We had shoplifting, but a lot of people were on hard times. Town Mute for 30 Years About a Bullys Killing, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/us/16bully.html. Tensions in Skidmore soared as McElroys trial neared. His attorney, Richard McFadin, said he routinely defended Ken McElroy in three or four felonies a year. When talking about McElroy, MacLean wondered how he was able to be so crafty. Allegedly, even the mayor was in on it. However, an incident would occur in 1980 that changed everything. Unsolved 'Vigilante' Murder in the Heartland: Missouri Town Goes Quiet After Bully Is Shot, https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/ken-rex-mcelroy-vigilante-murder-skidmore-unsolved. When word spread that McElroy was in town, a couple of the men walked from the Legion hall to the D&G. To the residents of the small town, he was the town bully. On a steamy Missouri morning of July 10, 1981, a gunman took aim at the 47-year-old as he sat smoking in his Silverado pickup truck outside the local bar. In the months before McElroy went to trial, the Bowenkamps and Sumy went to bed scared, woke up frightened and lived in terror with every breath. She died of cancer on Jan. 24, 2012; it was her 55th birthday. Mable was born on February 28 1897, in Dover, Shawnee County, KS, USA. 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. He put those skills to work rustling hogs and cattle, MacLean recounts. June 25th, 1981: McElroy returns to Skidmore out on bail until an appeal hearing. Just to be aware, he explained. The murder of Ken Rex McElroy isn't 'unsolved' in the typical sense of the word. McElroy was in town and behaving belligerently. But in a dramatic act of . YouTubeThe towns local bar in Skidmore, Missouri. As there were no witnesses, nobody was able to take the stand. Like so many other small towns, Skidmore has shrunk inside itself, watching businesses close and residents depart. The case inspired a book, In Broad Daylight by Harry McLean, and a 1991 TV movie of the same name starring Brian Dennehy. Sheriff Estes instructed the assembled group not to get into a direct confrontation with McElroy, but instead seriously consider forming a neighborhood watch program. What set off McElroy and put the local grocer in his crosshairs was the pettiest of offenses. The killing was a shocking end for a notoriously brutal man who had terrorized the area for years with seeming impunity from the law until he was struck down in a moment of vigilante justice. McCloud attempted to escape to her parents' house, but McElroy allegedly responded by burning down Trena's parents' home and shooting their dog. Ken Rex McElroy was an illiterate hog farmer who lived on the outskirts of a small town in Northwest Missouri. The clerk, Evelyn Sumy, was at the back of the store when the doors swung open. . And Mr. Baird lost his first election, in the Democratic primary this year, by just 25 votes, a loss noted by The Kansas City Star because of his connection with the case. I dont believe youre coming nowafter we needed your help all this time.. McElroy escaped jail on an appeal bond and could remain free until he exhausted his appeals, free to taunt his victims with what had become painfully clear: He would never go to jail. I dont know what happened,' Boyer recalls witnesses saying. Then, on a warm July night, McElroy shot my dad as he sat on the back loading dock of his store, waiting for an air conditioner repairman, Monte said. If you were to go to Skidmore today, there isn't much to see. On July 27, 1976, Skidmore farmer Romaine Henry said McElroy shot him twice with a shotgun after Henry challenged him for shooting weapons on Henry's property. 1958: Ken McElroy becomes involved with a young woman named Sharon. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. A reported crowd of up to 60 men had largely dispersed, but some onlookers remained, staring at the pickup. Its probably accurate that few outside of McElroys family shed tears over his death, but many Skidmore residents still struggle with the spectacle of a man violently and publicly killed. Despite being shot in broad daylight in front of various witnesses, the . On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. SKIDMORE, Mo. This was something that the "town bully," Ken Rex McElroy, staunchly rebelled against. 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. Mr. McElroy was quickly rearrested after he appeared in town with a rifle, but he was again released. Everyone in town seemed to know McElroy had done it, yet he spent only a single night in jail for nearly killing the man. He raped McCloud repeatedly. Ken Rex McElroy sat in his truck for over an hour before the law was called. Shortly after, Strattons wife Margaret was headed to church when she saw a strange truck in the driveway. THE KILLING OF KEN REX MCELROY THIRTY YEARS LATER. Everyone was keeping an eye on us. In 1981, McElroy was convicted of shooting . He had a legendary status, and it all got to be bigger than he was. There wasn't much parental supervision, but McElroy had a knack for taking care of himself. No one bothered to turn