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

Thanks Ann. Hopefully Joann really exists and hopefully the boys are safe.

AMBER ALERT: Three Missing Children From Lenawee
County Believed to be in Danger
Search Crews Looking For Boys

Updated: Sunday, 28 Nov 2010, 12:45 PM EST



~Snipped~

As for the investigation by police and FBI, they're not focusing on any one person as a suspect, but they continue to question the Father, who is hospitalized with some physical injuries and to have mental evaluation. Both the police and FBI want to know who Joann Taylor is and police say they are trying to locate this person while first checking to see if she exists.

According to the family spokesperson, the children's mother Tanya hasn't slept in two days , but has finally got some rest as family and friends try to steer her away from negative thoughts. Friends and Family also want to know whether this Joann Taylor exists.

Read more: http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/amber-alert:-three-children-from-lenawee-county-believed-to-be-in-danger

In the video, they said Tanya called police Friday morning and asked them to check on the boys when she learned John had tried to commit suicide and was in the hospital. Police went to the house and the boys were nowhere to be found.

Skelton boys remain missing, search to resume Monday morning

Daily Telegram - Adrian, MI
Posted Nov 28, 2010 @ 06:58 PM
Last update Nov 28, 2010 @ 07:19 PM

MORENCI, Mich. — The search continued Sunday without success for three Morenci boys who have been missing since Friday afternoon.

Volunteers and police searched the area around Morenci on Sunday until dark for Tanner Lucas Skelton, 5; Alexander William Skelton, 7; and Andrew Ryan Skelton, 9. Another search is planned to begin Monday morning, Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks said at a late afternoon press conference. Anyone interested in helping should meet at 8 a.m. at the Morenci fire station, 249 W. Main St.

A prayer vigil was held Sunday evening at the Morenci United Methodist Church.

Read more: http://www.lenconnect.com/topstories/x999951406/Skelton-boys-remain-missing-search-to-resume-Monday-morning

Church filled in vigil for missing Morenci boys

Last Updated: November 28. 2010 7:52PM
Mike Wilkinson and Christine MacDonald / The Detroit News

Morenci, Mich. — An overflow crowd of more than 200 people from Ohio and Michigan came to Morenci United Methodist Church for a brief vigil for three missing boys tonight.

As they left, there were many hugs and evidence of even more tears as the community tried to come to grips with the disappearance of Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton.

"It's just a terrible time," said Iola Burton, who attended the service with her husband, Wally. "It's just so sad that it takes an event like this to bring our community together."

Teams are regrouping for another wave of searching Monday in Lenawee County near the Ohio border for the boys police fear are in "extreme danger," left by their father with a stranger just before he attempted suicide.

A task force of law enforcement agencies that include the Morenci police, FBI, the Lenawee and Fulton County, Ohio, sheriff's departments and the Michigan State Police, is looking for the boys, ages 9, 7, and 5, who were reported missing Friday.

The crowd at the church Sunday evening spilled out of the available pews requiring additional chairs to be brought in. In a solemn service, those in attendance filed to the front of the church to light a vigil candle. In the background an unaccompanied piano played seasonal songs including "Peace on Earth" and "O Holy Night."

Read more:
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20101128/METRO/11280318/Police-chief--‘We-are-not-leaving-any-stones-unturned’-in-search-for-missing-boys#ixzz16d2MRvZp

There are additional details in this article about the mom and dad's relationship.
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More than 200 gather at vigil in Morenci for missing boys

By JENNIFER FEEHAN and TOM TROY
BLADE STAFF WRITERS
Toledo Blade - Toledo, Ohio
11-28-10

MORENCI, Mich — Community members held lighted candles and prayed silently during a vigil at a local church Sunday, while authorities continued to seek public help in locating three boys missing since Friday.

More than 200 people filled Morenci United Methodist Church, where the Zuvers, the family of Tanya Skelton, the mother of Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner Skelton, regularly worship.

“It was good for everyone to come together and pray, pray for the best,” said Carrie Joughin, a high school classmate of Ms. Skelton. She said grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins of the boys were in the church.

“I think people are trying to figure it out. I think there are a lot of gut instincts that don't look good,” Ms. Joughin said.

Read more: http://toledoblade.com/article/20101128/NEWS16/101129625/0/RSS03

Police: Father of missing boys lied about relationship with woman

By the CNN Wire Staff
November 29, 2010 2:05 p.m. EST

(CNN) -- The father of thee missing Michigan boys has no "established relationship" with a mystery woman that he claimed he left his sons with before unsuccessfully trying to commit suicide, a police chief investigating the boys' disappearance said Monday.

John Skelton, the father, told police that he dropped the boys off Friday morning with a woman he identified as Joann Taylor, in part to ensure that they did not witness his suicide.

Authorities said Skelton's suicide attempt was not successful, and he is being held at a mental health facility.

