You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. , . His favored methods of intimidation included approaching people, hissing threats at them and shoving his shotgun in their faces. Weve updated the security on the site. Longstanding Grudges. He had steel blue eyes that would bore a hole right through you. 1952: Ken McElroy marries his first wife Oleta. Anyone heard any new info from people who were there? Ken McElroy and the Vigilantes of Skidmore, Missouri Again, there were no indictments, and the McElroy murder case was tossed back to Baird. We didnt have sufficient evidence to go to trial.. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? The justice system had failed them once again. Trena had to go to hospital for the injuries she had suffered at the hands of McElroy. Nearly 30 years of For more information or to visit the website go to www.holmanhowe.com. With the charges still looming over him, Ken Rex acted fast. Trena Louise McNeeley McElroy Williams (1957-2012) - Find a After the photos. 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. Over the course of his life, McElroy was accused of dozens of felonies, including assault, child molestation, statutory rape, arson, animal cruelty, hog and cattle rustling, and burglary. In the end, fear is what killed him, Goslee said. Required fields are marked *. 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. By 14 years old Trena was pregnant with their first child. Ken Rex McElroy (1934 - 1981) - Genealogy ''There were a couple of bangs,'' said Mr. Hartman, whose office is near the tavern, ''and at first I thought it was firecrackers. There was a problem getting your location. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Skidmore Forever the Town that Killed Ken Rex McElroy Not long after moving into McElroys farmhouse, both Trena and Alice (Ken Rex and Alice remained together despite him moving Trena in) fled to Trenas parents home. Unresolved: The Town That Killed Ken McElroy Ken Rex fell quickly in lust with Trena. There is a problem with your email/password. In order to stop him from doing so, McElroy carried on with his usual scare tactics he told him he would kill his entire family if he testified, followed him and sat outside his house for hours. 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. Try again. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Three grand jury investigations and an FBI probe resulted in no indictments and no trial. Ken McElroy in U.S. Social Security Death Index (SSDI) Ken Rex McElroy in FamilySearch Family Tree. Some of these things are simply assumed to be factual, Baird said. Every school has a bully or bullies, and every small town has that family or families. Calling the sheriff about his threats was risk few were willing to take not that it would have done much good, Goslee said. 4. Please enter your email and password to sign in. They could finally sleep peacefully at night, especially Bo and Lois Bowenkamp and their children. When he found where Trena was staying he began relying on his old tactics of intimidation. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Will people who were there start to leak information as time goes on? The two came out from the back of the store, also becoming subject to the couples ranting. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. They knew this because they had all either witnessed or been the victim of a similar intentional violent act, and it was always at the hands of Ken Rex McElroy. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Recent leaks into killing of town bully Ken Rex McElroy - Reddit It is widely accepted that he fired one of the guns that shot McElroy. CASE #8: THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF KEN REX MCELROY Investigators dug and dug, but Skidmore residents maintained their silence. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. This browser does not support getting your location. First Names. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. You can always change this later in your Account settings. McElroy raised the barrel of the gun and pointed it at the cab of the approaching truck. 0 cemeteries found in Saint Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA. McElroy was arrested on assault charges, but Alices stepfather would need to testify. Why were they diligently carrying out this investigation into the killing of the man who had made their lives miserable for so long? Not only that, they recommended he spend no more than two years in prison. At this point Ken Rex McElroy had terrorized the community of Skidmore for over a decade, and all indications were that he was going to keep getting away with it. Birth. A couple of times, he got out of the truck and fired his shotgun into the air - all this over a couple pieces of candy. But not one person has come forward. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. Last Names. 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. In the summer of 1981, a jury handed McElroy his first-ever felony conviction for the lesser charge of second-degree assault. Year. Outsiders are spotted easily and watched warily. The media descended on Skidmore after the killing, an event that continues to define the people of the small town to the world at times with wildly exaggerated versions of what happened. Dozens of them gathered at Skidmores American Legion hall on the morning of July 10, 1981. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. It would nave to say they did not feel a sense of collective relief. Its owned and run by newcomers. POPULATION: ONE BAD MAN PART I. . Kenneth Rex McElroy "Bully" Murder - Getty Images They slept in shifts, with some friend or family member keeping an eye on the street. 