it off. Ive never thought there was a series of phone calls that went around dont say this or that. Those farmers have known each other since they were children. McElroy was charged with assault with intent to kill. The citizens decided to go to the tavern en masse. Calling the sheriff about his threats was risk few were willing to take not that it would have done much good, Goslee said. McElroys wifewhom he victimized as a childremarried and moved to Lebanon, Missouri. But justice is a loaded term in a case that challenges the usual assumptions of victim and perpetrator. The murder occurred in broad daylight, with as many as sixty eye-witnesses present, including the wife of the deceased. Dunbar talked to him, and [McElroy] pulled a gun on him, Monte said. At some point in his life, McElroy was believed to have been seriously injured on a construction site, causing him to suffer from chronic pain. April 25th, 1980: A few of Ken's children go to the local grocery store and is accused of stealing by Mrs. Bowenkamp. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . Trena jumped from the truck and a man helped her to safety. [4], McElroy fathered more than 10 children with different women. [9] McElroy was convicted at trial of assault, but freed on bail pending his appeal. No. He was punctual, always said he didnt do it, paid in cash and kept coming back.. No one has been indicted for the murder of McElroy. Only July 10, 1981, there was a meeting at the town hall, down the street from D&G Tavern. McElroy made a living leasing land near his farm, and trading and racing dogs. No one has been charged in connection with McElroys death. As he packed up his office last week, he gave his successor a memo that listed a dozen or so unsolved cases in Nodaway County including, down toward the end, the killing of Mr. McElroy. In 1981, vigilantes in Skidmore, Mo., took justice into their own hands and killed town bully Ken Rex McElroy but no one was charged with the crime. 1954: While working for his sister's husband in construction, McElroy suffers a traumatic head injury that leaves him with lifelong pain. You just didnt do that.. 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. The McElroys eventually left the store, but when Bowenkamp closed up that night, he was outside, waiting. In 1980, after a misunderstanding about a candy purchase from a Skidmore grocery store involving McElroys daughters, McElroy shot popular owner Bo Bowenkamp in the neck. The rumor was that he had drowned her father in a bathtub when he had objected to what he was doing to his daughter. July 8th, 1980: The Bowenkamps filed a legal proceeding against Ken McElroy after the incident in their store. Estes then drove out of town in his police cruiser. It's hard to believe that this small town was once a bustlingcommunity. In the summer of 1981, a jury handed McElroy his first-ever felony conviction for the lesser charge of second-degree assault. As he sat drinking at the bar, word got back to the men at the Legion Hall that he was in town. Ken Rex McElroy (June 1, 1934 July 10, 1981) was an American criminal and convicted attempted murderer who resided in Skidmore, Missouri, United States. No one was ever accused of shoplifting, or stealing. The police chief who oversaw the investigation, Hal Riddle, disagrees. He was nonplussed. Some of these things are simply assumed to be factual, Baird said. It was Richard McFadin, the man who kept Ken McElroy out of jail 21 times, who said it best: The town got away with murder.. In April 1980, Trena McElroy told her husband a clerk in the Bowenkamps store had accused their 4-year-old daughter of stealing penny candy. *In Broad Daylight by Harry N. MacLean 1988. 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. 1960: Ken moves his young girlfriendSally into his house with Sharon. What started with hunting raccoons escalated into petty crime until McElroy ultimately emerged as a full-fledged criminal. Many buildings are closed and falling apart. My experience is that trying a case is not always good at bringing closure, Mr. Baird said. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD8iUdp33PqTsix2sGblEQZ8m5FQycC5D Vigilante justice, or cold-blooded murder?MERCH: We've got it! McElroy was spinning so hard out of control, I have no doubt he would have tried to kill my dad again, given the chance. A trial took place the following year and for the first time ever, Ken McElroy was convicted. He was hit twice and died in his truck. Local police, state investigators and FBI agents tried to break the towns silence, without success. Dozens of them gathered at Skidmores American Legion hall on the morning of July 10, 1981. However, he was also charged with various crimes. Buzzfeeds Unsolved Network produced a 24-minute true crime documentary on the shooting. Ken is later charged and arrested. The objective is to promote history on Medium and demonstrate the value of historical writing. Instead, he continued to harass Bowenkamp. McElroys wife was not injured and escaped the vehicle. The story of Ken Rex McElroy began on June 1, 1934. June 29th, 1981: McElroy enters a bar with an illegal firearm, due to him being out on bail. It failed McElroy, too, because it failed to protect him from himself. His unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. June 16th, 1934: Ken Rex McElroy is born to Mabel and Tony McElroy, the thirteenth out of fourteen children. 