didn't think too much of it, at least not at first. 3 o' clock came with no sight of her children. Tanya waited. Her attorney urged her to give John a little leeway, reminding her that she didn't need to report him right away. Yet at 4:01, when Tonya still hadn't been reunited with her children, she called 91 1, deciding it was best not to waste any time in getting law enforcement invol.

[Ricky]

Not to mention, who is this lady that the kids are with exactly now?

[Ashley]

Having lived in Morenci her whole life, Tanya was lucky to have family close by so that she could stay with them as she waited for the news of her boys. And during this time, she also called the Fulton County Medical center to ask about John, since John was still legally her husband. The nurse told Tanya that John had tried to commit suicide. This is the first Tonya had heard about this. Tonya asked if John had three children with him. The nurse informed her he did not, information which Tonya then relayed to Officer Ryan Hillard, who had been tasked with handling the 911 call. So, officer Hillard, he met up with John as he was seeking medical treatment for his injured ankle at the Fulton County Medical Center. And when questioned about his son's whereabouts, John initially claimed that the children were with a woman named Joanne Taylor and her husband Mark, who was a pastor. John also claimed that his injured ankle was the result of an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Growing increasingly concerned about the boy's well being, Officer Hillard reached out to Chief Weeks for assistance. Chief Weeks went to John's house in hopes of finding something that would lead him to wherever the Skelton boys would be hidden. Upon walking through the door, he stepped right into a home that had been tossed into turmoil, serving as the backdrop for complete chaos. Now, during the hearing, Tanya was asked about the house since she was brought there during the investigation in hopes that she might be able to point out clues. She stated that everything had been destroyed. Glass and pieces of cabinet were scattered on the floor. Electric cords to the appliances had been cut, and a noose hung ominously from a second story balcony. An open Bible was found lying on the table in the living room with a verse circled. Amidst the chaos, investigators also discovered John's suicide note. So after getting a look at the state of the house, Chief Weeks returned to the police station to plan the next steps of the investigation. While he was at the station, John's aunt, Charlene o', Brien, stopped by to give the investigators a suitcase with John's laptop in it. She explained that John had stopped by her house earlier that day to drop off some things that now seemed suspicious and told Chief Weeks that he could do whatever he wanted with the laptop, anything to help find the boys. By that time, members from both sides of the family had confirmed that no one had seen or heard from the boys. No one knew where the children were. So, of course, the investigators searched the laptop for clues about where the children might be. And they found all sorts of interesting and incriminating information. One of the most morbid clues that were found on the laptop were the Internet searches that suggested a darkly disturbed state of mind in the days leading up to the Skelton brothers disappearance. These searches included inquiries about if rat poison could kill a person, how to break a neck, neck and spine, spinal cord and cerebellum. They also found an alarming post on John's Facebook profile that he had posted on November 24, 2010, just two days before the boys went missing. The post stated, I love my wife very much. May God and Tanya Forgive me. John had also created two new email addresses recently. One of the email addresses was under his name and. And the other, Joanne Taylor.

[Ricky]

Oh, that's the lady that he said his kids were with.

[Ashley]

Right. So John, he created an email account using the very same name of this woman who he claimed the children were with. And that's not all. Apparently Joanne Taylor was getting involved in an online community on the website Cafe mom, where mothers could come together to share their experiences, ideas, advice and support. And John had created an account using the alias Joanne Taylor to message Tanya pretending to be just another mother on the website, which at the time had different forums that mothers could use to socialize with each other.

[Ricky]

So right off the bat, this is extremely incriminating for John, not to mention how morbid those searches were.

[Ashley]

Yeah. And for the two boys, Alexander and Tanner, the situation was looking especially dire. Both of them had asthma, which was managed by a daily pill along with inhalers and nebulizers to get them through those really bad attacks. It was discovered that the boys, medication, inhalers and nebulizers, along with their boots, coats and toothbrushes had all been left behind.

[Ricky]

Oh man.

[Ashley]

A search warrant carried out on John's phone records and it gave them some insight into his movements on Friday, November 26, 2010. The information from cell phone tower showed that around 4:13am, John's phone was in the vicinity of his home on Congress street in Morenci, Michigan. Now by approximately 4:29am, John's phone was on the move hitting off a tower near Pioneer, Ohio around 5:00am At 5:04am the phone pinged off a tower near Lazy River Campground in Williams, Ohio. Now for reference, Williams, Ohio is about a 30 minute drive away from John's house. Yet John's phone didn't appear to be back near his house till about 6.45am.

[Ricky]

So there seems to be a little time gap between around 5am to 6.45am, not including the 30 minute drive.

[Ashley]

Right. So what was he doing during that time? And why was he driving there, leaving the house at 4:30 in the morning?

