MORENCI, Mich. — A Michigan father convicted in the disappearance of his three sons has been denied parole, a Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman confirmed Wednesday.
John R. Skelton, 48, is being held at the Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility for three counts of unlawful imprisonment after his three sons, Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5, were last seen at their father’s Morenci home nearly 10 years ago.
Skelton’s parole hearing was held virtually on July 29 due to the coronavirus pandemic, said department of corrections spokesman Holly Kramer.
The board denied his parole because they determined he would continue to pose a risk to the community if he was released, according to the spokesman.
Additionally, Skelton will need to serve an additional two more years before he can be considered by the board again, Ms. Kramer said.
On Facebook, the Skelton brother’s family said that they were “very thankful that our prayers were answered and the parole board came to the correct decision.”
Skelton was arrested shortly after Thanksgiving, 2010, when his sons were last seen at his Morenci home.
Skelton told authorities a succession of accounts for what had happened to his sons after they were last seen playing in his yard, but he was either unwilling or unable to produce the boys — or their bodies — for investigators.
He pleaded no contest to three counts of unlawful imprisonment. Circuit Judge Margaret Noe then sentenced him to the maximum term, 10 to 15 years, in prison.
In February, a Michigan Department of Corrections spokesman said he would be up for the parole hearing with his earliest possible release being Nov. 29.
First Published September 16, 2020, 12:01 p.m.
