MISSOULA, Mont. (WSYM) - On Friday FOX 47 News learned Michigan State Police contacted police in Montana for information about the bones and teeth remains of children that were input into a national database.
The box of bones and teeth were stumbled across in Missoula, MT on September 27, 2017 by a cleaning crew who was in charge of cleaning out the property. The remains were sent to the University of Northern Texas on November 29, 2017. FOX 47's Alani Letang spoke with Missoula Public Information Officer Sergeant Travis Welsh who said their person of interest contacted them and agreed to speak with investigators.
In the meantime, their next step is to interview former residents who used to rent the house, neighbors, and anyone associated with the property. Sergeant Welsh said none of the people they are speaking with are considered suspects of a crime. So far they told FOX 47 News they don't have anything linking the remains to the missing Skelton brothers.
NBC Montana reports they're focused on the gruesome discovery and trying to figure out how the remains ended up there.
"I never knew about it," said one neighbor. "It's just too bizarre," said another neighbor.
One neighbor who used to live in the neighborhood where the remains were found said there was never trouble at the home.
"I never saw any police officers over there. Over the years children have been playing in the front yard," another neighbor said.
"The tenants were dirty, it was unkempt, house yard was a mess. They seemed very withdrawn," someone else from the neighborhood said.
One neighbor said the discovery of the bones was about all he could take, saying "It just really has us scared, if we could move tomorrow we would."
Investigators believe the children who died were all younger than ten ... and that's what interests police in Michigan. They don't know for sure if there's a connection with Andrew, Alexander and Tanner Skelton but even if it is the missing brothers, there is a huge unanswered question. "What exactly happened to place them in this storage shed here in Missoula," asked Travis Welsh, Missoula Public Information Officer.
The Skelton's father John Skelton is serving 10 to 15 years for unlawful imprisonment. He'll be up for parole in three years. If the remains are identified as the missing boys the father's status will potentially change.
The mother released the following statement: "This information has just been presented to our family within the last several hours. We are processing it and hopeful that we will have answers soon. We are thankful for all your thoughts and prayers."