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. He dropped out of school before he reached high school, and by 13 was already a familiar character to the cops around Nodaway County. As many as 60 Skidmore residents attended, including the mayor and the sheriff. 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 left town just as Ken and Trena McElroy were driving in, likely passing McElroys Chevrolet Silverado pickup in his cruiser on the road. 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. After dropping out of school in the eighth grade, it didnt take long for Ken McElroy to fall into a life of delinquency. That it was a vigilante killing is not true for a lot of reasons; if they had decided to kill him, they wouldnt have stood in the street to watch the murder unfold, he said. And its likely to stay that way. They could finally sleep peacefully at night, especially Bo and Lois Bowenkamp and their children. Weighing in at approximately 270 pounds with bushy black sideburns, McElroy held the entire . July 10th, 1981: The Townspeople gather in the Legion to discuss what should be done about Ken McElroy. Ken Rex McElroy Jr. - Biography - IMDb Edit Ken Rex McElroy Jr. He went about making public threats against the grocer while armed with a rifle. Anthony was born on August 27 1890, in Shelton, Knox County, MO, USA. Its never going to happen.. Before you tell yourself the case closed, no, this case still remains unsolved. No one called for an ambulance. He reportedly began stalking the Bowenkamp family. Tell us what you think in the comments below. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. An extensive federal investigation did not lead to any charges. Del Clement, the man Trena named as McElroys killer, died of cirrhosis of the liver in 2009. Boyer was out showing a trainee the ropes when he got the call of a shooting in Skidmore. The courts would not help us or Skidmore. Watch the new and 7th season of BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime! She eventually filed a wrongful death against the town, the county, and some citizens but the matter was settled out of court. Everyone involved continues to keep the secret and gives no answers. Gene McFadin, McElroys nickel-slick lawyer from Kansas City could get Ken off every time, Kirby Goslee, a 71-year-old Skidmore farmer who still works the land his family homesteaded six generations ago, told Patch. So is Stratton. The town, on the other hand, hated him. After McElroy finished his drinks, he purchased a six pack of beer, left the bar, and entered his pickup truck. [8] At the trial, two raccoon hunters testified they were with McElroy the day of the shooting away from Henry's property. However, he was also charged with various crimes. He never finished high school but knew how to hunt, drive fast and navigate the back roads of Nodaway County by his early teens. He testified that Bowenkamp attacked him with a knife and he acted in self-defense, MacLean writes. After Sally had had three kids, Ken kicks her out of the house. He grew up hearing the story. Heavy lids veiled cold, steel-blue eyes, making them look like half moons. It's said that the meeting adjourned, and the crowd quietly descended upon the tavern, flanking McElroy's truck. Ken Rex McElroy was a 6-foot, 270 pounds, dark-complexioned, blue-eyed man who lived in Skidmore, Missouri. One reason was McElroys lawyer Richard Gene McFadin, a skilled defense attorney who ran rings around inexperienced prosecutors. After dropping out of school in the eighth grade, it didn't take long for Ken McElroy to fall into a life of delinquency. One of the killers has died. The witnesses all claimed they had seen nothing. Skidmore townsfolk may not all have liked how he was killed it was murder, after all but when he died, most of the towns 435 residents let out a heavy sigh of relief. 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. 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. The townspeople organized a caravan to escort the witnesses to the hearing both to protect them and to show solidarity. They were witnesses. Lessons from History is a platform for writers who share ideas and inspirational stories from world history. 1955 or 56: Ken and Oleta McElroy move back to Missouri after Ken's accident in Colorado. 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. In July 1976, McElroy pulled a shotgun on farmer Romaine Henry and shot the man in the stomach. The police would not or could not help us or Skidmore. Carjackers Steal More Cars Many With Kids Still Inside, After Indulgent Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday Signals Abstinence, Fasting. Someone shot at McElroy while he was sitting in his truck. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. 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. They settle in Skidmore. 