MORENCI, Mich. —
Grandparents and friends of the three missing Skelton brothers spoke to the media on Tuesday evening in Morenci, urging the public to remain watchful for any sign of them as spring begins and announcing a community picnic.
There remains a reward of up to $60,000 for information leading to the return or recovery of Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton. The boys disappeared after their father, John Skelton, failed to return them to their mother, Tanya Skelton, on Thanksgiving Day.
“I know it’s been wet, but if you go out mushroom hunting, birdwatching, whatever or just out for a walk, please look,” said Don Zuvers, the boys’ grandfather. “They’re out there somewhere, and we just need the help of people looking. If you spot something that’s unusual, don’t be afraid to call.”
Authorities continue to check tips called in to the Morenci Police Department at 458-7104. Police in February said they now consider the case to be a homicide investigation rather than a missing-persons case.
John Skelton has been charged with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment. He remains in the Lenawee County Jail in lieu of posting $90 million in bail.
Asked if there were anything they would like to say to John Skelton, Don Zuvers replied: “It’s been too long. They need to come home. If you know anything, tell the authorities."
Bev Zuvers added: “I believe, John, that you know where the boys are. The hurt and the pain is already inflicted. You can’t make it any worse by telling us where they’re at. ... Give not only us but your family, our community, our country, our nation some closure. We need to know where the boys are, and you hold the key.”
Don Zuvers said he did not think another full-scale ground search is necessary. He and his wife, Bev Zuvers, both said that as they go about their days they continue to think about the boys and look for them wherever they are.
“Even though it has been six months, the pain in their hearts is still there and they’re still missing those three little precious children, and we’re all praying that somehow there will be an answer soon,” said family friend Kathye Herrera.
Bev Zuvers also related a dream she’d had that she believes was a message from God about the boys.
“In this prayer one evening,” she said, “Andrew crawled up in my lap in my big rocker where’d I’d held him many times and he would hug me. And he said, ‘Grandma, we’ve been staying with Uncle Bob. We didn’t know him very well, but we know him now.’ ...
“Uncle Bob is my brother, who they didn’t know very well. My brother who passed away five years ago in August. I felt that was God’s way of telling me that the boys are safe, they’re just not safe here on Earth. ...
“My heart breaks for the person who is going to make this discovery because, if they are deceased, it’s going to be difficult for them for what they’re going to have to deal with.”
Tanya Skelton was not at the session, and Barb Zuvers said that Tanya is now working full-time at a greenhouse. Tanya Skelton did have a grandchild born on Feb. 1 from an older daughter, Herrera said, but the group acknowledged that Mother’s Day this weekend will be emotionally difficult.
“I think that if Tanya could give a message to people today it would be this is Mother’s Day," the Rev. Donna Galloway said. "And I know she would say, ‘I’m a mom and I’m a grandma, and you had better hug your kids and hold your kids and not get upset at them for spilling the milk on the table because you got them there to spill the milk on the table.”
To help provide good memories, the boys’ family and friends also announced a picnic is planned for Aug. 14 in Wakefield Park. They plan to make it an annual event. They said the free event will be open to surrounding communities and to “everybody who has prayed for, wished for” the boys’ return, Galloway said.
In addition, they urged parents to attend an event Saturday at Detroit’s Ford Field, which is being staged by the Michigan State Police and is aimed at protecting children from abduction. The free session is from 4 to 9 p.m. Parents can register photos, dental records or other identifying information. Free ID kits will be provided, and a candlelight vigil for missing children is planned.
Source: http://www.lenconnect.com/features/x449046876/Family-friends-of-missing-Skelton-boys-urge-public-to-stay-watchful
NamUs Missing Person Profiles for the Skelton Boys
Alexander Skelton: https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/9269/2/
Andrew Skelton: https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/9271/1/
Tanner Skelton: https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/9272/0/
There remains a reward of up to $60,000 for information leading to the return or recovery of Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton. The boys disappeared after their father, John Skelton, failed to return them to their mother, Tanya Skelton, on Thanksgiving Day.
“I know it’s been wet, but if you go out mushroom hunting, birdwatching, whatever or just out for a walk, please look,” said Don Zuvers, the boys’ grandfather. “They’re out there somewhere, and we just need the help of people looking. If you spot something that’s unusual, don’t be afraid to call.”
Authorities continue to check tips called in to the Morenci Police Department at 458-7104. Police in February said they now consider the case to be a homicide investigation rather than a missing-persons case.
John Skelton has been charged with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment. He remains in the Lenawee County Jail in lieu of posting $90 million in bail.
Asked if there were anything they would like to say to John Skelton, Don Zuvers replied: “It’s been too long. They need to come home. If you know anything, tell the authorities."
Bev Zuvers added: “I believe, John, that you know where the boys are. The hurt and the pain is already inflicted. You can’t make it any worse by telling us where they’re at. ... Give not only us but your family, our community, our country, our nation some closure. We need to know where the boys are, and you hold the key.”
Don Zuvers said he did not think another full-scale ground search is necessary. He and his wife, Bev Zuvers, both said that as they go about their days they continue to think about the boys and look for them wherever they are.
“Even though it has been six months, the pain in their hearts is still there and they’re still missing those three little precious children, and we’re all praying that somehow there will be an answer soon,” said family friend Kathye Herrera.
Bev Zuvers also related a dream she’d had that she believes was a message from God about the boys.
“In this prayer one evening,” she said, “Andrew crawled up in my lap in my big rocker where’d I’d held him many times and he would hug me. And he said, ‘Grandma, we’ve been staying with Uncle Bob. We didn’t know him very well, but we know him now.’ ...
“Uncle Bob is my brother, who they didn’t know very well. My brother who passed away five years ago in August. I felt that was God’s way of telling me that the boys are safe, they’re just not safe here on Earth. ...
“My heart breaks for the person who is going to make this discovery because, if they are deceased, it’s going to be difficult for them for what they’re going to have to deal with.”
Tanya Skelton was not at the session, and Barb Zuvers said that Tanya is now working full-time at a greenhouse. Tanya Skelton did have a grandchild born on Feb. 1 from an older daughter, Herrera said, but the group acknowledged that Mother’s Day this weekend will be emotionally difficult.
“I think that if Tanya could give a message to people today it would be this is Mother’s Day," the Rev. Donna Galloway said. "And I know she would say, ‘I’m a mom and I’m a grandma, and you had better hug your kids and hold your kids and not get upset at them for spilling the milk on the table because you got them there to spill the milk on the table.”
To help provide good memories, the boys’ family and friends also announced a picnic is planned for Aug. 14 in Wakefield Park. They plan to make it an annual event. They said the free event will be open to surrounding communities and to “everybody who has prayed for, wished for” the boys’ return, Galloway said.
In addition, they urged parents to attend an event Saturday at Detroit’s Ford Field, which is being staged by the Michigan State Police and is aimed at protecting children from abduction. The free session is from 4 to 9 p.m. Parents can register photos, dental records or other identifying information. Free ID kits will be provided, and a candlelight vigil for missing children is planned.
Source: http://www.lenconnect.com/features/x449046876/Family-friends-of-missing-Skelton-boys-urge-public-to-stay-watchful
NamUs Missing Person Profiles for the Skelton Boys
Alexander Skelton: https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/9269/2/
Andrew Skelton: https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/9271/1/
Tanner Skelton: https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/9272/0/
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