MORENCI, Mich., Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The father of three missing Michigan boys faces three counts of parental kidnapping, authorities said Tuesday.
John Skelton of Morenci had his three sons, Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5, at his home as of Wednesday, and by Friday their mother reported them missing, The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press reported.
Skelton attempted suicide Friday. He was released from the mental health institution where he spent the last few days and is now in custody at the Lucas County Corrections Center in Toledo, Ohio, and will be extradited to Lenawee County, Mich., to face the charges against him.
Skelton and the boys' mother, Tanya Skelton, are in the process of getting divorced and share custody of the children, the newspapers said.
Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks said he doesn't expect the four-day search for the boys to end happily.
"Imagine your worst nightmare come true," he said.
Weeks said comments by several people, including Skelton, suggest the boys are not alive.
Skelton had told investigators he had given the children to a female acquaintance, but police said Skelton was lying.
The couple are involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle. Tanya Skelton filed for divorce in September, and John Skelton took the two older boys out of town without permission twice, once to Florida. A Florida judge forced him to bring them back.
