Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? For years residents had watched Mr. McElroy, 47 years old at his death, wiggle out of one legal problem after another. Last summer he was killed in a barrage of gunfire after climbing into his air-conditioned Silverado pickup truck, with his wife Trena and a six-pack of beer at his side. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Evelyn tried to explain what had happened, that nobody had accused the children of stealing, and Trena said, Why would my effing daughter lie? . But if tried by a jury of their peers, I doubt anybody around here would have convicted the shooters. They were witnesses. What set off McElroy and put the local grocer in his crosshairs was the pettiest of offenses. It is widely accepted that he fired one of the guns that shot McElroy. Ken Rex moved her out of her parents home and into his, which he still shared with his wife Alice. He was very cunning, MacLean told Patch. Despite two grand jury investigations, no one has been charged in the killing. There were plenty of eyewitnesses, as well as the , . She ended up dropping the charges. spur of the moment that got completely out of hand how do I know I was one of the people who witnessed the killing , or as some people say , murder all of us took an oath , the shooters & the other witnesss .it was surreal as to what happened he sat their [in his pickup truck] , just like in the movie calmly & looked in his mirror to see the crowd behind him , he knew I believed that it was the end for him & that he was about to die , no way in hell was that crowd letting him leave. He had a legendary status, and it all got to be bigger than he was. Del was serving beer in the tavern just before the shooting). No. A clerk saw what happened and warned the girl that she better return the candy or pay for it. Year should not be greater than current year. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. The Story of the trials, life and death of Ken Rex McElroy and the Town of Skidmore, Missouri. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Neither Baird nor MacLean, whose crime novel has been praised as an accurate account of McElroys killing, buy that. McWilliams Media Tulsa, OK Website Design. When either woman did raise his cheating as an issue, he simply beat them and tortured them as a reminder that they were not entitled to issues or the bringing of them up. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. The FBI entered the case stiff-arming and threatening people, is how Monte, the Bowenkamps daughter, relates it. Sorry! Though arrest and criminal charges were a common part of his life, conviction or punishment was foreign to Ken Rex. However, a new cafe opened across the street, in the old post office, in front of which the shooters were standing when they opened fire. Many speculate that McElroy also threatened the jury. Investigators found shell casings from two weapons a .22-caliber Magnum rifle and an 8 mm Mauser, a German World War I-era long-range rifle. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Was justice served? ''I can't think that anyone feels any different than you would about the people who invented penicillin. A couple of men hustled Trena to a nearby bank, away from the gunfire. It was so out of the blue, almost to the point of being surreal, said Monte, who occasionally worked in her parents store. He would sit outside a witnesss home, and shoot those cold blue eyes and the death that sat fixed behind them into the psyche of his target. Trena had to go to hospital for the injuries she had suffered at the hands of McElroy. We went to the courts. The murder of Ken Rex McElroy isnt unsolved in the typical sense of the word. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Debbie Ann McElroy We went everywhere we could, but justice would stay delicately out the way, she said. 1, it is murder. However, there was more to Ken Rex than his size. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. The two came out from the back of the store, also becoming subject to the couples ranting. She was taken to a foster home in Maryville with the couples baby. That was the last straw, MacLean said. Then, on the night of July 8, 1980, McElroy shot 70-year-old Skidmore grocer Ernst Bo Bowenkamp, unwittingly setting up his own murder a year later. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. No one called for an ambulance. It was either going to be him, or somebody else., Investigators never got anyone to confess or give information about who had fired the lethal shot. Every school has a bully or bullies, and every small town has that family or families. ERP He was struck by bullets from at least two (Editors Note: Patch Deputy National Editor Beth Dalbey grew up on a farm about 10 miles from Skidmore, Missouri.). With the charges still looming over him, Ken Rex acted fast. The clerk, Evelyn Sumy, was at the back of the store when the doors swung open. After her husband's death, Mrs. McElroy moved away. It was widely reported that he was illiterate, but he did not let this hold him back from getting what he wanted in life. KENNETH MCELROY OBITUARY. This is the story of a bully, and to the town of Skidmore Missouri he was the meanest, nastiest, bully that has ever lived. They became disenchanted with the legal processes, yet frightened by Mr. McElroy's volatile disposition. By the time their second child was born, McElroy found another girlfriend, Sally, who was only thirteen, while Ken was around twenty-seven. Hed leave, then hed come back, Monte said. Before driving away, McElroy stopped to light a cigarette. