Missing Mich. Boys Update: Father of Three, John Skelton, Tells Court "I Can't" Give Kids to Their Mother
ADRIAN, Mich. (CBS/AP) John Skelton, the father of three Michigan boys missing since Thanksgiving, and charged with kidnapping them, says he's unable to turn over the children to their mother.
John Skelton appeared Friday for a brief court hearing as part of his divorce case. The judge asked him whether he was prepared to give the children to their mother, and he answered: "I can't."
The unemployed truck driver is accused of kidnapping his three sons, 9-year-old Andrew, 7-year-old Alexander and 5-year-old Tanner, who were last seen on Thanksgiving in Skelton's backyard in Morenci, Mich., along the Michigan-Ohio state line.
He said during a custody hearing in December that he gave his sons to someone from an "organization."
Skelton initially told investigators that he had given his children to a woman before he attempted to commit suicide in his Morenci home; however, police have found no evidence that the woman even exists.
Skelton then said that he was protecting them from their mother, Tanya Skelton, who he claims was sexually abusing the boys.
Authorities and volunteers searched for the boys in Ohio and Michigan. A police chief leading the effort has said he didn't expect a positive outcome.COMPLETE COVERAGE OF MISSING MICHIGAN BOYS ON CRIMESIDER