Tanya Zuvers, the mother of three young boys who vanished on Thanksgiving 2010, testified Monday that she is a registered sex offender, admitting to a felony conviction related to a relationship with a minor years before her marriage to John Skelton. Skelton, 54, is currently on trial facing three counts of murder and tampering with evidence in the deaths of his sons Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5. Their bodies have never been recovered.
Authorities have long believed Skelton was responsible for the boys' deaths. He previously served a 15-year sentence for unlawful imprisonment after failing to return the children to Zuvers in 2011. He was released late last November but is now held on a $60 million bond after a judge formally declared the boys deceased last year.
During the preliminary hearing, Zuvers recounted the breakdown of her marriage with Skelton, beginning in September 2010. Skelton had proposed moving the family from Michigan to Florida for job opportunities, but Zuvers opposed the move, citing family ties and the boys' established schooling. She also expressed concern about relocating due to her sex offender status.
Zuvers testified that on September 13, 2010, Skelton signed the boys out of school, claiming they were heading to Florida and inquiring about school records. Police intervened, and Skelton returned the children home. This incident raised Zuvers' concerns about the boys' safety, prompting her to consult an attorney about securing sole custody.
Later that day, Skelton left with the two older boys. They called Zuvers the next day, stating they were at a friend's house in Florida. Zuvers then traveled to Florida to attempt to retrieve the children. The marital relationship continued to deteriorate, culminating in an argument the Monday before Thanksgiving, during which Skelton allegedly told the boys their mother was a sex offender who had been to prison. Skelton claimed the boys overheard a phone conversation.
The couple agreed to split custody for the Thanksgiving holiday. Skelton had the boys from Wednesday afternoon through Friday afternoon. On Thanksgiving evening, while the boys were with Skelton, Zuvers spoke with her ex-husband, informing him their marriage was over. The following morning, when Zuvers inquired about picking up the boys early for Black Friday shopping, Skelton informed her the children were not home. Zuvers noted Skelton's van was visible in the driveway from her kitchen window.
Shortly after, Zuvers received a lengthy message from a woman with the same name as Skelton's friend, stating Skelton had left the children with her. Zuvers became suspicious, believing Skelton himself had written the message. In the message, the sender blamed Zuvers for the marital problems and stated she would care for the boys until Skelton returned.
When Zuvers contacted Skelton, he claimed he had injured his foot and was at a health center, stating the boys were with a friend in Jackson, Michigan, and would be returned by 3 p.m. However, a nurse at the health center informed Zuvers that Skelton had been treated for a suicide attempt. When the boys were not returned, Zuvers called 911, and an Amber Alert was issued.
Upon regaining access to her marital home on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Zuvers discovered the house in disarray. A curio cabinet was smashed, small appliances had their cords cut, and a rope was found tied to a banister. Skelton had also written Zuvers a letter expressing his love and apologizing for hurting her, stating, "This time it was on purpose and to kill my pain of losing you."
As the investigation progressed, police informed Zuvers they believed her sons had been murdered by Skelton. The investigation began treating the case as a homicide two to three weeks after the boys' disappearance. During cross-examination, Zuvers stated Skelton never abused his sons, though she recalled an incident where he spanked them with a belt. She reiterated that Skelton never confessed to killing the children and their bodies remain unfound.
Skelton has previously claimed he handed the boys over to an "Underground Sanctuary," which he described as a clandestine organization to protect children. Police have found no evidence to support this claim and noted Skelton has provided inconsistent accounts of the boys' whereabouts.
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