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. He relied on witness intimidation to prove his innocence, and he was a master at it. On July 10, 1981, the justice system let the people of Skidmore down, and when it did, they did something that changed their own lives and the town forever. McElroy was acquitted, thanks to his talented attorney. McElroy drove to the house and shot him in the leg through his living room window. McElroy was arrested on assault charges, but Alices stepfather would need to testify. Trena McCloud's Civil Suit Against Skidmore, Missouri Revealed McFadin, McElroys lawyer, got the hearing postponed. McElroy was known to pay local kids for information about who was where in town at what time, so the Bowenkamps developed their own network of informants. It really is that it was never spoken of they had an instinctive reaction to close up. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Anyone heard any new info from people who were there? Thanks for your help! . , [ : (, )] Try again. Ken McElroy in U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) Ken Rex McElroy in FamilySearch Family Tree. You feel it when you drive into town. Just a single name can cause a physical reaction when uttered out loud in a room filled with those in the know. Many speculate that this traumatic injury was a cause of his volatility and aggression later in life. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Yes, that would make him Ken McElroys grandson. Ken was my grandfather derome was my father Im deromes oldest my mother is trace I wish I could of meet my grandfather An understandable wish. Im sure youve heard many good and bad things about him. Tony , I am your aunt Tina your dad is my brother . I havent seen you since you was about 2. Calling the sheriff about his threats was risk few were willing to take not that it would have done much good, Goslee said. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Every school has a bully or bullies, and every small town has that family or families. The group outside the tavern had grown and began jeering as they saw the couple emerge from the tavern. And not too long ago, Sumys, a gas station and coffee shop since 1943, closed. Our story begins when Ken Rex courting his third and final wife, Trena McCloud. Itll be a day or two. If Trena did have a choice, it would never fall to the bus driver to protect the little girl if she chose to not go with Ken Rex. '', Mr. McElroy was widely regarded as an armed tough who stole livestock and anything else he could. McElroy got a divorce from Sharon (or Alice, honestly Im not sure who he was married to at the time) and married Trena so that she would not be compelled to testify against him. There is a problem with your email/password. Designed by McWilliams Media Tulsa, OK Website Design, McAlester Estate Planning | McAlester Attorneys | Will and Trust. Eventually, after an altercation at a bar during which McElroy threatened him with a shotgun, Alices stepfather dropped the assault charges. WebA collection of obituaries found in the British Newspaper Archives. There just wouldnt have been a story.. 2. Faulkner wrote that The past is never dead. Who Killed Ken Rex McElroy: Town Keeps Its Secret For 38 Years Ken Rexs cruelty was well known because he was so brazen about showing it. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Ken McElroy, town bully and victim (photo: thelineup.com) From the beginning of his life, on June 1, 1934, Ken Rex McElroy seemed destined for a trouble and cruelty. McElroy and Trena got up without saying a word, pushing their way through the crowd towards the exit. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. Longstanding Grudges. 'A Really Nice Truck', ''It's really a shame about the Silverado,'' said Dave Dunbar, a former marshal who said Mr. McElroy once threatened him with a highpowered rifle. It wasnt long before he became a violent menace, his more serious crimes including rape, assault and child molestation. Contact Wagner & Lynch today to set up a free initial consultation! You can always change this later in your Account settings. Ken Rex grew into a large and intimidating figure. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How could it? Failed to report flower. McElroy Williams. Kenneth M. McElroy, 60, of Butler passed away Tuesday at Butler Memorial Hospital. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. McElroy swaggered around town as he always did and sat drinking for hours at his usual haunt, the D&G Tavern. It has been a year since Kenneth Rex McElroy, described as the town bully, was shot to death on the main street of this farming community. He quickly divorced Alice, then drove Trena to Kansas and married her to avoid conviction of statutory rape. ''Sure, I want this thing solved. The older girl snatched the candy from the younger girl, threw it back in the jar, grabbed her little sisters hand and barged out the door. A polite person would say that Ken Rex came from humble beginnings, but politeness doesnt fit in a story about Ken Rex McElroy or the Town of Skidmore, so we will forego any. Learn more about managing a memorial . McElroy tracked the women down, beat them both severely, and brought them home. Ken Rex McElroy was not a nice man. It would nave to say they did not feel a sense of collective relief. