Mother asks Lenawee County probate judge to declare three children dead; judge pauses for written order

Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court — Tanya Zubers, the mother and petitioner in a long-running case over three missing children, asked a probate judge on the record to declare her sons—Andrew Skelton, Alexander Skelton and Tanner Skelton—deceased and to fix their date of death as on or about Nov. 26, 2010.

The request came during a daylong hearing in which Zubers described the events surrounding the children's disappearance, recounted contacts with law enforcement and investigators over the last 14-plus years, and said she has concluded the boys are dead. “No. There is no doubt,” Zubers told the court when asked whether she believed John Skelton killed the children on or about Nov. 26, 2010.

The petition seeks a presumption-of-death finding under Michigan law. Counsel for the petitioner summarized evidence presented at the hearing — including testimony from local police, the Michigan State Police and the FBI — and urged the court to enter an order declaring the children deceased. The judge declined to rule from the bench and said the court will prepare an…