DETROIT—A judge declared three Michigan brothers dead Wednesday, more than 14 years after they disappeared at Thanksgiving in a small-town tragedy that remains unsolved despite an explicit belief by investigators that their father is responsible.
Lenawee County Judge Catherine Sala granted a request by Tanya Zuvers, the mother of Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner Skelton.
“This is a case of terrible and longstanding impact on the community of Lenawee,” Sala said. “No condolences will ever be enough for such losses suffered.”
But at the same time, the judge rejected a request to also acknowledge that the boys’ father, John Skelton, murdered the children, finding a lack of “clear and convincing evidence” after listening to testimony from law enforcement officers Monday….