So is Stratton. Dunbar talked to him, and [McElroy] pulled a gun on him, Monte said. [1], McElroy was born in 1934, the 15th of 16 children born to a poor, migrant tenant-farming couple named Tony and Mabel (ne Lister) McElroy, who had moved between Kansas and the Ozarks before settling outside of Skidmore. The law had plenty of chances, plenty of times to lock him up., Added Monte: Justice failed everybody. In all, he was indicted 21 times but escaped conviction each time, except for the last. Everyone in town seemed to know McElroy had done it, yet he spent only a single night in jail for nearly killing the man. When he got off on a trial, it grew even bigger. That was the last failure of criminal justice.. Everyone was so uncomfortable and scared.. Just months after Mr. Baird became county prosecutor a post he was encouraged to take because nothing exciting ever happens in Nodaway County he found himself in a courtroom for the first time with Mr. McElroy, who had shot an elderly Skidmore grocer in the neck with a shotgun. Three grand juries heard evidence. After all these years, people talk about it still, said Marla Messner, 37, a restaurant manager who remembers being hurried inside her home for safety anytime Mr. McElroy came to town. Many buildings are closed and falling apart. His unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. (Editors Note: Patch Deputy National Editor Beth Dalbey grew up on a farm about 10 miles from Skidmore, Missouri.). Ken was 18 and Oleta was 16. One of the killers has died. He was freed on bond. Ken was 18 and Oleta was 16. Watch the new and 7th season of BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime! 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. 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. As he sat drinking at the bar, word got back to the men at the Legion Hall that he was in town. His father was a tenant farmer, his mother a housewife swamped with feeding and caring for the sprawling family. Investigators dug and dug, but Skidmore residents maintained their silence. The murder occurred in broad daylight, with as many as sixty eye-witnesses present, including the wife of the deceased. When Daylight Saving Time 2023 Begins, Will It Be For The Last Time. Trena jumped from the truck and a man helped her to safety. 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? It's said the county's law enforcement officials were afraid of encountering McElroy, who was known to be heavily armed. On July 10, 1981, Ken Rex McElroy was killed in one of the strangest instances investigators ever saw. How did this uneducated person how is he able to outwit the criminal justice system for 20 years? said MacLean. Ken McElroy died in a hail of gunfire on the morning of July 10, 1981, while sitting in his truck outside a local tavern. The Vigilantemurder of Ken Rex McElroy still remains a mystery today. June 25th, 1981: McElroy returns to Skidmore out on bail until an appeal hearing. Those who witnessed the killing didnt speak of it again, not because they were part of a conspiracy, MacLean believes, but because theyre stoic by nature. 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. Of the potential 40 or so witnesses, with the exception of Trena, none could name a shooter. Both Sally and Sharon begin having Ken's children. When Estes and state troopers arrived back in town, the streets were empty and quiet, save the rumbling, smoking engine of McElroys truck. His attorney, Richard McFadin, said he routinely defended Ken McElroy in three or four felonies a year. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. After Sally had had three kids, Ken kicks her out of the house. This six-episode true-crime docuseries comes from Sundance TV and premiered last August. June 16th, 1934: Ken Rex McElroy is born to Mabel and Tony McElroy, the thirteenth out of fourteen children. [6], Based on Trena's story, McElroy was indicted in June 1973 for arson, assault, and statutory rape. Maryville, Missouri, lawyer David Baird, the Nodaway County prosecutor at the time, said the crime is fairly unremarkable in the context of current-day gang shootings witnessed by many, but seen by few willing to risk their safety by ratting out the crew. McFadin, McElroys lawyer, got the hearing postponed. We had shoplifting, but a lot of people were on hard times. They delivered messages in code. You dont take cases to trial to see what might happen, the former prosecutor said. And his deeds were as daunting as his appearance. The morning of July 10, 1981, a group of frustrated and angry men gathered at the Legion Hall in Skidmore, MacLean writes. Perversely, the towns share of tragedy has grown. 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. See also Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro Ken Rex McElroy Jr. April 25th, 1980: A few of Ken's children go to the local grocery store and is accused of stealing by Mrs. Bowenkamp. 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. October 20th, 1974: Ken McElroy marries Trena McCloud to get out of a statutory rape charge with Trena. Hed leave, then hed come back, Monte said. She died in 2012. He was known as "the town bully", [1] and his unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. Ken Rex McElroy sat in his truck for over an hour before the law was called. McElroy was found not guilty. Instead of playing out in court, the details emerged in newspaper and magazine accounts, as well as a best-selling book, In Broad Daylight: A Murder in Skidmore, Missouri, which was later made into a television movie. The Strange Killing of Ken Rex McElroy - YouTube Within a few years, she had had four children by him. Trena dove from the truck and was taken to safety. He met his last wife, Trena McCloud (19572012), when she was 12 years old and in eighth grade. Obsessed with travel? 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. in the A&E App.]. Were the citizens justified in taking matters into their own hands? They know how everybody thinks.. I didnt see anything. Bullet casings from two different guns were found. McElroy sat outside the foster home for hours at a time staring at it. We might not see him for three or four days, and then wed see him every day for weeks, Monte said. The police chief who oversaw the investigation, Hal Riddle, disagrees. McElroy mounted a daily vigil outside Bowenkamps house, his daughter Cheryl Brown recounts in In Broad Daylight: The town emptied out every time he came to town. His last wife, Trena, became pregnant with their first child at age 14. Once, he even got out and fired a shotgun up in the pine tree by their house. Part of his teeth were lying on the dashboard, Boyer recalls. 