ADRIAN, Mich., Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A Michigan man charged with parental abduction of his three missing sons says he gave them to a couple from a child rescue group.
In an interview broadcast Tuesday by WDIV-TV in Detroit, John Skelton denied he ever hurt the boys. He said he got in touch with an organization because the boys were being abused and met the couple who took his sons at a truck stop in Niles, Mich., in September.
He said he thought when the couple took the boys on Thanksgiving Day it was for a one-night "trial run." He went back and forth between saying the boys are in a "good place" and telling WDIV the only way he ever hurt them was by handing them over to strangers.
Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5, were last seen Nov. 25 at Skelton's home in Morenci, a small town on the Ohio line. Police have said they believe the boys are dead but have not charged Skelton with anything more than kidnapping yet.
Investigators have also said they have no evidence supporting Skelton's story that the boys are with a foster family.
Skelton was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday but the hearing was postponed until Feb. 23.
