The father of three missing Michigan boys appeared in an Ohio court Wednesday in chains and in a wheelchair.
John Skelton, 39, has been charged with parental kidnapping, the Detroit Free Press reported. But investigators fear the three brothers are dead.
Skelton's sister said he hurt his foot during a bungled attempt to hang himself last week. He was released from an Ohio psychiatric hospital Tuesday
and immediately arrested.
A judge in Lucas County set bail at $3 million and scheduled an extradition hearing Dec. 14.
The boys, Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5, lived with Skelton's ex-wife, Tanya Skelton, 44, in Morenci, Mich., a small town just north of
the Ohio line. Morenci Police Chief Kevin Weeks said he had talked to her about the likely fate of her sons, The Detroit News reported.
"Imagine your worst nightmare come true," he said Tuesday when asked about her reaction. "How would you respond?"
Volunteers have joined police and rescue workers to search the area on both sides of the state line near Morenci since Friday and have found no signs of the boys.