When the news that Ken and Trena went to the local bar that evening, everyone got up and made their way over. Ken Rex McElroy (June 1, 1934 - July 10, 1981) was an American criminal and convicted attempted murderer who resided in Skidmore, Missouri, United States. He made no deathbed confession, but someone wrote in a memorial tribute that he was a good, brave man. McFadin, the lawyer who once told The New York Times the town got away with murder, is dead, too. Trena jumped from the truck and a man helped her to safety. He was accused or suspected of dozens of crimes, including theft, livestock rustling, burglary, arson, assault, rape, and child molestation. That became the pattern. Mr. McElroy has been dead for almost three decades now, a round number that has residents here bracing for the next round of visits by reporters. In all, there were 46 potential witnesses to the shooting, including Trena McElroy, who was in the truck with her husband when he was shot. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD8iUdp33PqTsix2sGblEQZ8m5FQycC5D Vigilante justice, or cold-blooded murder?MERCH: We've got it! Despite three grand juries, no one has been indicted for the . A bond hearing was ordered. What happened in Skidmore that day wasnt much different than the completely predictable result from shaking a carbonated beverage until the top finally blows. Ken McElroy was shot to death on the main street of Skidmore in July 1981, in front of 45 witnesses. In the end, fear is what killed him, Goslee said. The meeting broke up after participants learned McElroy and Trena were at the D&G Tavern. The Mirny Diamond Mine Might Be The Most Mysterious Hole Ever, The Story Of Alain Lamare The Cop Who Moonlit As The Murderer He Was Trying To Catch, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. McElroy four years earlier had pumped a couple of rounds of buckshot into the stomach of local farmer Romaine Henry as he tried to run the blackguard off his land. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Ken McElroy was born in 1934, one of 16 children, author Harry MacLean explains in his book In Broad Daylight, an account of the case. However, when the matter came to trial, McElroys attorney produced a pair of witnesses who testified they were hunting with McElroy that day and he was nowhere near the scene of the shooting. Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! September 2nd, 1982: Keven though there were over sixty witnesses, no one came forward to name the shooter. There wasn't much parental supervision, but McElroy had a knack for taking care of himself. 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. If you liked reading this story on Ken McElroy, the bully who was killed by his town, check out the story of Budford Pussers cold-blooded revenge. Town Mute for 30 Years About a Bullys Killing, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/us/16bully.html. Livestock owners looked the other way when a few head of cattle or hogs vanished in the night or gas barrels used to fuel farm implements were noticeably emptier. [2] He was struck by bullets from at least two different firearms, in front of a crowd of people estimated as numbering between 30 and 46. RELATED: 10 Of The Best Docuseries You Should Be Watching Now Each episode is around 40 minutes each and contains dramatic and intimate . 1 or 2 men (unclear) took guns and shot Ken Rex McElroy dead in his truck. The McElroys eventually left the store, but when Bowenkamp closed up that night, he was outside, waiting. The last three decades have been tough on this agricultural community of 342, about an hour and a half north of Kansas City. Somebody would hear his name, and the legend grew bigger. A man who turned out to be McElroy pointed a shotgun at me, Margaret tells A&E True Crime. Ken Rex McElroy sat in his truck for over an hour before the law was called. Yet the identity of McElroys killer is a public secret Skidmore has kept for 38 years. McElroy made a living leasing land near his farm, and trading and racing dogs. As many as 60 Skidmore residents attended, including the mayor and the sheriff. Biography Mini Bio (1) Ken Rex McElroy Jr. is known for No One Saw a Thing (2019). Only July 10, 1981, there was a meeting at the town hall, down the street from D&G Tavern. It was not the kind of justice they shouldve gotten, 60-year-old Joyce Monte, the Bowenkamps daughter, told Patch in a telephone interview from her home in Oklahoma. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Win a Midday Makeover from Studio STL and West County, Hold my beer its time to sign up for the St. Patricks, Tims Travels: Dreaming in silestone and slabs its, Downtown is turning green for St. Patricks Day Parade, The 7brew Crew brings kindness, joy and of course,, Freshen up finds: Give your skin a slug-hug, What the Cluck! Its been over 30 years. The final straw for Skidmore was when he was let out on bond. A reported crowd of up to 60 men had largely dispersed, but some onlookers remained, staring at the pickup. "[13], McElroy was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri. There's a long list of crimes said to have been committed by McElroy, including shooting multiple people. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. At least some of the witnesses surely knew who fired the bullet that shattered the back window of McElroys truck and blew off the back of his head. Everyone in town seemed to know McElroy had done it, yet he spent only a single night in jail for nearly killing the man. McElroy first began his relationship with McCloud when she was 14 and the two had a child shortly thereafter. His successor, Robert Rice, already knew how Mr. McElroy died. Henry survived and McElroy was charged with assault with intent to kill. McElroy would just sit and glower at you just stare at you and youd never know what he was thinking.. The case was later settled out of court by all parties for $17,600, with no one admitting guilt, for the stated reason of avoiding costly legal fees should the suit proceed. McElroy's appeal hearing was again delayed. Never miss a story by signing up for the newsletter now. It was hours before he learned that it was Mr. McElroy who had been shot, sitting in the front seat of his pickup truck alongside his wife, after picking up some beer at the town bar. He spent the night in jail before posting bond, then sauntered menacingly back into the D&G tavern and pool hall and took his usual spot. No one has been indicted for the murder of McElroy. As of 2019, many of the main players in McElroys story have died, including McFadin, Trena McElroy, Bowenkamp and the rancher accused of pulling the trigger, MacLean writes in his blog. When a court hearing was postponed, there was a meeting in town, with the mayor and the sheriff attending, to discuss Mr. McElroy. Despite being shot in broad daylight in front of various witnesses, the . [6], Based on Trena's story, McElroy was indicted in June 1973 for arson, assault, and statutory rape. It's said the county's law enforcement officials were afraid of encountering McElroy, who was known to be heavily armed. His hunch paid off, and McElroy found himself handcuffed and charged with assault. Buzzfeeds Unsolved Network produced a 24-minute true crime documentary on the shooting. We might not see him for three or four days, and then wed see him every day for weeks, Monte said. It's said that the meeting adjourned, and the crowd quietly descended upon the tavern, flanking McElroy's truck. Investigators dug and dug, but Skidmore residents maintained their silence. Some of these things are simply assumed to be factual, Baird said. A few days later, a pickup truck showed up in the wee hours outside Boyers remote country house. McElroy appealed the case and was released on bond. On April 25, 1980 at Ernest "Bo" Bowenkamp's general store, a clerk asked McElroy's 8-year-old daughter to return a piece of candy she had not paid for. 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. Ken Rex McElroy (June 1, 1934 July 10, 1981) was an American criminal and convicted attempted murderer who resided in Skidmore, Missouri, United States. As the case dragged on without a court date, Henry said McElroy had parked outside his home at least 100 times. The law wasnt going to help the people of Skidmore. Many buildings are closed and falling apart. There just wouldnt have been a story.. 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. The stories of McElroy's relationships contain some troubling details, but the information is important to paint the full picture. He said he was not at all disappointed to leave office with the case still unsolved. McElroy was hit twice and died. 1948: Approximately the time when Ken begins his small thefts as a young teenager. After McElroy fired a gun outside her house, Evelyn Sumy appealed to Dave Dunbar, the town marshal. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. McElroy was hit twice by two different guns and died from injuries to his head and neck. We hold major institutions accountable and expose wrongdoing. This past weekend marked the 40th anniversary of the killing of Ken Rex McElroy of Skidmore. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! McElroy began stalking the Bowenkamp family, and eventually threatened Bo Bowenkamp in the back of his store with a shotgun in hand. Anywhere from 30 to 90 people watched the 47-year-old McElroy die in an act that ended his decade-long reign of terror over the people of Skidmore. The murder of Ken Rex McElroy isn't 'unsolved' in the typical sense of the word. Lessons from History is a platform for writers who share ideas and inspirational stories from world history. In the plainspoken manner of speaking in Skidmore, McElroy simply needed killing, like a gangrened leg needs to be severed to save the whole body. [6] Trena and her baby were placed in foster care at a home in Maryville, Missouri. Some attributed his bizarre and violent behavior to a head injury suffered in this event. Dec. 15, 2010. Someone warned her, Youre about to meet Ken Rex McElroy, Monte said. Lessons from History is a platform for writers who share ideas and inspirational stories from world history. 1954: While working for his sister's husband in construction, McElroy suffers a traumatic head injury that leaves him with lifelong pain. Get out of town, they said. McElroys wife named one person as a possible gunman, but no one couldor wouldidentify who fired the shots. A lot of people were not happy about what happened, MacLean said. The Tylenol Murders: Is It Too Late to Solve the Famous Cold Case? The town has seen more than its share of tragedy. Allegedly, even the mayor was in on it. I had my service weapon drawn, and I wouldnt have been the least bit surprised if he tried to do something, Boyer recalls. Ken Rex McElroy was a 6-foot, 270 pounds, dark-complexioned, blue-eyed man who lived in Skidmore, Missouri. McCloud was McElroy's third "wife," though all unions were suspicious due to the fact that some of his marriages overlapped. McElroy was a resident of Skidmore, Missouri. The verdict was second-degree assault and two years. A trial took place the following year and for the first time ever, Ken McElroy was convicted. Often, witnesses changed their mind about testifying before trials began, MacLean said, and if a case did make it to trial, a juror might open the mailbox to find a rattlesnake. Perversely, the towns share of tragedy has grown. Things reached a boiling point in 1980 when Ken McElroy got into a confrontation with the towns elderly grocer, Ernest Bo Bowenkamp. [Stream episodes of Accused: Guilty or Innocent? In what could only be described as vigilante justice, they conspired to kill Ken McElroy. The people of the town keep their heads down and prefer to not speak about the incident. Within hours, Mr. Baird heard that there had been a shooting downtown. 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. He had a legendary status, and it all got to be bigger than he was. McElroy was furious when he learned of the incident. Genealogy profile for Ken Rex McElroy Ken Rex McElroy (1934 - 1981) - Genealogy Genealogy for Ken Rex McElroy (1934 - 1981) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. For over twenty years he raped, robbed and burned almost at will. McElroy was eventually convicted, but the charge was lessened from "attempt to kill" to "knowingly caused serious physical injury" to ensure a conviction. When the call went out, State Police Cpl. In fact, anywhere between thirty and ninety people witnessed the . Our law enforcement never went after him very hard, he said. Filmmaker Avi Belkin's 'No One Saw a Thing . 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Harry MacLean, author of "In Broad Daylight". There may never be an answer to the question of who killed Ken Rex McElroy. Before you tell yourself the case closed, no, this case still remains unsolved. Ken Rex McElroy was an American known as "the town bully" of Skidmore, Missouri. Tensions in Skidmore soared as McElroys trial neared. He testified that Bowenkamp attacked him with a knife and he acted in self-defense, MacLean writes. We had shoplifting, but a lot of people were on hard times. July 1981: During the 1st week of July it was announced that there would be a delay in McElroy's bond hearing. He was charged with wading through the sensational details and moral ambiguities of the case to ensure that, in his words, justice was served. He torched the home and shot the dogagainafter the girl went into hiding with her and McElroys baby. June 12th, 1973: After continuing his involvement with Trena McCloud, Ken McElroy burns down Trena's parents' house. He believes one of the gunmen was the suspect named by the widow. Ken is later charged and arrested. If we could have proved who done it, he would have prosecuted him, said Mr. Riddle, 72 and also retired, who describes the case as the most frustrating of his career. You could talk to everybody in this case, and theyd give you a different answer, he said in an interview at his office in the red brick county courthouse in nearby Maryville. American criminal and murder victim, killed by vigilantes, "3 decades on, who killed Skidmore town bully still secret", "Ken