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. If those responsible for killing McElroy are vigilantes, its because the justice system made them that way, Monte said. But unless a very credible witness came forward, its not likely to happen., The Burger Chef Cold Case: Four Murders Still Unsolved Over 40 Years Later. That they had guns at the ready wasnt unusual. The sheriff said, If you have to shoot him, let us know and well come get him before he starts stinking, Monte said. But the silence of the townspeople held. In a trial for shooting a Skidmore man in 1976 two witnesses appeared saying they had been with McElroy hunting miles away from the scene. Meanwhile, major media outlets descended onto Skidmore and reports of its vigilantes became water-cooler talk across the U.S. For some residents, resentment against McElroy was projected onto the police. Part of his teeth were lying on the dashboard, Boyer recalls. No one was surprised. Born in 1934, Ken Rex McElroy was a resident of Skidmore, Missouri. Again, there were no indictments, and the McElroy murder case was tossed back to Baird. 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. 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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 story was thrust back to the forefront this month by No One Saw a Thing, a six-part Sundance TV docu-series exploring the moral ambiguity of frontier justice and the unspoken, yet universally intriguing, question: When, if ever, does someone like McElroy deserve to die? Everyone just went home. McElroy raped a 12-year-old girl and, to avoid statutory rape charges, he divorced his wife at the time and married the child when she was 14 and pregnant with their baby. Ken Rex McElroy was born on month day 1934, at birth place, Missouri, to Anthony Wyatt McElroy and Mable Marie McElroy (born Lister). The people of the town keep their heads down and prefer to not speak about the incident. The Cold Case Murders That Keep Retired Detectives Up at Night, Citizen Detectives Uncover Crime Clues on Websleuths Online Forum. McElroy was accused of raping two young women, as young as 12 years old, both of whom he was said to have "married" to keep them from testifying against him. The law had plenty of chances, plenty of times to lock him up., Added Monte: Justice failed everybody. 1948: Approximately the time when Ken begins his small thefts as a young teenager. 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. That was the last failure of criminal justice.. Trena McElroy fingered a local rancher as one of the gunmen, but he denied the claim. His foot fell to the accelerator when he was shot, causing the engine to run at full bore. The people of the town keep their heads down and prefer to not speak about the incident. But if tried by a jury of their peers, I doubt anybody around here would have convicted the shooters. 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. Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. The sheriff suggested they form a neighborhood watch and advised the group not to confront the man. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. McElroy was furious when he learned of the incident. The murder occurred in broad daylight, with as many as sixty eye-witnesses present . McElroy for the most part escaped prosecution and, certainly, conviction for various crimes. [14] Trena remarried and moved to Lebanon, Missouri, where she died of cancer on her 55th birthday on January 24, 2012.[15]. Many wondered: Why didnt Baird press charges against the man Trena McElroy fingered as her husbands killer? No. In court, Bowenkamp testified about how McElroy confronted him in the loading dock of the grocery while he was cutting up boxes and shot him in the neck. This led to several patrons deciding to see what they could legally do to prevent McElroy from harming anyone else. She gathered her strength and put the car in reverse. McElroy and Trena returned to the truck, where he lit a cigarette while she was in the passenger seat. 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McElroy was eventually convicted, but the charge was lessened from "attempt to kill" to "knowingly caused serious physical injury" to ensure a conviction. 1955 or 56: Ken and Oleta McElroy move back to Missouri after Ken's accident in Colorado. None of the witnesses called an ambulance or gave information about a shooter. [1] To date, no one has been charged in connection with McElroy's death. The last three decades have been tough on this agricultural community of 342, about an hour and a half north of Kansas City. The grocer lived and McElroy was again arrested and charged with attempted murder. Things reached a boiling point in 1980 when Ken McElroy got into a confrontation with the towns elderly grocer, Ernest Bo Bowenkamp. 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. October 20th, 1974: Ken McElroy marries Trena McCloud to get out of a statutory rape charge with Trena. One of these women was 24-year-old Trena McCloud, who was McElroy's partner.
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