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I don't think there's any question about their fate. If they were alive, Skelton would have used this as a get-out-of-jail-free card, just my opinion.
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Wth? That title doesn't even make sense with the rest of the article...what am I missing?
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Wth? That title doesn't even make sense with the rest of the article...what am I missing?
Do you mean what I said? "most recentest"? If so, my bad - just kind of an update kind of thing from me.
If you mean the article - well, I think that is self explanatory.......
I was trying to bring a little levity to the thread. Apparently I failed?
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No, no...I meant the title of the article: "Investigators, family to give update on missing Morenci brothers" really doesn't make sense with the content of the article.
MORENCI, Mich. — Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks announced Monday that his police department has scheduled a press conference to update the media on the “current status” of the investigation into three boys who have been missing for more than two months.
Chief Weeks will discuss the case and “shift in the investigative focus” at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Morenci Fire Department, 249 West Main St., a press release said.
The Skelton boys — Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5 — have been missing since Thanksgiving Day weekend. Their father, John Skelton, 39, is in the Lenawee County jail, charged with parental kidnapping in their disappearance.
Kathye Herrera, a family friend and spokesman, will also be at the event to talk to media. Mayor Keith Pennington, will talk about the reward fund and fund-raising efforts. _______________________
I don't see where it says anyone has "given up".
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I would think that "shift in the investigative focus" would indicate moving from a missing persons/kidnapping investigation to a homicide investigation. 
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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STOP....I misread the title of the article. It's crystal clear now.  Carry on. 
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As much as I'm glad you get on here and give us updates as you get them. I cringe every time I see that this thread has new posts.
I always open it hoping to read good news but expecting really terrible news.
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Quote:
I would think that "shift in the investigative focus" would indicate moving from a missing persons/kidnapping investigation to a homicide investigation.
It was a body recovery situation back in November. We were even told that when we went out to search. "We are not looking for live people. This is a recovery. You may see things you don't want to see. We are looking in waterways, or for any disturbed dirt which may mean a burial site. If you see ANYTHING out of the ordinary you MUST let the firemen in your group know about it. Do not touch anything. Do not disturb anything. The firemen in your group will determine if what you find is worth calling law enforcement. Again, this is a recovery situation."
I'm very interested in what the chief has to say.
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Well, the press conference today......it is now officially a murder case, due to some things they have learned apparently. Most people thought it was a murder case a while back, but now the cops are admitting as much. http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20110201/NEWS16/110209902/-1/RSS10I pretty much hate it.
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Look at the picture in the link......who could kill those boys???????
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Even him getting gutted by a makeshift shank (an outcome I wouldn't cry over if it became a reality) can't reconcile the loss of those three boys.  This happened about a forty-five minutes from my neck of the woods so it does hit home.
Politicians are puppets, y'all. Let's get Geppetto!
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j/c http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20110209/NEWS02/110209383/-1/RSS10Basically, he was in court today and his attorney got a continuance on the kidnapping charges until Feb. 23. The prosecuting attorney is hoping to have a trial on those charges sometime this summer. (unless, of course, the bodies are found, at which time it will be 3 counts of murder - that's me talking).
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Quote:
j/c
http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20110209/NEWS02/110209383/-1/RSS10
Basically, he was in court today and his attorney got a continuance on the kidnapping charges until Feb. 23.
The prosecuting attorney is hoping to have a trial on those charges sometime this summer.
(unless, of course, the bodies are found, at which time it will be 3 counts of murder - that's me talking).
Refresh my memory here arch.. where is he saying the kids are?
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Look at the picture in the link......who could kill those boys???????
Horrible. Absolutely horrible 
I know you made this thread a few months ago but it's great that you tried to help. Kudos to you.
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Quote:
Quote:
j/c
http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20110209/NEWS02/110209383/-1/RSS10
Basically, he was in court today and his attorney got a continuance on the kidnapping charges until Feb. 23.
The prosecuting attorney is hoping to have a trial on those charges sometime this summer.
(unless, of course, the bodies are found, at which time it will be 3 counts of murder - that's me talking).
Refresh my memory here arch.. where is he saying the kids are?
Well, originally (the day before thanksgiving I believe), he said he gave them to a lady - last name was Taylor I believe - to take them back to their mom's house. He then "attempted" suicide, but hurt his leg, so he called a friend to take him to the hospital.
