The remains of three children found in Tennessee are being tested to see if they belong to three young brothers who disappeared from their Michigan home 15 years ago.

Memphis police discovered the unidentified remains of three children, believed to be between three and seven years of age, in a wooded area earlier this month.

Officials believe the remains could have been there for years, and the cause of death for the children is undetermined.

The discovery prompted Michigan State Police (MSP) to contact the local authorities to determine if the remains belong to the missing Skelton brothers.

Nine-year-old Andrew, seven-year-old Alexander and five-year-old Tanner Skelton vanished on Thanksgiving Day 2010.

MSP Lieutenant Rene Gonzales told WTOL the agency’s cold case unit has been in contact with the Memphis Police Department and is providing them with DNA and dental records of the brothers.

However, Gonzales noted that they do not believe the remains belong to the Skelton brothers based on the timeline of their disappearance, but they are running the tests to eliminate the boys as possibilities.  

The boys’ father, John Skelton, 54, was charged with murdering his three sons in November and is being held in jail on a $60 million bond, records show.

Nine-year-old Andrew, seven-year-old Alexander and five-year-old Tanner vanished after they went to their father’s house for Thanksgiving in 2010

Investigators are now testing the remains of three children, believed to be between three and seven years of age, found in Memphis earlier this month to see if they belong to the brothers

The charges came just days before Skelton was due to be released from prison after serving a 15-year sentence for unlawful imprisonment for failing to return the boys to their mother after they spent the holiday with him.

Authorities had always believed the three boys were dead and that Skelton was responsible.

Their mother, Tanya Zuvers, released a statement saying she does not believe the remains belong to her sons, WDIV reported.

‘However, we understand that the situation is still developing, and we are awaiting official forensic analysis results for confirmation,’ she said.

‘No matter who the bones belong to, some families’ world will be shattered by the news of their children’s deaths. 

‘We as a family continue to pray for answers for ourselves, and pray for the family/families that these precious babies belong to that they find peace in knowing where their babies are.’

Because their bodies were never found, Skelton was charged with three counts of unlawful imprisonment and pleaded no contest in 2011.

In March 2025, a judge declared the boys dead after Zuvers asked the court for a formal declaration of death to give her closure and provide ‘respect’ to the brothers.

John Skelton (pictured), 53, has been charged with the murder of his three sons almost 15 years after they disappeared

Authorities had always believed the three boys were dead and that Skelton was responsible. Skelton has said that he handed the boys over to an underground group to protect them from their mother

Skelton (pictured in court in 2011) was days away from being released after serving a 15-year sentence for unlawful imprisonment charges connected to their disappearance when he was charged with their murder

‘This development marks a significant moment in a long and painful journey,’ Zuvers said at the time.

‘While I understand the public interest in this case, I ask that my family´s privacy be respected as we process this news and continue to grieve the loss of Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner.’

Skelton has said that he handed the boys over to an underground group to protect them from their mother.

Police have never found any evidence of the claim and said that Skelton has provided differing accounts of who he entrusted his kids to.

Investigators said Skelton fed them a long string of lies about the boys’ whereabouts and that his claims that they were given to other people for their safety were false.

The Daily Mail contacted the Michigan State Police and the Memphis Police Department for comment.

Skelton’s next court hearing is scheduled for August 24.