'A Really Nice Truck', ''It's really a shame about the Silverado,'' said Dave Dunbar, a former marshal who said Mr. McElroy once threatened him with a highpowered rifle. The sheriff said, If you have to shoot him, let us know and well come get him before he starts stinking, Monte said. By some miracle Romaine Henry lived. GREAT NEWS! 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. 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. Evelyn tried to explain what had happened, that nobody had accused the children of stealing, and Trena said, Why would my effing daughter lie? . The courts would not help us or Skidmore. Blood covered the inside of the vehicle, as well as Trena, who was sitting in the passenger seat. We went to the courts. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Trena McCloud went on to become Ken McElroys third wife ( lifedaily.com ). Needless to say, McElroy was having none of this. He went to Trenas parents home, where he viciously beat Trena and Alice, then burned the McCloud house to the ground. He forced the two women and the children into his truck and drove them back to the farmhouse. Ken Rex McElroy (June 1, 1934 July 10, 1981) was a resident of Skidmore, Missouri. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. As far as I could find, McElroy was married three times. She went right back to the McElroy farmhouse with her son. The story of Ken Rex McElroy began on June 1, 1934. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Skidmore Forever the Town that Killed Ken Rex McElroy. The plan was to discuss how they were going to protect themselves from McElroy for the next two weeks until the hearing. By this point in his life Ken Rex had become a master of escaping punishment. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Tony and Mabel were uneducated, and spent the early years of their marriage moving around Missouri and Kansas working as tenant farmers before eventually settling outside of Skidmore in Nodaway County. He would follow the bus route that took Trena to school in his pickup truck. You dont take cases to trial to see what might happen, the former prosecutor said. 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. Please try again later. 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. Nobody tried to hang them for finding a way to kill a germ. They talked about the bail bond that allowed Mr. McElroy to circulate freely after an assault conviction for shooting an elderly grocer, Ernest Bowenkamp. He ruled with an iron fist, inciting fear and causing a persistent sense of dread amongst townsfolk. Ken Rex McElroy (June 1, 1934 July 10, 1981) was an American criminal and convicted attempted murderer who resided in Skidmore, Missouri, United States. Ken Rex grew into a large and intimidating figure. WebKen Rex McElroy (1934-1981) - Find a Grave Memorial McElroy for years had terrorized the small town of Skidmore Missouri, and was considered the town bully. In April 1980, two of McElroys daughters were shopping at a local corner store. After McElroy fired a gun outside her house, Evelyn Sumy appealed to Dave Dunbar, the town marshal. The Craziest Cold Case in History The Murder of Ken Rex Ken Rexs cruelty was well known because he was so brazen about showing it. Few residents seem to care. That they had guns at the ready wasnt unusual. Search above to list available cemeteries. Trena, who was twenty-three by this time, began yelling at the clerk, which drew the attention of the stores owners, Ernst and Lois Bowenkamp. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. When the driver pulled the bus over, Ken Rex would demand that he open the door and let Trena out so that she could get in his pickup truck with him. Skidmore is a town of 440 people, 80 miles northwest of Kansas City. Everyone hopes itll make it, because its the last hope for the small town. The clerk thought nothing more of it, until Ken and Trena McElroy showed up. 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 showed back up in front of their house that night, and he and Trena sat there and watched them, Monte said. No one bothered to turn it off. There was an error deleting this problem. He specialized in stealing cattle and anything else he could get his hands on. Heavy lids veiled cold, steel-blue eyes, making them look like half moons. 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. Trena McCloud's Civil Suit Against Skidmore, Missouri Revealed The townspeople resented the constant feeling of anxiety McElroys presence left them with. ''That was a really nice truck.''. Someone warned her, Youre about to meet Ken Rex McElroy, Monte said. McElroy and Trena got up without saying a word, pushing their way through the crowd towards the exit. This is far from what happened in the case of McElroy. . Henry stopped the truck and Ken Rex approached the passenger side, the window rolled down, the barrel of the 12-gauge trained on Henry. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. When the matter finally came to trial two coon hunters testified that Ken Rex was with them that day far away in another part of the county getting their limit. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Browse All 237,537 Images. Wife says one of 60 vigilantes killed husband - UPI Archives By his teens, McElroy became known as the town bully of Skidmore, notorious for his cruel treatment of anyone who dared challenge him. It wasnt long before he became a violent menace, his more serious crimes including rape, assault and child molestation. 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. 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. You can always change this later in your Account settings. 