"There is no established relationship between he and the person that he described to us as Joann Taylor," Chief of Morenci Police, Larry Weeks, told reporters.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/11/28/michigan.missing.children/index.html?hpt=Sbin

From J4A's link:

Sex Offender Details
Tanya Lynn Skelton
617 Maple Dr
Morenci, MI, 49256
Female, White, 5'10, 200lbs lbs, Blond Or Strawberry, Brown eyes, DOB: 09/14/1966, 44


Charges: Criminal Sexual Conduct 4th Degree (Multiple Variables)

That is disturbing information.

Cali wrote: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.

Interesting thinking on the name, Cali! Sounds like his suicide attempt may have been faked, or he chickened out and couldn't do himself in.

John Skelton's story is slowly falling apart. There is no Joann Taylor per LE.

They are going to search an 18 mile stretch of road in Williams County, Ohio thinking John Skelton could have left the boys in that area.

I think the headline said John could have dumped then on the side of the road!

Profiler: Dad's Story of Missing Kids "Bogus"
Search Continues for 3 Michigan Brothers and "Mystery Woman" Not Seen Since Father Attempted Suicide


Watch CBS News Videos Online

~Snipped~

On "The Early Show" Monday, Pat Brown, a criminal profiler, said the father's story is the "biggest bunch of bull I ever heard."

"It's a bogus story," she said.

"Doesn't make a darn bit of sense. We're talking about a man who he just wants the children to go back to the mother, so he can commit suicide. Why doesn't he simply drive them over there and drop the children himself or have his mother do it? Why does he call some stranger, and oh, by the way, he can't even give the police the woman's address or phone number? They have no idea how he even contacted her. Yeah, he has no record on his cell phone. He has no record on his Internet. It's a bogus story."

Brown said the spelling of the mystery woman's name is "curious."

She said, "If I'm reading correctly, this is the spelling he gave to the police: he said Joann, without an e. His mother's name is Roxaan, which is fascinating, because a lot of times [if] you try to come up with a phony name you will pick something close to what you already know. So, it's hard to come up with something completely unknown to you say, let me think, I know a guy named Joe - or Joann like my mother's name. I think he made up the names.

"And that suicide attempt? Don't buy that, either. How do you fail to hang yourself? Almost everybody who tries can do it successfully. I think he's pretending to be in insane; that's just his defense starting to set up there."

So what does Brown think happened to the boys?

Brown said, "It's a horrifying thought but, you know, sometimes in these divorce situations if you have a person with a personality disorder, he thinks, you know, 'I'm not going to accept this divorce or let you have the kids.' She had full custody. 'She's not going to get them back. If I can't have them, she can't have them.'

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/29/earlyshow/main7099072.shtml

Three Young Michigan Boys Missing, Cops Say Dad Lied About Relationship With Woman Who Allegedly Has Kids
Boys' Father Says He Gave His Sons to a Woman Named Joann Taylor, Cops Not So Sure

By EMILY FRIEDMAN and ABBIE BOUDREAU
Nov. 29, 2010



The father of three missing Michigan boys lied about having a relationship with a woman to whom he said he gave the brothers in an attempt to shield them from his botched suicide attempt, police said today.

"We can confirm that there is no established relationship between [John Skelton] and the person he described as Joann Taylor," Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks said.

Skelton had told police that he handed sons Andrew Skelton, 9, Alexander Skelton, 7, and Tanner Skelton, 5, off to Taylor to return them to their mother on Thanksgiving evening. Skelton is separated from his wife, Tanya Skelton, who has full custody of the boys.

Skelton had said he met Taylor and her husband a few years ago when he helped them after their car broke down, and then began e-mailing her, police said.

But confirming that Taylor even exists has been a challenge for authorities since the boys disappeared.

"A reported relationship between Mr. Skelton and Joann Taylor doesn't exist," Weeks said, adding that Skelton had lied during questioning.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/missing-michigan-brothers-search-focuses-mysterious-joann-taylor/story?id=12264133

Mother Of Missing Boys On Sex Offender List

State records show the mother of three missing boys is on Michigan's sex-offender registry for a misdemeanor committed in 1998. Tanya Skelton pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Records show it was a plea bargain after she was accused of having sex with a 14-year-old boy who had worked for her at rental properties. She was known then as Tanya Derby.

Family spokeswoman Kathye Herrera says it's not relevant to the status of the missing kids.

Read more: http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=13582923

Working in mental health, I can promise you, a LOT of people attempt to hang themselves and fail. It is really surprising. Some come through with minimal damage, some have broken necks, or permanent throat damage, or even brain damage.

Not that it means HE made a real attempt. Just noting sometimes people fail at these attempts. And I am really concerned about what he really did with these boys, now. Obviously, a very unstable man. Why were the visits NOT supervised?

I wonder if the dad killed his sons in order to give himself the "courage" to kill himself? Where I live we had a similar situation years ago where the father killed everyone in the house and failed at his own suicide.

