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His unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. 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. There just wouldnt have been a story.. Many wondered: Why didnt Baird press charges against the man Trena McElroy fingered as her husbands killer? 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. They were witnesses. How could it? McElroys rear window was shot out and the front window as well. Ken McElroy issues threats against the Bowenkamp family. 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. As a result, he was arrested, but quickly released. Over the next two years, three grand juries were empaneled and testimony taken. Everyone just went home. Still working within the justice system, witnesses who saw McElroy with the gun gave the information the county prosecutor needed to request a bond revocation hearing. McFadin, McElroys lawyer, got the hearing postponed. So what was left?. This is far from what happened in the case of McElroy. 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. 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. McElroy began backing out too, then tailed Margaret until she radioed Richard and squad cars showed up. The people of Skidmore were becoming more and more frustrated with the failures to protect them in the justice system. He leaves Sharon to move in with Alice. 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. 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. McElroy was charged with assault with intent to kill. No one was ever accused of shoplifting, or stealing. A federal grand jury was convened. The man asked, what are you doing here? Boyer remembers. I said it in 1981, and Ill say it now, Baird told Patch. That was the last straw, MacLean said. Once, a farmer who caught Ken red-handed stealing two horses filed charges but withdrew them after McElroy smashed him across the face with a rifle., Police also felt McElroys ire. Known as 'the town bully', his unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. McElroy appealed the case and was released on bond. Posted on July 14, 2011 by Harry. McElroy was hit twice and died. June 16th, 1934: Ken Rex McElroy is born to Mabel and Tony McElroy, the thirteenth out of fourteen children. They delivered messages in code. Best client I ever had, McFadin said in an interview. Shortly after being released, McElroy was at D&G Tavern making threats about murdering Bowenkamp. July 10th, 1981: The Townspeople gather in the Legion to discuss what should be done about Ken McElroy. Farmers carried them to kill varmints, or for hunting displaying them in plain sight in rear window gun racks. June 12th, 1973: After continuing his involvement with Trena McCloud, Ken McElroy burns down Trena's parents' house. 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. Again, there were no indictments, and the McElroy murder case was tossed back to Baird. Like so many other small towns, Skidmore has shrunk inside itself, watching businesses close and residents depart. The meeting's entire purpose was to discuss what they could legally do to prevent McElroy from harming anyone else. 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. Get out of town, they said. There may never be an answer to the question of who killed Ken Rex McElroy. No one called for an ambulance. By the time McElroy was shot dead under the glare of the morning sun on July 10, 1981, everybody feared his hair-trigger temper and brooding presence. Shortly after, Strattons wife Margaret was headed to church when she saw a strange truck in the driveway. Looking back, the justice system had as much to do with killing Ken McElroy as anyone in Skidmore did.. The DA declined to press charges and the following investigation proved to be futile. Once there, he threatened Bo, and shot him in the neck at close range with a shotgun. A bond hearing was ordered. SKIDMORE, Mo. Trena claimed to have seen someone pull a rifle from the back of the truck, take aim at McElroy, and fire shots that shattered the truck's windows. Retribution was slow coming to Ken McElroybut lightning fast when it happened. The larger-than-life bully who menaced the farming community of Skidmore died in seconds. As many as 60 Skidmore residents attended, including the mayor and the sheriff. One assumption Skidmore hasnt been able to shed is that McElroys killing was an act of vigilante justice. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Bullet casings from two guns were found. McElroy for the most part escaped prosecution and, certainly, conviction for various crimes. 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. She eventually filed a wrongful death against the town, the county, and some citizens but the matter was settled out of court. He dropped out of school at age 15 in the eighth grade and quickly established a local reputation as a cattle rustler, small-time thief, and womanizer. She died of cancer on Jan. 24, 2012; it was her 55th birthday. Those who spoke out were taciturn. Born in 1934, Ken Rex McElroy was a resident of Skidmore, Missouri. Trena dove from the truck and was taken to safety. Why are you doing this? He testified that Bowenkamp attacked him with a knife and he acted in self-defense, MacLean writes. Ken Rex McElroy was an illiterate hog farmer who lived on the outskirts of a small town in Northwest Missouri. Everyone was so uncomfortable and scared.. The courts would not help us or Skidmore. Allegedly, even the mayor was in on it. 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.. US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. I dont believe youre coming nowafter we needed your help all this time.. The grocer lived and McElroy was again arrested and charged with attempted murder. 