[Ricky]

Not to mention it seems like when he got home, this is when he tried to commit suicide.

[Ashley]

Yeah. Now, cadaver dogs and search teams were deployed to check fields, abandoned buildings and bodies of water near where his phone had pinged. A large scale search was conducted in the Harrison Lake State park area. In other wooded areas in Ohio and Michigan, law enforcement agencies including the FBI were involved in extensive ground searches. Despite these efforts, no trace of Andrew, Alexander or Tanner were ever found. Investigators have long believed that John disposed of the boys somewhere within that time frame, but the exact location remains a mystery. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. We all need support systems, whether it's family, friends, or mentors. But sometimes we need a little extra guidance from someone trained to help. Therapy isn't just for those who've experienced major trauma. It can also help with setting boundaries, learning positive coping skills, and becoming the best version of yourself. With BetterHelp, you can access a network of over 30,000 credentialed therapists online, making therapy a affordable and convenient no waiting rooms, no long drives, just professional support from the comfort of your own space. And if you ever feel like your therapist isn't the right fit, you can switch anytime at no extra cost. Build your support system with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com Crimesalad to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H E L p.com Crimesalad as far as John, he was far from reliable throughout the investigation, and due to his erratic behavior at the Fulton County Medical Center, John was transferred to St. Vincent in Toledo, Ohio for observation there. During yet another interview, John claimed that he believed the boys had been wrapped in a blanket and left at an old schoolhouse near Conkle, Ohio. Investigators searched two different schoolhouses near Kunkel, Ohio, and were unable to find any trace of the boys.

[Ricky]

How would he even know that that is so specific? Like, is he saying that he put them there?

[Ashley]

It seems very vague now. After the search, investigators spoke with John again. This time, he told them about a nightmare that he had. It was about Joanne Taylor, but he admitted it could possibly be about himself. He said he was about 95% sure the boys could be found in a dumpster near Holiday City, Ohio, and urged them to go get his boys. Worried about being perceived as a child killer.

[Ricky]

Wait, so now he's hinting at the fact that he could be Joanne? Like it might have been a dream, but it could also be me. Are we sure that he's not trying to claim insanity at this point?

[Ashley]

It's eye rolling right now. During this time, everyday citizens were coming together to help with the widespread searches for the Skelton brothers. The FBI, Michigan State Police, the Center for Missing and Exploited Children got involved early in the search and remained an active presence throughout. Despite this, no one was able to find a single trace of Andrew Alexander or Tanner Skelton. At one point, Donna Galloway, a local pastor who knew both John and Tanya, confided in Chief Weeks about an arguably ominous Conversation she had with John. After pressuring John for information about the boys, Donna shared that John had told her, I sent them home. Don't you understand? I sent them home. In cheap weeks opinion, he believes that with this statement, John was implying that he had sent his children to heaven. In other words, he murdered them.

[Ricky]

I 100% believe that.

[Ashley]

The law caught up to John. On November 30, 2010, he was arrested and charged with three counts of unlawful imprisonment, one for each child. And he was brought back to Lenaway county. He was interviewed again at the Adrian police department, where his story changed yet again. This time, he admitted that Joanne was a backstory he created, but not to cover up the murder of his children. Rather, John claimed that he had worked with a secret organization called United Foster outreach and underground sanctuaries, who helped him get the children safely away from their mother, who he viewed as a threat to the boy's safety.

[Ricky]

Okay, here we go. We got a news story now here we go again.

[Ashley]

And when asked if he believes that John Skelton killed his three children on or about November 26, 2010, Chief Weeks replied without hesitation, I do. He went on to further clarify that he is confident that they're deceased. Not long after the investigation, the FBI told Tanya that her children were probably not alive. When asked about this discussion during the hearing, Tanya admitted that she didn't want to believe it, and she held out hope for quite a while yet. After the case got turned over to the Michigan state police, Tanya's many in depth conversations with the investigating detective sergeant Jeremy Brewer, slowly changed her mind. Through these discussions, Tonya eventually came to accept that her sons were no longer alive. When discussing her decision to request that her sons be declared legally dead, Tonya is quoted saying, this decision came after much thought and discussion with my family and friends. It did not come lightly, and it 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. Tonya has reasoned that knowing how smart and vocal her sons were, they would have worked together to figure out a way to reach out for help if they had been taken, Even if that meant telling a complete stranger about their predicament. After all, Alexander had called 911 just days before he disappeared, Unable to find his father and worried that something was wrong.

[Ricky]

Wait, so one of the boys called 911 when his father was missing?

[Ashley]

Yeah, there's a lawyer who's out of Michigan who isn't related to this case. But I thought it was interesting he explained that there are many reasons to request for someone to be legally declared dead, including closure for the family and the potential to pursue a wrongful death or other civil claim.