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. He was known as "the town bully", and his unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. He dropped out of school before he reached high school, and by 13 was already a familiar character to the cops around Nodaway County. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. 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]. By the time their second child was born, McElroy found another girlfriend, Sally, who was only thirteen, while Ken was around twenty-seven. Contact Wagner & Lynch today to set up a free initial consultation! You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Im having trouble downloading the pictures, but should have them up soon. Mr. McElroy was hit in the head and neck. McElroy started his pickup and the sound of shots pierced the silence. The Bowenkamps, who were in their early seventies at the time, tried their best to carry on with life as normal. No one called for an ambulance. Why are you doing this? Fidelity wasnt a strong suit of Ken Rex, or of any interest to him at all for that matter. Faces turn away at a strangers approach. , Need help writing a will or setting up a trust? This is not the story of a brutal man that terrorized his family and did bad things. GREAT NEWS! July 10, 1981, his reign of terror came to an end. (SECOM) Just the name Ken Rex McElroy feels bigger than it appears on paper. Over the course of his life Ken Rex would be married three times and father ten children. A polite person would say that Ken Rex came from humble beginnings, but politeness doesnt fit in a story about Ken Rex McElroy or the Town of Skidmore, so we will forego any. All told Ken Rex McElroy faced felony charges twenty-one times without ever being convicted. While driving down a gravel farm road that abutted his property, Henry came upon a figure and a vehicle that he recognized instantly, Ken Rex McElroy. It could be all in my mind, but I dont think so. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. SKIDMORE, MO Four decades after Ken Rex McElroy was gunned down on the main drag of Skidmore, Missouri, in one of America's 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. Once, he even got out and fired a shotgun up in the pine tree by their house. Somebody opened the passenger door and pulled Trena out of the truck and into another building nearby. Add to your scrapbook. The mere mention of his surname was enough to cause anxiety, if not full terror. People Projects Discussions Surnames Share this memorial using social media sites or email. He was struck by bullets from at least two A lot of them didnt even tell their wives and children. Romaine Henry was a Skidmore resident and farmer. McElroy slumped forward onto the steering wheel. Every school has a bully or bullies, and every small town has that family or families. Yet in a conspiracy of silence that has spanned the past 38 years, the townsfolk have held the secret close. McElroy got a divorce from Sharon (or Alice, honestly Im not sure who he was married to at the time) and married Trena so that she would not be compelled to testify against him. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/224629012/debbie-ann-mcelroy. There may never be an answer to the question of who killed Ken Rex McElroy. Who Killed Ken Rex McElroy: Town Keeps Its Secret For 38 Years Even after all that had happened between McElroy and her family, Alice moved back into the McElroy family home with her son. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Place. It has been a year since Kenneth Rex McElroy, described as the town bully, was shot to death on the main street of this farming community. POPULATION: ONE BAD MAN - PART I - Wagner & Lynch Law Resend Activation Email. They had to look out for themselves. We stood up and did the right thing. Looking back, the justice system had as much to do with killing Ken McElroy as anyone in Skidmore did.. Ken Rex McElroy 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. That was the last failure of criminal justice.. Ken Rex McElroy was murdered on July 10, 1981, in one of the most bizarre cases authorities had ever encountered. The group outside the tavern had grown and began jeering as they saw the couple emerge from the tavern. This is when the rage amongst locals reached boiling point. System 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. cemeteries found in Saint Joseph, Buchanan County, Missouri, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Oops, something didn't work. This went on for months, thanks to his trial being subject to constant delays. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? On July 10, 1981, Ken Rex McElroy was killed in one of the strangest instances investigators ever saw. Lois soon became fed up and told the McElroys to leave the store and never come back. To describe McElroy as intimidating is putting it lightly. Despite two grand jury investigations, no one has been charged in the killing. To use this feature, use a newer browser. McElroy died at the scene, surrounded by the people he had terrorised for decades. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. 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. ERP McElroy yelled to Henry when he got to the window. In Part II we will learn more about the incident that would make Skidmore Missouri and Ken Rex McElroy a national news story and a mystery that stills haunts the town nearly forty years later. Learn more about managing a memorial . While the meeting was going on, McElroy was back in the D&G Tavern drinking with Trena. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings.
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