It's one of the biggest mysteries in the state of Michigan, and one seems to have no end, but maybe now, there can be a form of 'closure' for a heartbroken mother.

Fourteen years ago, the Skelton brothers—Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner—disappeared during a visit with their father in Morenci, Michigan, leaving a gaping hole in the lives of their loved ones and the community. Despite exhaustive searches and investigations, the boys have never been found, and the mystery of their disappearance remains unresolved.

On Thanksgiving 2010 the three young brothers from a small town in southern Michigan disappeared without a trace.  Alexander, Andrew, and Tanner Skelton were reported missing by their mother Tanya Zeuvers when their father John Skelton didn’t return the boys after spending the holiday with them.  The father has claimed that he gave the boys to an underground group for protection,  but their mother feels her sons are possibly dead.

In 2010, the case moved back to the forefront when a story was featured on the HLN Original Series Real Life Nightmare. The HLN series took another look at the case of the missing boys and where the investigation stood at that time, For those involved the case has always been a priority.

At the time of the airing in 2010, we chatted with Detective/ Lieutenant Jeremy Brewer of the Michigan State Police who was the lead investigator on the case and he told us they are still following leads and looking for closure.

"The State Police continue to look at tips and leads in this investigation. The boys father still continues to be silent so we are asking the public to be our eyes and ears in the hopes to bringing closure to the family and community."

Now, 14 years after the disappearance, the boy's mother is seeking to find some peace by having her sons declared legally dead through the courts. Tanya Zuvers filed the paperwork last December and a pretrial hearing was scheduled in Lenawee County Probate Court. Zuvers said in a statement the decision was a tough one to make saying;

"This decision came after much thought and discussion with my family and 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."

John Skelton on more than one occasion has said that "The boys would hibernate until they graduate".  Today, Andrew Skelton would be 23 years old, Alexander Skelton would be 20, Tanner Skeleton would be 18, and still no sign of the three brothers.

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John Shelton pleaded no contest in 2011 to unlawful imprisonment and parental kidnapping. Skelton was sentenced to 10 to 15 years behind bars.  He’s looking at a release date of 2025 and has been denied parole several times.

If you have any information on the Skelton brothers, contact Michigan State Police at 517-636-0689 or michigan.gov/michtip.

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