Overview
- The multi-day preliminary hearing continued on Thursday as prosecutors seek a judge’s finding of probable cause to send John Skelton to trial on three open-murder counts and three tampering counts.
- A state police detective testified that Skelton told him in a November 3, 2025, prison meeting that “They left, and I burnt everything,” a statement that contradicts prior claims that he stayed home on the day the boys vanished.
- Prosecutors introduced computer chat logs from November 18, 2010 in which Skelton wrote phrases such as “It will end this weekend” and “Made preps for things to be done,” which they say show planning and intent.
- Cell‑phone records presented in court show the device connecting to a tower about 19 miles from the family home near Lazy River Campground on Nov. 26, 2010, and also show a period when the phone was powered off, creating a gap in the data.
- Family members described a duffel bag left on a cousin’s porch with three small coats and other child items, relatives turned over a camcorder and USB drive, and Skelton’s ex‑wife gave testimony about the marriage and the days around the disappearance; no ruling on binding Skelton for trial has been issued and the boys’ bodies have never been found.