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. 4. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Two people decided in the midst of that whole incident theyd had enough, MacLean said. Not only that, they recommended he spend no more than two years in prison. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Police said he had previously been charged with chicken theft, attempted 6. Joyce Monte, daughter of injured grocer. Someone had to put an end to it. But there was no reason to go looking for trouble. Oops, something didn't work. Unresolved: The Town That Killed Ken McElroy As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Failed to delete flower. Ken Rex McElroy was not a nice man. Retaliation would be severe. Harry MacLean, author of "In Broad Daylight". This is a carousel with slides. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? He was the fifteenth of sixteen children born to a poor, migrant tenant farming family that moved between Kansas and the Ozarks before settling outside of Skidmore, Missouri. Some of these things are simply assumed to be factual, Baird said. Who was Ken Rex McElroy? Richard Stratton reflects on capturing notorious thug Ken Rex McElroy, 13 Things About Ken McElroy's Shooting You Need To Know Before Watching 'No One Saw A Thing', To the Killer of Her Least Favorite Son, Skidmore, Mo. Not long after leaving school, McElroy sustained a head injury when he fell from a hay wagon. To welcome her back, McElroy had found yet another girlfriend, Trena McCloud, who was twelve years old, while McElroy would have been around thirty-five. They sacrificed one for the betterment of hundreds. WebKen Rex McElroy (1934-1981) - Find a Grave Memorial McElroy for years had terrorized the small town of Skidmore Missouri, and was considered the town bully. By the age of 15, Ken Rex had dropped out of school and established himself as a coon hunter, and thief. As a result, he was no stranger to the Nodaway County Sheriffs Dept. Once you boil away to the facts of what occurred, you can probably point to hundreds of similar reports every week across the United States., If McElroy had been shot by a lone gunman on a dark road at night, it would have made the Maryville paper for a day, MacLean said. Ken Rex took, and the only thing he ever gave was fear. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. By 14 years old Trena was pregnant with their first child. Farmers carried them to kill varmints, or for hunting displaying them in plain sight in rear window gun racks. There was a problem getting your location. SKIDMORE, MO Four decades after Ken Rex McElroy was gunned down on the main drag of Skidmore, Missouri, in one of Americas most infamous cold cases, the story of the notoriously brutal town bully has refused to die with him no matter how much the farmers and blue-collar workers who live in the small farming town wish it would. How could it? Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Yet in a conspiracy of silence that has spanned the past 38 years, the townsfolk have held the secret close. He ruled with an iron fist, inciting fear and causing a persistent sense of dread amongst townsfolk. Ken Rex McElroy In April 1980, two of McElroys daughters were shopping at a local corner store. And just over the horizon, beginning Aug. 1 on Sundance TV, is No One Saw a Thing, a six-part immersion in rural Missouri and the notorious 1981 vigilante killing of Ken Rex McElroy. Our law enforcement never went after him very hard, he said. They settle in Skidmore. He had been charged with more than 20 felonies, robbing, raping, burning, shootings. System , , . They delivered messages in code. Estes, the sheriff some tried to implicate in a conspiracy, is dead. SKIDMORE, MO Four decades after Ken Rex McElroy was gunned down on the main drag of Skidmore, Missouri, in one of Americas most infamous cold cases, the story of the notoriously brutal town bully has refused to die with him no matter how much the farmers and blue-collar workers who live in the small farming town wish it would. SLAIN BULLY'S TOWN LOOKS BACK WITHOUT PITY, https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/11/us/slain-bully-s-town-looks-back-without-pity.html. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. cemeteries found in Saint Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Hurt in a car wreck, or due to someone else's negligence? Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The son of a bitch would just as soon shoot them as anyone else.. Then one day, McElroy drove to the corner store, found Bo Bowenkamp around the back, and shot him in the neck. In fact, anywhere between thirty and ninety people witnessed the shooting of the 270lb brute of a man on that hot July day in 1981. Residents seem more resentful, less willing to talk. A lot of old timers complain that they dont know many of the other residents, a lot of whom work in surrounding communities. They know the story of Ken McElroy, but they werent here when it happened. Known as "the town bully", his unsolved killing became the focus of Year. They knew this because they had all either witnessed or been the victim of a similar intentional violent act, and it was always at the hands of Ken Rex McElroy. The police would not or could not help us or Skidmore. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. When you didnt know where he was, you didnt dare take the chance of not being on your guard.. This is the story of a man that terrorized an entire community. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Imagine what McElroy would make of that: a college graduate for a son. Yes, its against the law, but you know, the law is not the final definitive word on him. Ken Rex McElroy (1934-1981) - Find a Grave Memorial He was nonplussed. Its owned and run by newcomers. At over six-feet tall and nearly 300 pounds he was a formidable presence by sight alone. Trena McElroy remarried and had a fairly normal life, refusing interviews after she left Skidmore. Before you tell yourself the case closed, no, this case Ken McElroy All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. From 12 to 60 people, by varying estimates, marched down the street. (SECOM) When the matter finally came to trial two coon hunters testified that Ken Rex was with them that day far away in another part of the county getting their limit. Ernst Bo Bowenkamp (source: morbidology.com). Henry survived, and unlike the majority of McElroys other victims, actually went on to testify in court against him. Fidelity wasnt a strong suit of Ken Rex, or of any interest to him at all for that matter. Your email address will not be published. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. FBI Closes Inquiry Into the Killing of a Town Bully Everyone just went home. To describe McElroy as intimidating is putting it lightly. Lois soon became fed up and told the McElroys to leave the store and never come back. Nobody tried to hang them for finding a way to kill a germ. She took her complaint to at-the-time Nodaway County Sheriff Roger Cronk. McElroy pretty much got whatever he wanted, and women were no exception. A system error has occurred. Burial. Ken Rex made bail and was out within a day or so, and went looking for Trena. It was a matter of self-preservation. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? In the summer of 1981, a jury handed McElroy his first-ever felony conviction for the lesser charge of second-degree assault. Debbie was born in the Skidmore area and attended school there. , No, the townspeople all would have known that the injury was attributable to an intentional act, and that Ken Rex was always the responsible party. Had I sought out the Clements and their crowd, I would have gone to the Elks Club in Maryville on Saturday night, the scene of my almost-violent encounter with Del and his friends years ago. ''We follow new leads, but there aren't many,'' Mr. Baird said. By his teens, McElroy became known as the town bully of Skidmore, notorious for his cruel treatment of anyone who dared challenge him. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Bill Everhart, mayor of the town of 440 people, says it could have been avoided had the courts cracked down on McElroy. Try again later. Behind those eyes laid the cold, calm embrace of violence and death that wrote his biography. SKIDMORE, MO Four decades after Ken Rex McElroy was gunned down on the main drag of Skidmore, Missouri, in one of America's most infamous cold cases, the story of the notoriously brutal town bully has refused to die with him no matter how much the farmers and blue-collar workers who live in the small farming town wish it would. You know how he oppressed and threatened us. When he caught up to the bus, Ken Rex would start honking his horn and driving up to the window where the bus driver could get a good look at him. The townsfolk were infuriated. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. No one was ever accused of shoplifting, or stealing. Several of those who observed the shooting were standing in front of the station, which is just a few yards up the hill from where the riflemen were standing. Skidmore, Part Three - The Murder of Ken Rex McElroy When a wife a Ken Rex McElroy came into town with a black eye, or busted lip, or broken bones of all varieties, the townspeople were not likely to guess or wonder at what malevolence may have befallen the lady. But having this thug with serious rage issues breathing down their necks 24/7 meant it wasnt easy. With the businesses gone, the Punkin Festival defunct, it has little vibrancy. Over the course of his life, McElroy was accused of dozens of felonies, including assault, child molestation, statutory rape, arson, animal cruelty, hog and cattle rustling, and burglary. A swarthy, physically intimidating man who carried about 270 pounds on his more than 6-foot frame, McElroy had thick black eyebrows and bushy sideburns. It could be all in my mind, but I dont think so. He got divorced and his drinking finally killed him. Sorry! With the businesses gone, the Punkin Festival defunct, it has little vibrancy. Weve updated the security on the site. His lifelong career as a criminal started with petty offenses, but he increasingly became more violent, amassing a rap sheet that included nearly two dozen felony charges for