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.". Luckily, Bowenkamp survived, and McElroy was charged with attempted murder. He was hit twice and died in his truck. Ken McElroy - Wikipedia A writer and storyteller out in the world to write about True-Crime and History. Del Clement, the man Trena named as McElroys killer, died of cirrhosis of the liver in 2009. But justice is a loaded term in a case that challenges the usual assumptions of victim and perpetrator. Here are 13 things you need to know about Ken McElroy and his death before you tune into No One Saw A Thing, premiering this Thursday, Aug. 1, pulled from sources including Harry MacLean,. We went everywhere we could, but justice would stay delicately out the way, she said. Ken Rex McElroy Jr. - Biography - IMDb Edit Ken Rex McElroy Jr. Known as "the town bully", 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. [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. Ken McElroy was shot to death on the main street of Skidmore in July 1981, in front of 45 witnesses. His hunch paid off, and McElroy found himself handcuffed and charged with assault. YouTubeThe towns local bar in Skidmore, Missouri. [14] Trena remarried and moved to Lebanon, Missouri, where she died of cancer on her 55th birthday on January 24, 2012.[15]. It was a commemoration of sorts: thirty years ago to the day after Ken Rex McElroy had been shot to death as he sat in his truck on the main street of . McElroy wound up shooting Bowenkamp in the neck, nearly killing him. Heavy lids veiled cold, steel-blue eyes, making them look like half moons. I didnt know what to do. [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. If you were to go to Skidmore today, there isn't much to see. Was justice served? Ken Rex McElroy The Movie Database (TMDB) 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. Shortly after being released, McElroy was at D&G Tavern making threats about murdering Bowenkamp. US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. 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. 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. Ken McElroy Wiki & Bio - Everipedia According to a report, no one called an ambulance. The towns local bar in Skidmore, Missouri. Worse felonies included assault and arson. Women had a harder time with it than the men. Of the most serious, McElroy was accused of child molestation and statutory rape. 1958: Ken McElroy becomes involved with a young woman named Sharon. His father was a tenant farmer, his mother a housewife swamped with feeding and caring for the sprawling family. He found a macabre scene. That was the last straw, MacLean said. McElroy started his pickup and the sound of shots pierced the silence. Everyone involved continues to keep the secret and gives no answers. The witnesses all claimed they had seen nothing. We went to the police. The trial collapsed yet all accounts are sceptical that the witnesses were telling the . Those in attendance felt the system had failed them, and it seemed like none of the authorities could stop McElroy. Anyone can read what you share. The couple then moved to Colorado. Bottles, glasses for restaurants and barsincomible/Getty ImagesFull of Audienceuschools/Getty ImagesAn American police officer posing arms folded beside cop carDarrenMower/Getty ImagesCar Wash Truck SprayA-Digit/Getty ImagesCity People Setedge69/Getty ImagesSilhouette of people in action4x6/Getty ImagesCaucasian farmer standing in irrigated fieldHill Street Studios/Getty ImagesYoung woman on the streetSensorSpot/Getty ImagesShot Truck Driverwwing/Getty ImagesOlder Caucasian man standing with hands in pocketsSam Diephuis/Getty ImagesOutlines of rebellionsshironosov/Getty Imagesmain street remote rural prairie towndlerick/Getty ImagesBlank magazine on wooden backgroundgrinvalds/Getty ImagesEmpty Country Road In UsaDan Thornberg / EyeEm/Getty ImagesCaucasian farmer wearing gloves leaning on wooden fenceSteve Smith/Getty ImagesJudge holding gavel in courtroomChris Ryan/Getty ImagesAuthentic Cowboy Rancher Portraitavid_creative/Getty ImagesSilhouettes of three cowboys on a white backgroundheartbar/Getty ImagesCaucasian security officers posing with flashlightKirk Marsh/Getty ImagesPrivate investigator reports what he seestzahiV/Getty ImagesThis farm is my pride and joypixdeluxe/Getty Imagesdark portrait of a man in a hoodserikbaib/Getty ImagesWhite colored house with blue doorMableen/Getty ImagesYoung couple havi EXTERNAL CREDITSGrant Henderson - Editor+Rick Weller- GFX Artist Get out of town, they said. She was present at the time of his death. Retaliation would be severe. 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. The McElroys eventually left the store, but when Bowenkamp closed up that night, he was outside, waiting. Within hours, Mr. Baird heard that there had been a shooting downtown. McElroy allegedly stole livestock, grain, gasoline, and antiques. McElroy appealed the case and was released on bond. Then you can read about chilling cold cases where the murderers and victims were both unknown. He was indicted as many as 21 times, but escaped conviction all but once. 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. 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. Carjackers Steal More Cars Many With Kids Still Inside, After Indulgent Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday Signals Abstinence, Fasting. Ken had 13 siblings: Hershell Eugene McElroy, Orvil O McElroy and 11 . In Broad Daylight | Harry N. MacLean One night after he pulled a speeding pickup truck over, Boyer came face to face with McElroy. 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. Ken is later charged and arrested. Who Killed Ken Rex McElroy: Town Keeps Its Secret For 38 Years Is dumpster diving legal in Missouri and Illinois? One assumption Skidmore hasnt been able to shed is that McElroys killing was an act of vigilante justice. Ken Rex McElroy (June 1, 1934 July 10, 1981) was an American criminal and convicted attempted murderer who resided in Skidmore, Missouri, United States.