The man asked, what are you doing here? Boyer remembers. Some attributed his bizarre and violent behavior to a head injury suffered in this event. THE KILLING OF KEN REX MCELROY THIRTY YEARS LATER. Dozens of them gathered at Skidmores American Legion hall on the morning of July 10, 1981. Anticipating McElroys typical moves, Stratton waited on a back road near the Kansas border. No one has been charged in connection with McElroys death. There's a long list of crimes said to have been committed by McElroy, including shooting multiple people. What set off McElroy and put the local grocer in his crosshairs was the pettiest of offenses. [12] The DA declined to press charges. The verdict was second-degree assault and two years. The courts would not help us or Skidmore. June 25th, 1981: McElroy returns to Skidmore out on bail until an appeal hearing. Additional charges were filed against McElroy.[7]. In Broad Daylight: A murder in Skidmore, Missouri|Paperback McElroy burned down the girls home and shot her familys dog to force her parents to agree to the marriage. The Killing of Ken Rex McElroy Thirty Years Later No One Saw A Thing centers around the 1981 murder of Ken Rex McElroy in Skidmore Missouri and other crimes committed in the town and surrounding area over the years. Were the citizens justified in taking matters into their own hands? Ken Rex McElroy (1934 - 1981) - Genealogy That became the pattern. Trena dove from the truck and was taken to safety. Ken was 18 and Oleta was 16. Once, he even got out and fired a shotgun up in the pine tree by their house. They were witnesses. The murder of Ken Rex McElroy took place in plain view of dozens of residents of this small farm town, under the glare of the morning sun. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Somebody would hear his name, and the legend grew bigger. He was freed on bond. He quit.. They could have pushed and dug, pushed and dug and gotten nothing, said Huston. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. [14] Trena remarried and moved to Lebanon, Missouri, where she died of cancer on her 55th birthday on January 24, 2012.[15]. He was shot at several times and hit twice, once by a centerfire rifle and once by a .22 rimfire rifle. His eyes just really put you in defense modehe really looked like a mean person.. Bottles, glasses for restaurants and barsincomible/Getty ImagesFull of Audienceuschools/Getty ImagesAn American police officer posing arms folded beside cop carDarrenMower/Getty ImagesCar Wash Truck SprayA-Digit/Getty ImagesCity People Setedge69/Getty ImagesSilhouette of people in action4x6/Getty ImagesCaucasian farmer standing in irrigated fieldHill Street Studios/Getty ImagesYoung woman on the streetSensorSpot/Getty ImagesShot Truck Driverwwing/Getty ImagesOlder Caucasian man standing with hands in pocketsSam Diephuis/Getty ImagesOutlines of rebellionsshironosov/Getty Imagesmain street remote rural prairie towndlerick/Getty ImagesBlank magazine on wooden backgroundgrinvalds/Getty ImagesEmpty Country Road In UsaDan Thornberg / EyeEm/Getty ImagesCaucasian farmer wearing gloves leaning on wooden fenceSteve Smith/Getty ImagesJudge holding gavel in courtroomChris Ryan/Getty ImagesAuthentic Cowboy Rancher Portraitavid_creative/Getty ImagesSilhouettes of three cowboys on a white backgroundheartbar/Getty ImagesCaucasian security officers posing with flashlightKirk Marsh/Getty ImagesPrivate investigator reports what he seestzahiV/Getty ImagesThis farm is my pride and joypixdeluxe/Getty Imagesdark portrait of a man in a hoodserikbaib/Getty ImagesWhite colored house with blue doorMableen/Getty ImagesYoung couple havi EXTERNAL CREDITSGrant Henderson - Editor+Rick Weller- GFX Artist His hunch paid off, and McElroy found himself handcuffed and charged with assault. That was the last failure of criminal justice.. 10 Things You Need To Know About The Documentary No One - ScreenRant So the townspeople held a meeting. Nodaway County Sheriff Dan Estes suggested they form a neighborhood watch. [1], McElroy was born in 1934, the 15th of 16 children born to a poor, migrant tenant-farming couple named Tony and Mabel (ne Lister) McElroy, who had moved between Kansas and the Ozarks before settling outside of Skidmore. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The Story Of Ken McElroy The Vicious Bully Killed By His Town. She was present at the time of his death. Carjackers Steal More Cars Many With Kids Still Inside, After Indulgent Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday Signals Abstinence, Fasting. The sheriff suggested they form a neighborhood watch and advised the group not to confront the man. Shortly after being released, McElroy was at D&G Tavern making threats about murdering Bowenkamp. As he sat drinking at the bar, word got back to the men at the Legion Hall that he was in town. Trena McElroy remarried and had a fairly normal life, refusing interviews after she left Skidmore. The man identified by the widow as the main gunman recently died, something Mr. Baird raised in suggesting that the case may never be reopened. They settle in Skidmore. One of the people shot was a local farmer named Romaine Henry, who McElroy shot in the stomach for trying to chase him off of Henry's own land. McElroy was never a popular man. And its likely to stay that way. The 12-year-old's parents initially opposed the relationship, but after McElroy burned their house down and shot the family dog, they relented and agreed to the marriage. Ken Rex McElroy sat in his truck for over an hour before the law was called. The murder of Ken Rex McElroy took place in plain view of dozens of residents of this small farm town, under the glare of the morning sun. But if tried by a jury of their peers, I doubt anybody around here would have convicted the shooters. In 1980, one of McElroy's children got into an argument with a clerk, Evelyn Sumy, in a local grocery store owned by 70-year-old Ernest "Bo" Bowenkamp and his wife Lois, allegedly because the young McElroy child tried to steal some candy. She died of cancer on Jan. 24, 2012; it was her 55th birthday. Actually, I think those shooters saved lives in the end, she said. He met his last wife, Trena McCloud (19572012), when she was 12 years old and in eighth grade. It was a misunderstanding, but one that made the Bowenkamps lives a living hell for months. Immediately after being released at a post-trial hearing, McElroy went to the D&G Tavern, a local bar, with an M1 Garand rifle with a bayonet attached, and made graphic threats about what he would do to Bo Bowenkamp. As Trena told the story to reporters, a group of men followed them as they left the D&G. The media descended on Skidmore after the killing, an event that continues to define the people of the small town to the world at times with wildly exaggerated versions of what happened. Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. 'No One Saw a Thing': A town torn apart by 38 years of violence Not only that, they recommended he spend no more than two years in prison. He was known as the town bully , but they may be putting it mildly. RELATED: 10 Of The Best Docuseries You Should Be Watching Now Each episode is around 40 minutes each and contains dramatic and intimate . Recent leaks into killing of town bully Ken Rex McElroy - reddit The group heard McElroy and Trena McCloud were spotted heading to the tavern nearby. He went back home and was shot within a couple of days, explains Conger, editor of the Bethany Republican-Clipper. McElroy wound up shooting Bowenkamp in the neck, nearly killing him. Known for stealing livestock, harassing women, destroying property and threatening lives, Mr. McElroy had been charged with numerous felonies over the years his lawyer estimated at least three a year but had never been convicted. He torched the home and shot the dogagainafter the girl went into hiding with her and McElroys baby. 7 Good News Stories: Sense Of Belonging; Secrets To 70-Year Marriage, EPA Limits On Toxic Forever Chemicals Could Cost Utilities Billions, The Poop On Free-Range Cats And Your Lawn And Garden [Block Talk], Boeing Worker Claims $754.6M Powerball Jackpot, Barrier-Breaking Black Army Officer Finally Awarded Medal Of Honor, FL Blogging Bill Says Political Writers Should Register With State. Everyone was keeping an eye on us. Posted on July 14, 2011 by Harry. Ken McElroy issues threats against the Bowenkamp family. The meeting broke up after participants learned McElroy and Trena were at the D&G Tavern. In August of 1980, McElroy made attempts to intimidate the Bowenkamp family and their supporters to prevent them from testifying. 'Below the Fold' movie based on Skidmore, Missouri released - WDAF-TV Farmers carried them to kill varmints, or for hunting displaying them in plain sight in rear window gun racks. The objective is to promote history on Medium and demonstrate the value of historical writing. When talking about McElroy, MacLean wondered how he was able to be so crafty. One reason was McElroys lawyer Richard Gene McFadin, a skilled defense attorney who ran rings around inexperienced prosecutors. Trena McCloud's Civil Suit Against Skidmore, Missouri Revealed - Bustle Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! He reportedly began stalking the Bowenkamp family. McElroy mounted a daily vigil outside Bowenkamps house, his daughter Cheryl Brown recounts in In Broad Daylight: The town emptied out every time he came to town. Before you tell yourself the case closed, no, this case still remains unsolved. Evelyn lived cross the street, and he made sure she could see them. But Ken rarely had to wrestle with the Two people decided in the midst of that whole incident theyd had enough, MacLean said. As there were no witnesses, nobody was able to take the stand. 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When word spread that McElroy was in town, a couple of the men walked from the Legion hall to the D&G. McElroy was a big man with cold eyes who always carried a gun. [9] McElroy was convicted at trial of assault, but freed on bail pending his appeal. McElroy would just sit and glower at you just stare at you and youd never know what he was thinking.. This is far from what happened in the case of McElroy. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . His unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. He said that Mr. Baird pushed aggressively to bring a case to trial, but that investigators were never able to secure enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. On July 10, 1981, McElroy was sitting in his truck with his wife Trena McElroy on Skidmore's main drag when a crowd of residents surrounded his vehicle and shot at him several times. Ken McElroy was shot to death on the main street of Skidmore in July 1981, in front of 45 witnesses. So is Stratton. Stratton knew McElroy from a previous stop when he threatened the trooper with a shotgun. 1, it is murder. There were so many nights Dad couldnt go out and mow the yard or water the flowers because there was a truck parked down the street, and they were watching the house, Monte said. He told the foster family that he would trade "girl for girl" to get his child back, since he knew where the foster family's biological daughter went to school and what bus route she rode. Local authorities, including a coroners jury and a local grand jury, and even the FBI, investigated the killing but to no avail. [2], In all, he was indicted 21 times but escaped conviction each time, except for the last. McElroy was a resident of Skidmore, Missouri. Over the course of his life, McElroy was accused of dozens of felonies, including assault, child molestation, statutory rape, arson, hog and cattle rustling, and burglary. Everyone claimed they didnt see who fired the shots. I think its something thats going to define this town forever.. Bullet casings from two guns were found. He was known as "the town bully",[1] and his unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. Ken Rex McElroy was an American known as "the town bully" of Skidmore, Missouri. They had to look out for themselves. In the ensuing confrontation, McElroy shot Bowenkamp in the neck; Bowenkamp survived, and McElroy was arrested and charged with attempted murder. Everyone was so uncomfortable and scared.. Tell us what you think in the comments below. He was arrested, booked, arraigned, and released on $2,500 bail. On July 10th, 1981 Ken Rex McElroy was shot dead in the street in broad daylight infront of 60 witnesses. A memorial in the tiny downtown park displays the name of an expectant mother murdered six years ago, her fetus cut from her womb.