Tanner, Alexander, and Andrew Skelton -- Missing 11/26/2010

Amber Alert issued for 3 boys missing in Lenawee County

BY GINA DAMRON AND ANDREA K. FARMER
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS
November 27, 2010

Police continue to search for three boys who have been missing for two days in Lenawee County.

An Amber Alert has been issued for Andrew Ryan Skelton, 9, Alexander William Skelton, 7, and Tanner Lucas Skelton, 5, who were reportedly last seen Thursday in their father’s backyard at his home in Morenci, a small town in Lenawee County near the Ohio border.

Police said the father, John Skelton, 39, attempted suicide by trying to hang himself Friday.

Skelton told officers that he met a couple, Mark and Joann Taylor, a few years ago when he stopped to help them when they were having vehicle trouble. Police said Skelton told them that he kept in contact with the couple over the years via the Internet.

The children’s mother had recently filed for divorce and the boys had been visiting Skelton over the holiday, police said. They said Skelton told them he asked Joann Taylor to return the kids to their mother in Lenawee County.

But police said today that they have no information or location for a Joann Taylor. "We’ve exhausted our resources at this point," Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks said.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20101127/NEWS06/101127005/1318/3-missing-Lenawee-County-boys-last-seen-with-dads-friend-cops-say-

Oh please! Not another tragedy. This doesn't look good. If those boys were to be returned to their mother after Thanksgiving weekend, I wonder which parent was to do the driving. This story the dad tells doesn't make any sense, and it sounds like he planned to take the coward's way out after disposing of his boys. I hope I am wrong about this and I hope these boys are safe. It is difficult to be optimistic now whenever a child turns up missing, far too often, far too many "endings".

Cali, I was thinking the same thing when I read this story. LE can't locate this woman, or find any record of her except the dad's story. Why would you entrust your children to someone you met on line. How far apart does the mom and dad live, does anyone know?

and why the suicide attempt????? How sad... why didnt he commit suicide first and spare his poor children...

I pray they are safe... they are so sweet and innocent...

~Snipped~
The search continues for three missing brothers from Lenawee County.

Andrew Ryan Skelton, 9; Alexander William Skelton, 7; and Tanner Lucas Skelton, 5; have been missing since Friday morning.
The boys’ father, John Skelton, said he handed the boys over to a woman named Joann Taylor so he could attempt to hang himself, said Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks. She is said to drive a silver or white minivan.
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Taylor was supposed to bring the boys to their mother but never did, Weeks said. Taylor is believed to be from the Hillsdale or Jackson areas. Though Weeks said he can’t confirm if the story is true.
The boys were dropped off at their father’s house on Wednesday, Weeks said.
Alexander and Andrew were last seen in their father’s backyard by a neighbor around 5 p.m. Thursday, Weeks said. John Skelton is believed to be the last one who saw them on Friday morning.
John Skelton was taken to the hospital by an acquaintance Friday afternoon after he attempted suicide, Weeks said.
The boys’ mother, Tanya Skelton, called police when she heard her husband was in the hospital and the boys had not arrived at her house at 3 p.m. Friday. Weeks said Tanya has had some form of “contact” with Taylor, although he would not elaborate on what that may be.
An Amber Alert was issued on Saturday morning, and the boys are considered to be “in extreme danger.”
Weeks said John Skelton met Taylor and her husband Mark Taylor several years ago when their vehicle broke down on the side of a road. They have maintained contact over the Internet since. Mark is said to be a pastor in the Hillsdale or Jackson area, Weeks said.
The Skeltons are married but separated, Weeks said. Tanya has custody of the boys. John Skelton is currently being cared for in a mental-health facility, Weeks said. Tanya Skelton has been working with police as they look for the boys.
Weeks said Morenci Police, the FBI’s The Southeast Michigan Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Michigan State Police have been helping with the search. They have searched the father’s house and interviewed family members, neighbors and acquaintances.
Searchers found a pair of children’s underwear Saturday in nearby Wakefield Park, but Weeks said tests have confirmed they did not belong to any of the boys.
A news conference held at the Morenci police station Saturday evening was filled with media from both Michigan and Ohio as well as local residents who have been helping look for the boys.
David Foster, 21, had been out with friends searching the surrounding woods since 11 a.m. Saturday. He has known the boys since they were babies.
“They are energetic, young kids,” Foster said. “They are not old enough to realize what’s going on, that’s the bad part.”
Andrew is 4 feet, 1 inch and weighs 45 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. Alexander is 3 foot, 9 inches, weighs 45 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. Tanner is 3 foot, 6 inches, weighs 40 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes.
Police ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of the boys or Joann and Mark Taylor to call 9-1-1 or the Morenci Police Department at 517-458-7104.


http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2010/11/amber_alert_three_lenawee_coun.html

Trying to put a positive spin on it. Hopefully, the children will be returned today. They did state AFTER the weekend. Today being Sunday, maybe they will turn up today.

I'm praying this is the case. And I would think the dad's computer would steer them directly to these people if his story is true.

sitemama wrote:How far apart does the mom and dad live, does anyone know?

They only live about 0.2 miles (three blocks) apart. It is about a minute drive.

awaiting justice wrote:The boys’ mother, Tanya Skelton, called police when she heard her husband was in the hospital and the boys had not arrived at her house at 3 p.m. Friday. Weeks said Tanya has had some form of “contact” with Taylor, although he would not elaborate on what that may be.

I wonder if Tanya's contact with Taylor was in the past or since the boys were reported missing.