McElroy Murderer, rapist and consummate intimidator", "Skidmore, Revisited Part 1: The Death of Ken McElroy", "Ken McElroy Murderer, rapist and consummate intimidator Another Teen Love", "Ken McElroy Murderer, rapist and consummate intimidator Saved by the Law", "Ken McElroy Murderer, rapist and consummate intimidator Intent to Kill", The Death Of Ken McElroy *Interesting History* - YouTube, "AS her daughter Tami listens, Trena McElroy retells how she watched", "3 decades on, who killed Skidmore town bully still secret | McClatchy", "Ken McElroy Murderer, rapist and consummate intimidator Murder in Broad Daylight", "Wrongful death lawsuit settled in re Ken McElroy", "Trena McElroy Passed Away | Harry N. MacLean", "You Get What You Pay For, by Larry Beinhart", "Stream It Or Skip It: 'No One Saw A Thing' On SundanceTV, A Docuseries About How Skidmore, Missouri Has Kept A Murder Unsolved For 38 Years", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ken_McElroy&oldid=1136590059, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Pages using infobox criminal with known for parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Bo Bowenkamp (survived an attempted murder), This page was last edited on 31 January 2023, at 02:52. 1952: Ken McElroy marries his first wife Oleta. But in a dramatic act of . We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. And despite there being dozens of witnesses, no one has ever been arrested or charged in connection with McElroys murder. [11] Only Trena claimed to identify a gunman; every other witness either was unable to name an assailant or claimed not to have seen who fired the fatal shots. The morning of July 10, 1981, a group of frustrated and angry men gathered at the Legion Hall in Skidmore, MacLean writes. He appeared in a local bar, the D&G Tavern, armed with an M1 Garand rifle and bayonet, and later threatened to kill Bowenkamp. For more than two decades, McElroy was suspected of being involved in theft of grain, gasoline, alcohol, antiques, and livestock, but he avoided conviction when charges were brought against him 21 timesoften after witnesses refused to testify because he allegedly intimidated them, frequently by following his targets or parking outside their homes and watching them. When Daylight Saving Time 2023 Begins, Will It Be For The Last Time. Nodaway County Sheriff Dan Estes suggested they form a neighborhood watch. April 10th, 1972: After Alice runs away with their son, Ken McElroy gets into an altercation with Alice's stepfather and shoots him. But not that one. There has been books written, movies, documentaries and more made about the killing. In all, he was indicted 21 times but escaped conviction each time, except for the last. Local police, state investigators and FBI agents tried to break the towns silence, without success. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. This was something that the "town bully," Ken Rex McElroy, staunchly rebelled against. When the shooting ended, McElroy was slumped over the steering wheel. Both Sally and Sharon begin having Ken's children. After McElroy finished his drinks, he purchased a six pack of beer, left the bar, and entered his pickup truck. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The larger-than-life bully who menaced the farming community of Skidmore died in seconds. Vigilante justice is certainly a slippery slope, but after years of dealing with Ken McElroy, the people of Skidmore reached their boiling point. On July 8, 1980, McElroy drove to the alley behind the Bowenkamp general store. The townsfolk were infuriated. It's hard to believe that this small town was once a bustlingcommunity. 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. In 2019, the McElroy killing was the subject of a docuseries on SundanceTV. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro Ken Rex McElroy Jr. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Ken Rex McElroy was born on month day 1934, at birth place, Missouri, to Anthony Wyatt McElroy and Mable Marie McElroy (born Lister). McElroy was reportedly a large man (270 pounds), and a local farmer's description of him (seen above) was that he wanted to appear "big and important" and make people "afraid.". 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. He went back home and was shot within a couple of days, explains Conger, editor of the Bethany Republican-Clipper. McElroy eventually left the tavern and got into his pickup truck with his wife, but the mob of people followed the pair outside. Refusing to argue, he and Lois went home. He found a macabre scene. My experience is that trying a case is not always good at bringing closure, Mr. Baird said. Sixteen days after Trena gave birth, both she and Alice fled to Trena's mother's and stepfather's house. The law had plenty of chances, plenty of times to lock him up., Added Monte: Justice failed everybody. They slept in shifts, with some friend or family member keeping an eye on the street. [10] No one called for an ambulance. A deer slug in one chamber tore through Bowenkamps neck, coming within 3 inches of his head. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. The Vigilantemurder of Ken Rex McElroy still remains a mystery today. 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. Another was McElroys intimidation tactics, MacLean writes. McCloud attempted to escape to her parents' house, but McElroy allegedly responded by burning down Trena's parents' home and shooting their dog. In Broad Daylight: A Murder in Skidmore, Missouri. 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. He stood silently at the back of the store, but his wife tore into Sumy in an argument laced with four-letter bombs, Monte said. What gave rise to that theory is that they were in the Legion hall for a meeting, then went down to the D&G [when they heard McElroy was in town]. YouTubeThe towns local bar in Skidmore, Missouri. He never finished high school but knew how to hunt, drive fast and navigate the back roads of Nodaway County by his early teens. His eyes just really put you in defense modehe really looked like a mean person.. Few were criticized as mightily as Baird over the lack of prosecution in McElroys murder. 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. No one bothered to turn it off. Ken stalks the family afterwards, and on the 8th, Ken shoots Bo Bowenkamp. When they met him on the street, parents steered their children, especially their daughters, away from McElroy, a notorious womanizer who favored young women and was married multiple times including to a child bride he was accused of raping and fathered 15 children. [5] She became pregnant when she was fourteen, dropped out of school in the ninth grade, and went to live with McElroy and his second wife Alice. McElroy divorced Alice and married Trena in order to escape charges of statutory rape, to which she was the only witness. As his long tenure comes to an end questions about the lack of resolution in the murder case perhaps the most infamous in the area since Jesse James was shot nearby a century earlier continue to follow Mr. Baird. Ken Rex McElroy, whose still-unsolved murder outside of the local tavern inspired a book and movie both entitled "In Broad Daylight" was known to both of Scott's parents. Once the shroud of silence fell, there was going to be no one talking, said Cheryl Huston, whose elderly father had been shot by Mr. McElroy and who watched the killing of Mr. McElroy from her familys grocery store but, like the others, said she did not see the gunman. Still, the panel didnt return an indictment, giving rise to conspiracy theories about a law enforcement coverup, also a theme in No One Saw a Thing.. McElroy was getting into his pickup truck with his wife Trena on the main street of Skidmore where there was a crowd of 30 to 50 people. 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. Estes, the sheriff some tried to implicate in a conspiracy, is dead. Tell us what you think in the comments below. She gathered her strength and put the car in reverse. After Sally had had three kids, Ken kicks her out of the house. In Broad Daylight by Harry N. MacLean / Via. July 10th, 1981: The Townspeople gather in the Legion to discuss what should be done about Ken McElroy. 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. The police would not or could not help us or Skidmore. I think he treated the whole town of Skidmore that way, the 78-year-old said, adding she didnt feel brave. But it got to the point it made me mad.. [8] At the trial, two raccoon hunters testified they were with McElroy the day of the shooting away from Henry's property. According to court records, McElroy tracked them down and brought them back. A museum dedicated to Skidmore, Mo., sits on Elm Street, the towns main drag. On the morning of July 10, 1981, townspeople met at the Legion Hall in the center of town with Sheriff Estes to discuss how to protect themselves. They settle in Skidmore. No one has ever been brought to trial in Mr. McElroys death, and, although there is no statute of limitations on murder, most people around here suspect that no one ever will be. The sheriff said, If you have to shoot him, let us know and well come get him before he starts stinking, Monte said. So the townspeople held a meeting. June 25th, 1981: McElroy returns to Skidmore out on bail until an appeal hearing. Ken McElroy was born in 1934, one of 16 children, author Harry MacLean explains in his book In Broad Daylight, an account of the case.