[Ricky]

Well, it kind of makes me wonder what more is going to come after this probate hearing. Because doing the probate hearing in declaring them dead is going to open up like so many cans of worms. Like, who killed them? Where did they go? When was the last time you even saw your kids? Right. Like, if we're going to declare them dead, then we're basically saying that there was a murder.

[Ashley]

Yeah, that's a good point. And you know, there's no justice for these boys.

[Ricky]

Not to mention he's going to be getting out of jail because they gave him some BS charge.

[Ashley]

Yeah, November 2025 this year.

[Ricky]

Exactly. But there's still so many unanswered questions. And honestly, this whole thing is driving me nuts because he has all of these different stories. It's like, well, who did it? Like, you had a story. But then you're saying, well, that person might have been me. I might have had a dream about it. But then you're saying, oh, no, I signed them up for some underground witness protection bullshit. Like what?

[Ashley]

Right. So where are they? You know?

[Ricky]

Exactly.

[Ashley]

I know. It is such a frustrating case, and, I mean, we'll just have to wait and see, I guess, to see if anything comes out of this case.

[Ricky]

Yeah, exactly. I hope something does because it's driving me nuts. Like, I couldn't imag the mom or the family or living in it. Yeah. Golly.

[Ashley]

Now, throughout the most recent trial, we were able to learn more about the Skelton boys, especially through the words of their mother, Tanya, who talked about each of her sons as individuals, a stark reminder of the full lives the children lived before they went missing. On a personal note, as I listened to Tanya talk about her sons, it truly felt like they were still here with us. Watching the trial footage, I noticed how tense and reserved she appeared when she was first brought to the stand, her deep frown and measured responses reflecting someone determined to stay composed while facing a painful reality. But when the conversation shifted to her boys, so did her demeanor. For a moment, the weight of the trial seemed to lift. Her tone softened, and glimpses of a smile broke through. As she recounted their personalities, her eyes took on a distant look, as if she was briefly transported back in time, reliving precious memories of Andrew, Alexander and Tanner. In those moments, it was clear that no matter how many years have passed, her love for them remains just as strong. She described nine year old Andrew as a bright, sharp minded child, smart as a whip. Even at just three or four years old, he was teaching teenagers tricks to mastering their favorite games. Andrew loved the challenge of computer and video games and never came across one he couldn't beat. 7 year old Alexander had a curious mind and a natural charm. He was described already as a little ladies man. He loved figuring out how things worked, especially electronics. He was particularly fascinated with phones and loved taking things apart just to put them back together again. He was also a devoted big brother, walking Tanner to class every morning. Tanner, the baby of the family at just five years old, had just started big school. Like his older brothers who adored and spoiled him, he was the family's storyteller, crafting such clever imaginative tales that his family often believed them until Tanner would burst into laughter and reveal that he was joking. A simple Google search will bring up countless photos of Andrew, Alexander and Tanner before they vanished, smiling, huddled close together, radiating joy. They weren't just siblings, they were best friends. Tanya described them as being inseparable, rarely fighting. Their built in bond made them the perfect trio. But of course, as touching as it was to hear about the three boys whose lives were stolen far too soon, the focus eventually had to shift to the fractured marriage that seemed to play at least some role in their disappearance. As questions turned to her ex husband John, the warmth in Tanya's voice faded, her frown returned and her tone became all business once again. The trial only lasted three days, wrapping up on Wednesday, March 5th of 2025 when Judge Catherine Sala delivered her verdict. Judge Sala gave a brief overview of the case as it had been presented to her throughout the trial and confirming that there was plenty of evidence to support the case that the boys do qualify as legally dead under Michigan law which states that an individual who is absent for a continuous period of five years during which he or she has not been heard from and whose absence is not satisfactorily explained after diligent search or inquiry is presumed to be dead. The individual's death is presumed to have occurred at the end of the period unless there is sufficient evidence to determine that death occurred earlier. However, the judge also pointed out the ways that the evidence meant to prove that John Skelton had killed his sons was lacking. One of her main complaints was the lack of first hand testimony and documents to support the statements that were made by the very few witnesses that were called to the stand. As she neared the end of her conclusion, Sala seemed to wrestle with her own emotional reaction to the case. She acknowledged the impact the boy's disappearance had on the community of Lenaway and pointed out that though the trial offered an opportunity to recognize the disappearance and death of the brothers, there were many questions left unanswered, a loss that remains unsolved. The judge concluded that though she hadn't been presented with enough evidence to prove that John Skelton murdered his sons, and considering the children had been missing for over 14 years, the statutory presumption of death applies to their case. Judge Catherine Sala ended the trial by stating it is with the gravest of condolences that is ordered. Alexander William Skelton, Andrew Ryan Skelton, and Tanner Lucas Skelton are presumed to be deceased as of November 26, 2015, in accordance with MCL 700.1208 subsection T. As we wrap up today's case, we're curious to hear about what our listeners in the crime salad community think about the unsolved mystery of the Skelton brothers disappearance. Do you believe that Andrew, Alexander and Tanner should have been declared legally dead? Do you think that there's a chance that they're still out there in the world somewhere, carefully hidden? By now, Andrew would be 23 years old, Alexander would be 21, and Tanner would be 19. I personally can't speak to how likely their safe return is, but it would be nice, wouldn't it, if it turns out that the boys, now young men, are found alive after all of this time.

