Mom of Three Boys Missing Since 2010 After Visiting Their Now-Jailed Father Wants Them Declared Legally Dead
In a heart-wrenching plea for closure, Tanya Lynn Zuvers, a Michigan mother, is set to appear in an evidentiary hearing on her petition to have her three sons declared legally dead. The boys—Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner Skelton—have been missing since November 2010, when they disappeared shortly after spending Thanksgiving with their father, John Russell Skelton, in Morency, Michigan. As the tragic anniversary of their disappearance approaches, the emotional weight of this decision underscores the lingering pain that has enveloped their family for nearly 15 years.
A Mother’s Heartbreak
Tanya Zuvers’ journey to this point has been filled with heartache, uncertainty, and an unyielding hope that her boys would someday return. Having been just 9, 7, and 5 at the time of their disappearance, the boys were taken from their mother in a traumatic event that has haunted her since. Zuvers has kept their Christmas presents wrapped and ready for their hopeful return, a poignant symbol of her enduring love and longing.
In a recent post on a Facebook page dedicated to receiving tips and leads regarding the boys’ case, Zuvers shared her decision to file the petition for a legal declaration of death. She expressed the agonizing nature of this choice, noting, “It did not come lightly and was definitely a difficult decision to make. No parent wants to lose a child, but... to have the courts step in and declare them deceased is just unfathomable.” She emphasized that the boys, now adults at over 18 years old, should have returned home but instead remain missing.
The Role of Their Father
The children's father, John Skelton, has been a focal point in the investigation surrounding their disappearance. Currently incarcerated for unrelated charges, Skelton has been described in court documents as being "unable or unwilling to offer any plausible explanation as to the whereabouts of these children." His arrest followed a series of false statements regarding the boys’ location, coupled with erratic behavior that drew the suspicions of law enforcement. Skelton was sentenced in 2011 to 10 to 15 years in prison for unlawful imprisonment but has never been charged with his sons' disappearances.
Investigators retraced Skelton's movements using cellphone records, which contradicted the various, often bizarre stories he shared with law enforcement and family regarding the fate of his children. Questions arose about his mental state after a suicide attempt shortly after the boys went missing, further complicating the narrative of what had transpired that Thanksgiving weekend.
In a series of shocking claims, Skelton suggested that he had sent the boys to protect them from Zuvers, alleging that she posed a danger to their safety. His assertions included fantastical stories about handing them over to an underground group and making vague references to a nonexistent woman named Joanne Taylor. These narratives only deepened the mystery surrounding the case and left investigators puzzled.
The Search for Closure
The hearing set for Monday is a critical step for Zuvers, as it may offer a sliver of closure in a case marred by unanswered questions and elusive justice. As she continues to grieve, being able to declare her sons legally dead would help her settle various legal and financial matters, allowing her to take some control over a shattered life.
In her petition, Zuvers notes that despite the exhaustive searches for her children and ongoing attempts by law enforcement to glean new information from Skelton, he has never offered a credible account of their whereabouts nor shown any emotional response regarding their absence. This apparent indifference compounds the tragedy for Zuvers and offers little solace in her quest for understanding.
The Path Ahead
Although no one can bring her sons back, the legal avenues she is pursuing may chart a path toward some resolution. Declaring the children legally deceased would formally recognize the profound loss she has endured while making it possible for her to confront the practical implications of their absence—settling estate matters, accessing life insurance, and allowing for a path forward in her life.
As discussions unfold in the courtroom, the public and family members remain hopeful that justice will eventually be served, and that the truth surrounding Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner's fate will one day come to light. For now, Tanya Lynn Zuvers stands as a resolute mother, embodying the struggle against the pain of the unknown while holding onto the cherished memory of three boys who should have been by her side all these years.