DeBlase and Skelton children missing - murdered by their fathers?

[DickTracy]

MORENCI, Mich. —

A hearing that stalled John Skelton’s child kidnapping case for three months was waived Wednesday afternoon.

The Morenci father made a brief, unscheduled appearance in Lenawee County District Court to say he did not want a preliminary examination after all on kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment counts. Judge James E. Sheridan ordered him bound over to circuit court for arraignment on June 9.

Skelton, 39, remains in jail while the case proceeds to the next stage. He is charged with kidnapping his sons, Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5. They disappeared from Skelton’s home during a Thanksgiving visit. Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks announced on Jan. 31 the investigation had been refocused as a homicide case.

Skelton has claimed he turned the boys over to an “organization” for protection.

The Lenawee County Prosecutor’s Office originally charged Skelton with parental kidnapping counts carrying a maximum one-year prison term. A month after the case reached circuit court, Prosecutor Jonathan Poer filed additional kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment counts carrying potential life and 15-year prison terms.

Three weeks later, Skelton asked that the case be sent back to district court for a new arraignment and a preliminary examination. The prosecution would have to present evidence to support the new charges at the examination in order for the case to be sent back to circuit court for trial.

Public defender John Glaser said that after discussions with Skelton it was agreed he would not go through the preliminary examination process.

Bond for Skelton remains at $90 million.

Skelton is also scheduled to appear in circuit court on June 7 for a divorce trial. Skelton is to act as his own attorney in the trial to settle property division disagreements with his wife, Tanya Skelton. Custody of their three sons is also an unsettled issue.
http://www.lenconnect.com/skelton/x12937...-boys-case