assault, child molestation, statutory rape, arson, burglary, grain theft, and hog and cattle rustling enterprises that kept a thick roll of hundred-dollar bills in his pocket. The attending physician was so appalled at the beating that the underage girl had taken and the history of abuse that she gave, family services was called in and took the girl into custody. I have another story to tell: my drinks with one of McElroys sons, who had been adopted and didnt realize who his father was until he was grown and had graduated from college. We have set your language to Few residents seem to care. She ran away back into the arms of Ken Rex McElroy. They include the 1981 vigilante murder of town bully Ken Rex McElroy, whose killing by multiple gunmen was witnessed by dozens of residents, yet no one was That was the last failure of criminal justice.. This is a collaborative project with FindMyPast.com. McElroy moved out of his family home to be with Alice, but this relationship was no different from his previous ones. 24 Jan 2012 (aged 55) Conway, Laclede County, Missouri, USA. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. How is this man not in jail? Monte said, repeating the question asked by many when he showed up in Skidmore the morning after his release. , . -. Recent leaks into killing of town bully Ken Rex McElroy - Reddit Please try again later. The county prosecutor, David Baird, said there was not much more he could do. No, he would dutifully pull the bus over and offer her up, no doubt justifying his action by touting the safety of the other students as well as his own. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? The authorities had let them down, so they had no choice but to take matters into their own hands. (D & G stood for Del and Greg Clement. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Am looking forward to your next post and the pictures you spoke of. The morning of July 10, 1981, was a hot one in Skidmore, Missouri. After giving birth, Trena and Alice, exhausted from living in constant fear of McElroy, took their children and left the McElroy farm to live with Trenas parents. I think its admirable that you have not forgotten the good people who helped you. Ken Rex McElroy (1934 - 1982) - Genealogy You need a Find a Grave account to continue. I said it in 1981, and Ill say it now, Baird told Patch. While driving down a gravel farm road that abutted his property, Henry came upon a figure and a vehicle that he recognized instantly, Ken Rex McElroy. ; Oleta McElroy-Anderson of Conway, Tammy Wertenberger of St. Joseph, Teresa Dorris of Helena, Mo. I was in town to spend time with the Goslee family, who had put me up and supported my research for many years, and had received considerable grief for doing it, and to attend a barbecue put on my Dave Dunbar in Lamoni, Iowa. For example, one of the owners of the D&G tavern would send her young children to the grocery store for paper towels, keeping the children innocently unaware they were telegraphing an urgent message for the Bowenkamps to call the police. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. He returned when Trenas parents were away, shot the family dog and burned down the house. He liked young underage girls starting around twelve to fourteen. An outsider has taken to buying residences, and storing tremendous amounts of junk in the yards. . The metallic smell of his own blood consumed the cab of the pickup truck. Davis Try again later. The death of the 47-year-old McElroy, who was known as a thief with a violent temper, drew attention for its resemblance to Wild West, vigilante- style justice. It has been a year since Kenneth Rex McElroy, described as the town bully, was shot to death on the main street of this farming community. However, he lived only to experience the next chapter in the saga of being a victim of Ken Rex McElroy. The justice system had failed them once again. McElroy was in town and behaving belligerently. They surrounded McElroy, shouting at him that they had had enough and that his days were numbered. Trena was the only person to come forward to investigators about who she believed had killer her husband. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. ''It doesn't make for a real talkative environment. Her lawyer has said she did not want to speak with reporters. As well as the piece on McElroys son. Says a Long, Silent Thank-You, Unsolved 'Vigilante' Murder in the Heartland: Missouri Town Goes Quiet After Bully Is Shot, The Unsolved Murder of Missouri Town Bully Ken Rex McElroy: 'No One Saw a Thing', Skidmore, Part Three - The Murder of Ken Rex McElroy, The Unsolved Murder of Missouri Town Bully Ken Rex McElroy: 'No One Saw a Thing'. Trena Louise McNeeley McElroy Williams (1957-2012) - Find a Please enter your email and password to sign in. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. He was literally untouchable right up until the day he wasnt. On his release, McElroy strolled into the D&G Tavern, holding a rifle with a bayonet attached. Of course, McElroy had a gun. ''It ain't easy to feel bad for somebody that never did no good for your town,'' said the postmaster, Jim Hartman. It went beyond just hammering people and being mean-spirited. The McElroys eventually left the store, but when Bowenkamp closed up that night, he was outside, waiting.