As a result, he was no stranger to the Nodaway County Sheriffs Dept. Since the killing, the town has been besieged with reporters and investigators. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. He quit.. Longstanding Grudges. 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. 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. Unsurprisingly, Skidmore residents were upset by the police presence in town. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. The truck engine burned up in the half-hour he was left slumped in the cab, his foot lodged on the accelerator. 31 Mar. She died in 2012. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. System , , . You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Just a single name can cause a physical reaction when uttered out loud in a room filled with those in the know. Ernst Bo Bowenkamp (source: morbidology.com). A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. Henry stopped the truck and Ken Rex approached the passenger side, the window rolled down, the barrel of the 12-gauge trained on Henry. Try again later. It wasnt the kind of murder which goes unsolved for decades and eventually someone comes forward with the tip that breaks the case open. The shot violently ripped Romaine Henrys stomach opened, the right side of his body peeling away and laying across his lap. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Skidmore Forever the Town that Killed Ken Rex McElroy. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Many speculate that this traumatic injury was a cause of his volatility and aggression later in life. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Your email address will not be published. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Ken Rex McElroy I found on Findagrave.com. The group outside the tavern had grown and began jeering as they saw the couple emerge from the tavern. As the story has been told by MacLean and others, McElroy showed up at the D&G tavern and pool hall the next day toting a rifle with a bayonet a violation of his bond and threatened to finish off the Bowenkamps. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Nearly 30 years of silence about the killing of a bully - STLtoday.com 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. Sorry! That became the pattern. Debbie Ann McElroy, age 54 of Conway, Missouri, passed away Sunday, June 14, 2020 at her home in Conway.She was born July 5, 1965 in Skidmore, Mo. Skidmore Forever the Town that Killed Ken Rex McElroy McElroy had just finished another stint at a local tavern when he stumbled back into his pickup truck. Outsiders are spotted easily and watched warily. By this point in his life Ken Rex had become a master of escaping punishment. Joyce Monte, daughter of injured grocer. U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current, U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. He ruled with an iron fist, inciting fear and causing a persistent sense of dread amongst townsfolk. WebGenealogy for Ken Rex McElroy (1934 - 1982) family tree on Geni, with over 230 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Del was serving beer in the tavern just before the shooting). All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Why are you doing this? to Kenneth and Sharon Fossinger McElroy.She was preceded in death by her father.Debbie was born in the Skidmore area and attended school there. The children had little parental supervision, and for the most part ran free around town. Search above to list available cemeteries. There is no denying that McElroy was a skilled criminal; his long career of breaking the law resulted in pockets permanently stuffed with $100 bills. She let it be known that she had gone ''somewhere in Missouri'' because someone might try to kill her. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. He intimidated people by driving by at night and firing a shotgun blast, putting a rattlesnake in their mailbox, etc. This is a carousel with slides. The townspeople organized a caravan to escort the witnesses to the hearing both to protect them and to show solidarity. ''Everybody knows what the next guy is saying and doing,'' said one investigator. They were running away, seeking refuge away from Ken Rex. They know how everybody thinks.. Many speculate that McElroy also threatened the jury. GREAT NEWS! 'No One Saw a Thing': A town torn apart by 38 years of violence They slept in shifts, with some friend or family member keeping an eye on the street. It was widely reported that he was illiterate, but he did not let this hold him back from getting what he wanted in life. But Skidmore is still Skidmore. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. The doctor who treated her was appalled and called child services. Born in 1934 the fifteenth of sixteen children McElroy dropped out of school by the time he hit fifth grade and spent the She went right back to the McElroy farmhouse with her son. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Verify and try again. Why were they diligently carrying out this investigation into the killing of the man who had made their lives miserable for so long? 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. It would nave to say they did not feel a sense of collective relief. It sounded like the Wild West out there.''