1958: Ken McElroy becomes involved with a young woman named Sharon. You dont take cases to trial to see what might happen, the former prosecutor said. And he has already asked the sheriffs office to re-examine some of the unsolved cases. Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. The justice system just crashed and burned over this case.. Is dumpster diving legal in Missouri and Illinois? However, in 1981, Trena told People magazine that the fire was a result of "faulty wiring.". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He had been terrorizing Skidmore for years and he kept getting away with it. Then you can read about chilling cold cases where the murderers and victims were both unknown. September 2nd, 1982: Keven though there were over sixty witnesses, no one came forward to name the shooter. Ken Rex McElroy was shot dead in Skidmore, Missouri on July 10, 1981. Consisting of around 440 residents and a number of small family-run businesses, the farming town revolved around work ethic. June 25th, 1981: McElroy returns to Skidmore out on bail until an appeal hearing. I didnt see anything. A couple of men hustled Trena to a nearby bank, away from the gunfire. His attorney, Richard McFadin, said he routinely defended Ken McElroy in three or four felonies a year. I didnt know what to do. 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More awful crimes have taken place in the small town. However, he was also charged with various crimes. Buzzfeeds Unsolved Network produced a 24-minute true crime documentary on the shooting. 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. Of the potential 40 or so witnesses, with the exception of Trena, none could name a shooter. 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. The stories of McElroy's relationships contain some troubling details, but the information is important to paint the full picture. A girl from a poor, rural family, McElroy had begun having sex with her when she was barely fourteen. Ken Rex McElroy was shot dead inside his pick-up truck on the 10th of July, 1981, via a storm of bullets. 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. 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. THE KILLING OF KEN REX MCELROY THIRTY YEARS LATER. 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. And despite there being dozens of witnesses, no one has ever been arrested or charged in connection with McElroys murder. She was present at the time of his death. It's hard to believe that this small town was once a bustlingcommunity. The bar that provided the backdrop for the shooting is closed and for sale for $20,000. However, he was also charged with various crimes. Ken Rex McElroy 1934-1981. 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. His father was a tenant farmer, his mother a housewife swamped with feeding and caring for the sprawling family. That they had guns at the ready wasnt unusual. 1954: While working for his sister's husband in construction, McElroy suffers a traumatic head injury that leaves him with lifelong pain. The sheriff said, If you have to shoot him, let us know and well come get him before he starts stinking, Monte said. Someone shot at McElroy while he was sitting in his truck. The law had plenty of chances, plenty of times to lock him up., Added Monte: Justice failed everybody. There has been books written, movies, documentaries and more made about the killing. Ken McElroy died in a hail of gunfire on the morning of July 10, 1981, while sitting in his truck outside a local tavern. McElroy was also accused of abusing his first two wives, Sharon and Alice, but Alice defended him in an interview shortly after his death. He was a goodhearted person. 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. When the news that Ken and Trena went to the local bar that evening, everyone got up and made their way over. No one has any idea what a nightmare we lived.. Anticipating McElroys typical moves, Stratton waited on a back road near the Kansas border. SKIDMORE, Mo. Title Directed by Original air date U.S. viewers (millions) 1 "The Killing of Ken Rex McElroy" Avi Belkin: August 1, 2019 (): N/A: Known as the town bully, Ken Rex McElroy terrorized tiny Skidmore, Missouri, for decades.On July 10, 1981, the town had had enough and 60 people surrounded his pick-up truck and shot him dead on Main Street--but no one claimed to have seen a thing. *In Broad Daylight by Harry N. MacLean 1988. After McElroy finished his drinks, he purchased a six pack of beer, left the bar, and entered his pickup truck. A writer and storyteller out in the world to write about True-Crime and History. Alas, the victory was short-lived. Ken Rex McElroy (June 1, 1934 - July 10, 1981) was a resident of Skidmore, Nodaway County, Missouri. Nobody wanted to talk to us, retired Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Dan Boyer tells A&E True Crime. McElroy denied he was at the scene. They thought about his wife and his children, and where it left them particularly the children.. [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. Boyer was out showing a trainee the ropes when he got the call of a shooting in Skidmore. What started with hunting raccoons escalated into petty crime until McElroy ultimately emerged as a full-fledged criminal. Henry survived and McElroy was charged with assault with intent to kill. No one was charged, and the FBI closed the case. McElroy made a living leasing land near his farm, and trading and racing dogs. No one was surprised. Within a few years, she had had four children by him. Anthony was born on August 27 1890, in Shelton, Knox County, MO, USA. Once, he even got out and fired a shotgun up in the pine tree by their house. 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.