[Ricky]

I really hate this case, and I hate all cases like this. It's one of those things where obviously the case went a certain way. Right. I know there's not enough evidence to really convict somebody or, you know, it's lacking evidence to say that this happened for sure. But there's so many little context clues that just show how it went.

[Ashley]

It's like that circumstantial evidence, you know.

[Ricky]

Yeah. And it, it drives me nuts. And the fact that we may never find their bodies and. Yeah, like, hopefully someday they, they pop up and they're living their lives in happy fantasy fairy tale. Right. But like, the reality of it is is most likely something happened and maybe we'll find the bodies, but maybe we won't. I mean, we've seen this in cases before where maybe the, the bodies were dumped in a landfill and they go through a furnace. I mean, nothing is left after that. So there's no answers ever. But it's so frustrating to see, you know, O.J. simpson, Casey Anthony, all of these types of people go on in and live their lives. Right, Right. But the problem is, is, okay, if you go to trial and there's all this information and, okay, well, maybe they didn't do it type situation comes up. Fine. But in most cases, these are so clear, like, Casey Anthony, there wasn't enough information. There wasn't enough evidence against her. Are you kidding?

[Ashley]

Yeah. What gets me about this case is, like, similar to Casey Anthony, John Skelton, he spent, what, over a decade behind bars, and he still has never given an explanation as to what happened. Like, he has a handful of stories, right? But what happened?

[Ricky]

Not to mention, he said, oh, they're with this girl and a pastor, right? And then it turns out that he created an email of that person. So he's like, catfishing his own wife in that situation. And then the fact that, okay, he tried to run off with his kids, whatever, they get a divorce, now there's custody. She can't get a hold of him, he disappears for a while, and then he tried to kill himself.

[Ashley]

It's very telling.

[Ricky]

Not to mention, I do want to, like, rag on him the fact that he tried to kill himself, failed, and then hurt his ankle. Like, wait, what?

[Ashley]

And then he. I'm thinking in my head, like, did he call, like, 911 to get help after he murdered his children?

[Ricky]

Oh, my gosh, this guy.

[Ashley]

And it's. It's crazy, too, because it's like. It's not like Andrew, Alexander and Tanner, they didn't just vanish into thin air.

[Ricky]

Right?

[Ashley]

Like, somebody did something, you know?

[Ricky]

And it's just crazy to me that his first excuse didn't work. So then he came up with a totally new story saying, oh, I actually put my children into some witness relocation, unofficial.

[Ashley]

Okay, then where's the papers for that? Or where's the proof of that?

[Ricky]

Then? Yeah, like, what?

[Ashley]

Oh, my. It is just such a frustrating case. And, I mean, it would be awesome to see him get pressed further, you know, because I would just hate to see him out November 2025. It's coming soon. And, I mean, what is he gonna do? Just, like, walk free?

[Ricky]

Yeah. If something doesn't happen, and I hope something does, I hope something comes up and we can convict this guy. Like, I'm gonna be glued to this case. Cause I wanna see an outcome.

[Ashley]

Me too. And then for him to not even want to participate in the probate court hearing, you know, Right. To determine that his children are deceased, that is just like, oh, my God, Such a red flag.

[Ricky]

It is.

[Ashley]

But, yeah, that's the frustrating case for this week. If you found this case interesting or you think a friend might like it, go ahead and send it to a friend or share it on social media. Also, follow us on social media. We have Instagram TikTok. I'm on Lemon now. We're on Lemon.

[Ricky]

I don't even know what lemon is.

[Ashley]

It's kind of like a Pinterest TikTok y thing. It's kind of weird, but I don't know. It's kind of cool, I guess. Yeah. Thank you all so much for sending us awesome reviews and becoming supporters of our show. We greatly appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for sharing crime salad with a friend. We really appreciate that. And as always, stay safe and we'll.

[Ricky]

See you next week.

[Ashley]

We'll see you next week. I respect my son. He loves his. He loves his children. And I respect my son for doing just that, taking his boys out of harm's way.