. Calling the sheriff about his threats was risk few were willing to take not that it would have done much good, Goslee said. Henry took off down the road to investigate. Learn more about merges. Learn more about managing a memorial . 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. Failed to report flower. Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Richard Stratton, the only lawman in northwest Missouri ever known to stand up to McElroy, hunted McElroy down and arrested him on an attempted murder charge. Dozens of them gathered at Skidmores American Legion hall on the morning of July 10, 1981. By the time the word came that Mr. McElroy was at the D & G Tavern, tempers were hotter. Harry MacLean, author of "In Broad Daylight". This is the story of a bully, and to the town of Skidmore Missouri he was the meanest, nastiest, bully that has ever lived. He would sit outside of their house in his truck for hours in the evening. The Story Of Ken McElroy, The Vicious Bully Killed By His Town How to Use This Collection. Ken Rex McElroy was not a nice man. FBI Closes Inquiry Into the Killing of a Town Bully Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? He was stalked and threatened mercilessly, only to remain vigilant, appear at trial, testify against Ken Rex, and still see him walk away without consequence. McElroy for years had terrorized the small town of Skidmore Missouri, and was considered the town bully. There was an error deleting this problem. Harry MacLean, author of the award winning book In Broad Daylight about the McElroy case, spent several years living in Skidmore, interviewing those who were there that day. just happened . This browser does not support getting your location. Estes, the sheriff some tried to implicate in a conspiracy, is dead. , 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. A pact of silence was made between the witnesses. That they had guns at the ready wasnt unusual. The clerk, Evelyn Sumy, was at the back of the store when the doors swung open. Undaunted, Mr. McElroy hoisted himself into the truck and pulled out a cigarette. Henry survived, and unlike the majority of McElroys other victims, actually went on to testify in court against him. McElroy dropped out of school in the eighth grade. But even more frustrating was the ineptitude of law enforcement in their handling of the monster that terrorized them day in and day out. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. ''No,'' he said. Resend Activation Email. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. All told Ken Rex McElroy faced felony charges twenty-one times without ever being convicted. Adoption, paternity, divorce, or guardianship? On of his hands came to him one afternoon and reported that someone was on the property shooting a firearm. MacLean doesnt believe the men gathered at the Legion hall that morning ever made a group decision to kill McElroy. Last Names. He specialized in stealing cattle and anything else he could get his hands on. 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. This is a collaborative project with FindMyPast.com. Many wondered: Why didnt Baird press charges against the man Trena McElroy fingered as her husbands killer? Unresolved: The Town That Killed Ken McElroy July 10, 1981, his reign of terror came to an end. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Made A Vigilante Pact To Kill Ken Rex McElroy One account even said that McElroy rode into town on a horse and was shot and killed, Baird, the former prosecutor, said. Failed to report flower. Nearly 30 years of 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. 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. Sorry! 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. Please reset your password. 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. He knew which people to pick on the weak people and he followed through on his threats just often enough to make people believe he was going to do what he said he was going to do. McElroy died at the scene, surrounded by the people he had terrorised for decades. He would follow the bus route that took Trena to school in his pickup truck. 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. 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. To use this feature, use a newer browser. With the businesses gone, the Punkin Festival defunct, it has little vibrancy. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Resend Activation Email. '', Mr. McElroy was widely regarded as an armed tough who stole livestock and anything else he could. 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. I was in and around Skidmore for three days and two nights, and encountered no trouble. Add to your scrapbook. He had a legendary status, and it all got to be bigger than he was. 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. But it was too late. We might not see him for three or four days, and then wed see him every day for weeks, Monte said. This part is a rollercoaster. Recent leaks into killing of town bully Ken Rex McElroy - Reddit Del Clement, the man Trena named as McElroys killer, died of cirrhosis of the liver in 2009. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 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 Ken Rex McElroy did not limit his torture and abuse just to those who lived with him. 24 Jan 1957. She ended up dropping the charges. Born June 2, 1948, in Louisville, Ky., he was the son of the late C.C. Make sure that the file is a photo. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. People Projects Discussions Surnames Sally had three children with McElroy and Sharon had another two. Before driving away, McElroy stopped to light a cigarette. McElroy started his pickup and the sound of shots pierced the silence. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? His conviction was for second-degree assault and he was sentenced to just two years - for shooting someone in the neck. Women had a harder time with it than the men. McFadin was creating delay after delay in order to prevent the case from going to trial, and time was all that Ken Rex needed in order to avoid facing a jury. Please try again later. 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. Evelyn lived cross the street, and he made sure she could see them. Who was Ken Rex McElroy? Skidmore residents were pleased that (some) justice was finally being served. Heavy lids veiled cold, steel-blue eyes, making them look like half moons. Unresolved: The Town That Killed Ken McElroy Its not even past. Nowhere is that more true than the small community of Skidmore, where the past is the terror and murder of a terror-stoking outlaw 30 years ago. Bo survived, McElroy was arrestedbut he got out on bail, and began harassing the officer who arrested him, Richard Stratton. Try again later. She had seen a man named Del Clement (the co-owner of the D&G Tavern) standing across the street with a rifle, at which point she told Ken they needed to get out of there because he was going to get shot. No one was ever accused of shoplifting, or stealing. 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. Every school has a bully or bullies, and every small town has that family or families. When the meeting ended, the group made their way across the street to the tavern to confront McElroy. Ken McElroy was a middle-aged married man with out of control sideburns and a burly physique. In Broad Daylight Classic Print Edition. They settle in Skidmore. One time, a farmer named Romaine Henry caught McElroy trespassing on his property and attempted to chase him off. He left town just as Ken and Trena McElroy were driving in, likely passing McElroys Chevrolet Silverado pickup in his cruiser on the road. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. No one else corroborated Trenas story. 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. 1955 or 56: Ken and Oleta McElroy move back to Missouri after Ken's accident in Colorado. He was a womanizer, too. Looking back, the justice system had as much to do with killing Ken McElroy as anyone in Skidmore did.. As well as the piece on McElroys son. McElroy would just sit and glower at you just stare at you and youd never know what he was thinking.. McElroy for the most part escaped prosecution and, certainly, conviction for various crimes. Trena McCloud's Civil Suit Against Skidmore, Missouri Revealed A lot of old timers complain that they dont know many of the other residents, a lot of whom work in surrounding communities. He accused Romaine Henry of being a dirty S.O.B. and said that Henry had been at his place in a white Pontiac. Someone warned her, Youre about to meet Ken Rex McElroy, Monte said. Trena McCloud's Civil Suit Against Skidmore, Missouri Revealed The Bowenkamps, who were in their early seventies at the time, tried their best to carry on with life as normal. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. The murder of Ken Rex McElroy isnt unsolved in the typical sense of the word. Fidelity wasnt a strong suit of Ken Rex, or of any interest to him at all for that matter. (SECOM) 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. 2. It was a matter of self-preservation. This account has been disabled. Try again. Ken McElroy - Wikipedia He was very cunning, MacLean told Patch. Investigators dug and dug, but Skidmore residents maintained their silence. , . I think its admirable that you have not forgotten the good people who helped you. United States Attorney Robert Ulrich declared that the Government was still working on its case despite the failure of the two grand juries to find witnesses who would talk. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Ken Rex McElroy was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in St Joseph, Missouri. Later, she moved to Conway to be near her sister.She is survived by two sons, Wendell Cole and Bobby McElroy, both of Kansas City, Kansas; three grandchildren, Seleah, Malachi and Malik; her mother, Sharon Wilhoit of Helena, Mo. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. 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. Not only that, they recommended he spend no more than two years in prison. McElroy was arrested and charged with arson, assault, and statutory rape. When he got off on a trial, it grew even bigger. I will soon post photos of my visit. Beside him was his wife, Trena. 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, the townspeople all would have known that the injury was attributable to an intentional act, and that Ken Rex was always the responsible party. , . 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. To use this feature, use a newer browser. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. McElroy was spinning so hard out of control, I have no doubt he would have tried to kill my dad again, given the chance. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Everyone just went home. 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.. True and tried, Ken Rexs tactics did work. The authorities had let them down, so they had no choice but to take matters into their own hands. Faces turn away at a strangers approach. Trena Louise McNeeley McElroy Williams (1957-2012) - Find a He was the 15th child of 16 born to Tony and Mabel McElroy. Behind those eyes laid the cold, calm embrace of violence and death that wrote his biography. A federal grand jury was convened. Place. This went on for months, thanks to his trial being subject to constant delays. Mr. McElroy was hit in the head and neck. Lois soon became fed up and told the McElroys to leave the store and never come back. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Residents seem more resentful, less willing to talk. We went everywhere we could, but justice would stay delicately out the way, she said. However, most of his sexual affairs werent with women, but rather underage girls, with whom he collectively had at least ten children. It should have been open and shut - there were dozens of witnesses, and the shooting occurred in broad daylight - but it wound up being anything but. Neither Baird nor MacLean, whose crime novel has been praised as an accurate account of McElroys killing, buy that. So is Stratton. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. For years residents had watched Mr. McElroy, 47 years old at his death, wiggle out of one legal problem after another. They delivered messages in code. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. 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. If they thought it was getting too out of hand, they would send one of us up and down the aisle. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. He was struck by bullets from at least two General Mills Recalls Gold Medal Flour Due To Salmonella Risk, 3 Soldiers Killed After 2 U.S. Army Helicopters Crash In Alaska, What To Do When Neighbor Dogs Jump On You, Poop Wherever [Block Talk], Bugs, Insects, Spiders Spring To Life; Let Some Bee, Squish Others, Allergy, Hay Fever Sufferers See An Early Start To Pollen Season, Morel Mushrooms Popping Up In Woods Across America: Where To Find Them, The Great American Solar Eclipse Of 2024 May, Ahem, Eclipse 2017. Before you tell yourself the case closed, no, this case 1952: Ken McElroy marries his first wife Oleta. 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. McElroy pretty much got whatever he wanted, and women were no exception. The Tavern, a quonset hut set on a cement floor, stunk irredeemably of grease from all the burgers fried up in there over the years. ''And I wouldn't tell you if I did.'' They recounted his threats to kill anyone who tried to jail him. Search above to list available cemeteries. It went beyond just hammering people and being mean-spirited. Eventually, Sharon and McElroy had two children. GREAT NEWS! She was taken to a foster home in Maryville with the couples baby. Refusing to argue, he and Lois went home. Everyone was keeping an eye on us. They were witnesses. . When Estes and state troopers arrived back in town, the streets were empty and quiet, save the rumbling, smoking engine of McElroys truck. Murder is still murder. 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. They worked as sharecroppers and moved often before settling in Skidmore. Please try again later. Injured at work? Eventually, Trena grew tired of the foster house and the rules she was expected to mind under, after all she was still a young girl, and she ran away. Learn more about merges. Who Killed Ken Rex McElroy: Town Keeps Its Secret For 38 Years Cite This Collection "British Newspaper Archives, Obituaries." MacLean told Inside Edition: Whatever had been done might not be morally right, but he needed killing. McElroy moved Sally onto the family farm with Sharon and their two children. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Ken Rex McElroy (1934-1981) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. 20 Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? The Story of the trials, life and death of Ken Rex McElroy and the Town of Skidmore, Missouri. Somebody would hear his name, and the legend grew bigger. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 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. When you didnt know where he was, you didnt dare take the chance of not being on your guard.. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? He had steel blue eyes that would bore a hole right through you. Not long after leaving school, McElroy sustained a head injury when he fell from a hay wagon. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Seventy-five or so people gathered at the Sam R. Albright American Legion Hall on July 10, 1981, to discuss what could be done. He abused Alice verbally and physically, and when she gave birth to their son, she moved out to live with her mother and stepfather In St Joseph, the next town over from Skidmore. McElroy was acquitted, thanks to his talented attorney. 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. He quickly divorced Alice, then drove Trena to Kansas and married her to avoid conviction of statutory rape. However, the outcome of the conviction was a slap in the face for Bo and Lois Bowenkamp. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request.