Maat wrote:And I would think the dad's computer would steer them directly to these people if his story is true.

I agree Maat. Through emails, IMs, MySpace, or Facebook, the dad's computer should easily lead them to Joann Taylor if the story is true.

I hope these precious little boys turn up today. The father's story seems a little unbelievable to me. I hope this Joann Taylor exists and returns the boys safely.

Police fear 3 Lenawee County children abducted, in 'extreme danger'

Micki Steele / The Detroit News
Last Updated: November 27. 2010 11:17PM

~Snipped~

Nichole DiCenso, a Morenci resident who knows the Skeltons, said this is at least the second time the boys' mother has had to search for them.

"(John Skelton) has taken them to Florida before, just after school started," DiCenso said. "She had to go down there and get them."

Read more: http://www.detnews.com/article/20101127/METRO/11270373/1409/metro/Police-fear-3-Lenawee-County-children-abducted--in--extreme-danger-

This doesn't sound good...........who was the person that found John Skelton and saved his life so quickly?

You can dig and find out plenty about the parents, but nothing about Mark and Joann Taylor.

Here is a disturbing link about the mother.

http://www.life360.com/sex-offender-tanya-skelton-morenci-mi

Here is a disturbing poem that the father wrote on his Myspace page.

The Dumpster

May 31, 2007

Hello mama, I see your fuzzy face

I hear your heart beat

And feel your warm embrace

I feel you tremble

Don't be scared

(chorus)

What did I do mom

What did I say

To make you put me down and run away

Are you late for school, well that can wait

I'm your little boy so mom please stay

I'm cold and alone in this metal room

With plastic bags and a worn out broom

Nobody hears my call for you

Come back mommy 'cause I need you

(chorus)

It's my dying breath and I see a glow

It's an Angel from Heaven

And he's taking me home.

John Skelton

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyday a baby is abandoned. For every abandoned child, a loving couple who can't have a child are denied a chance to complete their family.

If you are pregnant and contemplating abortion, think adoption.

Choose adoption before abortion or abandonment. Give others their dream.

From one caring parent to You the world. Thank You.

http://www.myspace.com/bonesdoesit/blog/270670035

Where are 3 missing Morenci brothers?
Suicidal Dad says he gave kids to woman who can't be found

By GINA DAMRON
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Posted: Nov. 28, 2010

~Snipped~

But the Skelton boys -- Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5 -- are missing, and police have not been able to find a Joann Taylor. Skelton also posted a Facebook message Wednesday indicating that he hoped God and his wife would forgive him.

~Snipped~

MORENCI --They searched in the park, behind bike trails, in hallowed out trees and along the banks of the creek.

Residents of the town of about 2,200 came out Saturday to help police find three young brothers, the oldest two last seen Thursday evening in their father's backyard.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20101128/NEWS06/11280583/1319/Where-are-3-missing-Morenci-brothers

Piper wrote:This doesn't sound good...........who was the person that found John Skelton and saved his life so quickly?

I can't find anything. I'm not sure who found Skelton after his suicide attempt.

He may have planned ahead for this, and thus used the attempted "suicide" as a way to claim mental issues and prevent the police from fully questioning him.

I noticed the name he may have created for this woman "friend:
His name: JOhn
wife name: TAnya
"his friend" JOanne TAylor

The boys could have walked the three blocks to their mother's house. He could have walked them to their mother's house. Yet he finds a mysterious person to take them there? This does not look right, and the boys were not seen publicly since Thursday.

Cali, I think it's very possible he faked his suicide attempt. I pray the boys are okay, but it's not looking good.

3 Michigan boys missing after father drops them off to attempt suicide

By the CNN Wire Staff
November 28, 2010 12:31 p.m. EST



(CNN) -- Police and neighbors were searching for three young Michigan boys Saturday who have been missing since their father claimed he dropped them off with a woman before trying to kill himself a day earlier.

The father survived his suicide attempt and is being cared for in a mental health facility, said Morenci, Michigan, Police Chief Larry Weeks on Saturday.

But Michigan authorities do not know what has happened to his boys -- 5-year-old Tanner Skelton, 7-year-old Alexander William Skelton and 9-year-old Andrew Skelton -- prompting them to issue an Amber Alert on Friday.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/11/27/michigan.missing.children/index.html
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Article & Video

Searchers focus on Ohio State Park in search for three missing boys

Last Updated: November 28. 2010 2:07PM
Mike Wilkinson and Christine MacDonald / The Detroit News

Morenci, Mich. - Searchers are scouring an Ohio state park this afternoon for three young boys they fear are in "extreme danger," left by their father with a stranger just before he attempted suicide.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Department confirmed that volunteers are canvassing Harrison Lake State Park in northwest Ohio, about 10 miles south of Morenci.

Read more:
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20101128/METRO/11280318/Searchers-focus-on-Ohio-State-Park-in-search-for-three-missing-boys#ixzz16bzlM6sL

3 Michigan boys missing after father drops them off to attempt suicide

By the CNN Wire Staff
November 28, 2010

~Snipped~

Weeks said Tanya Skelton had "contact with someone alleging to be Joann," adding only that this communication was not necessarily by phone or in person.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/11/27/michigan.missing.children/index.html

This leads me to believe that Tanya communicated with "Joann" online. John or anybody could have posed as Joann online.

Hi, Justice!

You did an awesome job of setting this thread up.

The pictures of the boys with description is really good. The clarity of the pics is great!

I hope these three little brothers have not been hurt. Very suspicious and strange circumstances.