The search for the boys began shortly there after, as there was no Taylor lady - a couple of days later he told the cops and FBI to look in the water.......
A week - 2 weeks later??? not sure - he said "I gave them to an organization". He also said he "had to" to get them away from their mom that was sexually abusing them.
A few weeks later he named the "organization". Supposedly it is/was "The United Foster Outreach and Underground Sanctuary"
Problem is, the police and FBI have found no such organization.
There has been no trace or sighting of the kids. None. Any and all reports of sightings have been debunked.
He and the mother had been in the middle of a divorce at the time the kids were (murdered).
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Quote:
Quote:
Look at the picture in the link......who could kill those boys???????
Horrible. Absolutely horrible 
I know you made this thread a few months ago but it's great that you tried to help. Kudos to you.
More than horrible. Utterly disgusting.
The search groups were 8 to 12 or so people - and there were at least 2 firemen with each group. The fire people were from all over. They were the "in charge" people - if you found anything suspicious, you yelled for them, they'd check it out, radio in, etc.
The one day they were getting a group to head into Ohio, but the firemen were from Sanduskey, one from near detroit, and 2 others from places in Ohio. They had no clue where we were going. The head guy asked if anybody knew the area at "fulton co. rd.....and 20-A". I said "where?".
Well, yeah, I know it - I hunt less than a mile from there. I live less than 10 miles from there. I know the property owners, and the people that live there..........
We actually found an area of freshly turned dirt in a field there. Roughly 4to 5 feet wide - perhaps 7 feet long. Along a ditch - maybe 500 yds. from the road. The sheriff was called, but apparently nothing came of it.
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What kinda jail time is he looking at (if) God forbid the children are not ever found?
It puts ice in my veins and fire in my heart to think that this guy could possibly one day be set free.
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Honestly? I think 1 yr. per charge is the max. The only charges as of now are 3 counts of parental kidnapping. (and, I may be wrong, but I remember reading that for parental kidnapping, 1 yr. is the max. They charged him with 3 accounts - so, 3 years max. Again, I might be wrong on that. And obviously, the case is being investigated as murder now - but until it can be proven - IF it can be proven - he's in jail awaiting trial on 3 counts of parental kidnapping.)
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So possibly in 3 years he could be out of Jail. I can't even fathom someone wanting to live after taking his own kids lives let alone keep the lie going that long.
Thanks for the updates.
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You are thinking as a rational human being though.
This guy is neither rational, nor human.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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So possibly in 3 years he could be out of Jail. I can't even fathom someone wanting to live after taking his own kids lives let alone keep the lie going that long.
Thanks for the updates.
My understanding is, yes, as of now, he's facing a max. of 1 year per charge - 3 years total.
I want to be clear here: I do not know that for a fact, it's just what I have read.
I do know for a fact that as of today, he is being charged with 3 counts of parental kidnapping, but I also know the case has turned into a murder case/homicide case.
With no bodies, it's tough to prove, although that is what the police are going for now.
The guy may be innocent. But, he's given no hope, nor proof, that he is.
I WILL keep the updates coming as they are available. The law works slowly sometimes..........
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Thanks for the info Arch..
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Yes - he is charged with 3 counts of parental kidnapping. The maximum sentence is 1 year and 1 day for that charge. 3 counts - 3 years and 3 days - max.
That is what he is charged with as of now. The investigation has gone to, basically, a murder investigation...........we'll see how that turns out. But as of today - if proven guilty of parental kidnapping, he's facing a total of 3 years and 3 days.
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Just another update. The father HAD been charged w/parental kidnapping - 3 counts, punishable by up to 1 year and 1 day in prison on each count. Today, the prosecutor added kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment to the charges. Kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment carries a max. penalty of life in prison. http://www.foxtoledo.com/dpp/news/New-charges-for-SkeltonThe father still says the kids are alive - but won't say where they are - only that he "doesn't know". Perhaps facing life in prison now - maybe that will help him "remember". Not just 3 years and 3 days - life. I bet he still won't talk, cause all he would be able to say is "I killed them". We'll see I guess. Next court date is March 9th.
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I cringe every time I see you have posted to this thread.. I keep thinking that one of these days, you are gonna tell us they are officially gone.. scary.
I'm not a fan of waterboarding,, but maybe, in this case?