I kept reading that this dad gave the boys to this woman to shield them from the suicide-now, I would think that the "woman" would contact police immediately if that were the case. That's what made the story hokey to me.

Nonetheless, I pray these boys are safe and are found soon.

Police Chief: Father lied about friend picking up boys; their whereabouts still unknown
Police now searching in Pioneer, Ohio

By: Tom Wait
November 29, 2010



~Snipped~

On Monday, search crews from the FBI, Michigan State Police and Morenci Police continued looking for Skelton's sons, five-year-old Tanner, seven year-old Alexander and nine year-old Andrew. Law enforcement along with dozens of volunteers searched the Lazy River Campground in Pioneer, Ohio just south of the Michigan state line.

That search was suspended and volunteers are now headed to search other areas.

Morenci's Police Chief also told reporters that now investigators want to know if anyone saw the boys in Skelton's 2000 Dodge Minivan in the early morning hours of Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, That van is now in the custody of police.

Skelton is currently in the hospital. He suffered a fractured ankle in an alleged suicide attempt. He is being held on a psychiatric hold, which police say is common procedure when someone tries to hurt themselves.

Sources tell Action News police and FBI have been fanning out across the Michigan-Ohio border searching abandoned homes and wooded areas.

Read more: http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/state/amber-alert-issued-for-three-btothers-from-morenci%2C-michigan.

I wonder if " Joann" lived at the " Sawgrass" .. in Williams Co Michigan???

How sad.. those poor boys.. I fear the worst, and based on the monsters Myspace.. I hope they are looking in every dumpster and the town dump...

God Bless them...

Also, I just want to add that imo the mothers plea deal is irrelevant to this story...

I always fear that distractions are a negative influence on the actual story ... Imo this is how victims of tragic crimes get lost in the process (like Kyron) .. as soon as there is dirt no mater big or small, it allows investigations to go cold right off the bat while LE and the jury of public opinion discuss dirt on someone close to an investigation where proper investigations cease...

Search For Missing Boys Moves Across State Lines
Police Believe Cell Phone Records May Help Find Young Brothers

UPDATED: 4:25 pm EST November 29, 2010

MORENCI, Mich. -- The search for three young brothers from Morenci moved from Michigan into Ohio on Monday.

Investigators said they are hoping cell phone records may help lead to the whereabouts of 5-year-old Tanner, 7-year-old Alexander and 9-year-old Andrew Skelton. The boys were last seen the day after Thanksgiving when their father John Skelton, tried to commit suicide.

WATCH VIDEO: Search For Missing Boys Moves Across State Lines
RAW VIDEO: Police Reveal Updates In Boys' Disappearance
WATCH VIDEO: Search Continues For Missing Michigan Brothers
SEE IMAGES: 3 Michigan Brothers Missing
RAW VIDEO: Morenci Police Chief Press Conference
VIDEO: FBI, Planes, Dogs, Search For 3 Mich. Boys

Read more: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/25931135/detail.html

Maat, thanks for the info about people often failing when they try to hang themselves. I was under the impression that most people didn't fail. One of the stories says he fractured his ankle in his alleged attempt. I wish people thinking about committing a murder-suicide would commit the suicide first.

AJ and Sherry, I also find the story hokey and think Joann is as fictional as Zanny the Nanny. If John was telling the truth about not wanting the boys to be there when he committed suicide, all he would've had to do is drive the boys three blocks to their mom's house and make up an excuse about why he was dropping them off early.

Maat, thanks for the info on the failed hangings, that is very surprising.

You do see failed suicide attempts, many times it's a cry for help, where they didn't take as many pills as they claimed they did or right afterwards they will call someone to tell them what they've done because they really don't want to die.

Even though the information on the mother's conviction and prison record isn't relevant to her little boys missing, I think it's still a necessary background search that needs to be done in any missing child case. It's pretty clear here the mother isn't the culprit, she's also a victim. It's just a fact about her past that happens to be public record, she is a registered sex offender. Maybe this guy has held this over her head for all these years, who knows. She was convicted in 1999 and their oldest boy is 9 years old. If the father had been a registered sex offender we would certainly want to know that, just my opinion.

I'm still hoping these little guys are found safe.

Still no sign of missing Skelton boys as search wraps up for the night

By Erik Gable
Daily Telegram
Posted Nov 29, 2010 @ 06:23 PM
Last update Nov 29, 2010 @ 06:44 PM


MORENCI, Mich. — After scouring the area for signs of three missing Morenci boys throughout the day Monday, search crews suspended their efforts for the night, with plans to begin again Tuesday morning.

As dusk fell, fire and rescue vehicles pulled into the Morenci fire station and a helicopter flew overhead.




Read more:
http://www.lenconnect.com/news/x1384146041/Still-no-sign-of-missing-Skelton-boys-as-search-wraps-up-for-the-night