#GMSTRONG
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"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe." Damanshot
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I cringe every time I see you have posted to this thread.. I keep thinking that one of these days, you are gonna tell us they are officially gone.. scary.
I'm not a fan of waterboarding,, but maybe, in this case?
Well, the guy has a "get out of jail free" card at his disposal. 
Tell where the kids are. He hasn't.
Now that he's facing the possibility of life in prison, perhaps he'll speak out about where the kids are, and/or what he did to them.
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As long as he gets put in general population when he hits prison, it'll work itself out.
Browns is the Browns
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You know what gets me with this case? If he did "give" the kids to someone to keep them safe, why hasn't that peron come forward? Makes me think the very worst that someone has the kids and hasn't come forward. As a mother, I would never have went the route he did to protect my kids. I know too many other LEGAL ways to protect the kids than give them to someone to hide.
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You know what gets me with this case? If he did "give" the kids to someone to keep them safe, why hasn't that peron come forward?
Because in my heart, he didn't give the kids to anyone.
Now, there are 1 or 2 people on here that will accuse me of having already played judge and jury.
However, if you read the whole thread, you'll see the dad's story changed many times...........from the beginning when he said he gave them to a lady to take back to their mom, to him telling the police and fbi to look in water to find them, to his "attempted" suicide, to his "i gave them to a lady to keep them away from their mom, to "I gave them to an organization ( of which the police and fbi could find no such organization)......
Yeah - the kids are dead. Yeah, I've already made up my mind. If the guy wants a fair trial, he needs to come forward with info - if he won't/can't - he can go to jail for the rest of his life. HE is the one that holds the key to his guilt or innocence - not anyone else.
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As long as he gets put in general population when he hits prison, it'll work itself out.

Thanks for the update Arch sounds like this fish is hooked.
A man would have already fest up to the truth, but then no man kills his own children either.
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I have been following this thread and Arch, I do agree with you. If he had given the kids to someone then they are alive but with all the changes in the story and all the time that has passed without someone coming forward that they have the children, they are either dead or he did give them to someone but that someone was into human trafficking.
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I don't think it was human trafficking............ I mean, we all know what that involves, and I just can't see a dad doing that to his kids.
Of course, it's hard to imagine a dad killing his kids as well.....
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I know Arch. I could never understand how someone could hurt anyone or anything that is helpless. But this guy could have been one of those really stupid people that do not realize that there are people out there looking for his type of stupid. I know that the trafficking idea is a long shot but it is something that I would have looked into if I were a cop. Child predators are out there and do traffick in children. Sick as it sounds it could have happened and he really doesn't know where the kids are. But as I as before, I tend to agree with you that the children are no longer among the living.
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j/c
Just a short update. John Skelton was in court today for a divorce proceeding. Judge finalized it.
Tomorrow he gets arraigned on 3 counts of felony kidnapping.
In court today, he tried to get custody/joint custody of the kids by saying "if she gets custody, we'll never see the kids again because I gave them to an organization".
What a lying sack.
Once he gets through the court system on the felony kidnapping charges, I'll update it again - although there probably won't be anything to say other than "he got life" in prison.
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Thanks for keeping us up to date with this human tragedy Arch.
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j/c http://www.toledoblade.com/Courts/2011/07/28/Skelton-pleads-no-contest-to-imprisonment-charges.htmlWell, the father plead "no contest" today to 3 charges of unlawful imprisonment. I don't remember for sure what the penalty for each count could be......I do remember that either the unlawful imprisonment - OR parental kidnapping - could lead to a sentence of life. If the unlawful imprisonment charge was the one that could lead to a life sentence - he could get 3 life terms. But for some reason, it seems the charge of parental kidnapping was the one I remember being punishable by up to life........
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 Just can't believe they have no further info on this case.
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http://www.wtol.com/link/502476/httpwwwf...text7cfrontpageI just read this - the parental kidnapping charges carried a possible life sentence - the unlawful imprisonment charges carry a max of 15 years. His attorney (quoted in the article) says he'll serve 15 years, concurrently - not consecutively - meaning he'll serve at most, 15 years. If his attorney has it correct. I would encourage anyone that cares about kids to read this link. It gives a few details even I didn't know about......
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No bodies. No bones. No witnesses........
In the link I gave - they do know that skelton searched for "how to break a neck" a week before the kids were missing.
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Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum 3 kids missing in Morenci, MI
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