However, an incident would occur in 1980 that changed everything. It really is that it was never spoken of they had an instinctive reaction to close up. 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 bar that provided the backdrop for the shooting is closed and for sale for $20,000. Filmmaker Avi Belkin's 'No One Saw a Thing . 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. She took her complaint to at-the-time Nodaway County Sheriff Roger Cronk. They know how everybody thinks.. The murder occurred in broad daylight, with as many as sixty eye-witnesses present . In fact, anywhere between thirty and ninety people witnessed the . The man asked, what are you doing here? Boyer remembers. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! 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 was arrested, booked, arraigned, and released on $2,500 bail. 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. Ken stalks the family afterwards, and on the 8th, Ken shoots Bo Bowenkamp. 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. 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. Ken was 18 and Oleta was 16. Dec. 15, 2010. He showed up to the towns local bar, armed with a rifle and bayonet, threatening to kill the elderly grocer. Ken Rex McElroy was an American known as "the town bully" of Skidmore, Missouri. If those responsible for killing McElroy are vigilantes, its because the justice system made them that way, Monte said. Get out of town, they said. American criminal and murder victim, killed by vigilantes, "3 decades on, who killed Skidmore town bully still secret", "Ken McElroy Murderer, rapist and consummate intimidator", "Skidmore, Revisited Part 1: The Death of Ken McElroy", "Ken McElroy Murderer, rapist and consummate intimidator Another Teen Love", "Ken McElroy Murderer, rapist and consummate intimidator Saved by the Law", "Ken McElroy Murderer, rapist and consummate intimidator Intent to Kill", The Death Of Ken McElroy *Interesting History* - YouTube, "AS her daughter Tami listens, Trena McElroy retells how she watched", "3 decades on, who killed Skidmore town bully still secret | McClatchy", "Ken McElroy Murderer, rapist and consummate intimidator Murder in Broad Daylight", "Wrongful death lawsuit settled in re Ken McElroy", "Trena McElroy Passed Away | Harry N. MacLean", "You Get What You Pay For, by Larry Beinhart", "Stream It Or Skip It: 'No One Saw A Thing' On SundanceTV, A Docuseries About How Skidmore, Missouri Has Kept A Murder Unsolved For 38 Years", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ken_McElroy&oldid=1136590059, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Pages using infobox criminal with known for parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Bo Bowenkamp (survived an attempted murder), This page was last edited on 31 January 2023, at 02:52. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. In Broad Daylight by Harry N. MacLean / Via. The noted sites in the story are gone or boardedup. 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. Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! Shortly after being released, McElroy was at D&G Tavern making threats about murdering Bowenkamp. For over twenty years he raped, robbed and burned almost at will. I had my service weapon drawn, and I wouldnt have been the least bit surprised if he tried to do something, Boyer recalls. Ken was 18 and Oleta was 16. Ken Rex McElroy Jr. - Biography - IMDb Edit Ken Rex McElroy Jr. Evelyn lived cross the street, and he made sure she could see them. Few were criticized as mightily as Baird over the lack of prosecution in McElroys murder. A man who turned out to be McElroy pointed a shotgun at me, Margaret tells A&E True Crime. A federal grand jury was convened. 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.. September 2nd, 1982: Keven though there were over sixty witnesses, no one came forward to name the shooter. One night after he pulled a speeding pickup truck over, Boyer came face to face with McElroy. A memorial in the tiny downtown park displays the name of an expectant mother murdered six years ago, her fetus cut from her womb. McElroy was known to have stolen grain, alcohol, gasoline, antiques, and even livestock. There is pretty much nothing in existence that was not stolen by McElroy during his 47 years. His hunch paid off, and McElroy found himself handcuffed and charged with assault. Richard Stratton was ready. Three grand juries heard evidence. Absolutely not, he said. He was represented by defense attorney Richard Gene McFadin of Gallatin, Missouri. I dont believe youre coming nowafter we needed your help all this time.. E-mail: ramzywritersofficial@gmail.com. McElroy was a resident of Skidmore, Missouri. 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. No one has been indicted for the murder of McElroy. Ken Rex McElroy, whose still-unsolved murder outside of the local tavern inspired a book and movie both entitled "In Broad Daylight" was known to both of Scott's parents. Del Clement, the man Trena named as McElroys killer, died of cirrhosis of the liver in 2009. As Trena told the story to reporters, a group of men followed them as they left the D&G. We didnt have sufficient evidence to go to trial.. 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. 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. [Stream episodes of Accused: Guilty or Innocent? Nodaway County Sheriff Dan Estes suggested they form a neighborhood watch. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. There has been books written, movies, documentaries and more made about the killing. [1][3] The next day, McElroy was shot to death in broad daylight as he sat with his wife Trena in his pickup truck on Skidmore's main street. *In Broad Daylight by Harry N. MacLean 1988. The law wasnt going to help the people of Skidmore. 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 local major-cases squad investigated, then the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Women had a harder time with it than the men. In July 1976, McElroy pulled a shotgun on farmer Romaine Henry and shot the man in the stomach. Mr. McElroy was quickly rearrested after he appeared in town with a rifle, but he was again released. Evelyn tried to explain what had happened, that nobody had accused the children of stealing, and Trena said, Why would my effing daughter lie? . Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. More awful crimes have taken place in the small town. As many as 60 Skidmore residents attended, including the mayor and the sheriff. On July 10, 1981, Ken Rex McElroy was killed in one of the strangest instances investigators ever saw. 1 or 2 men (unclear) took guns and shot Ken Rex McElroy dead in his truck. When word spread that McElroy was in town, a couple of the men walked from the Legion hall to the D&G. [1] McElroy successfully appealed the conviction and was released on bond, after which he engaged in an ongoing harassment campaign against Bowenkamp and others who were sympathetic to Bowenkamp, including the town's Church of Christ minister. RELATED: 10 Of The Best Docuseries You Should Be Watching Now Each episode is around 40 minutes each and contains dramatic and intimate . One account even said that McElroy rode into town on a horse and was shot and killed, Baird, the former prosecutor, said. Someone warned her, Youre about to meet Ken Rex McElroy, Monte said. "[13], McElroy was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri. But the silence of the townspeople held. As there were no witnesses, nobody was able to take the stand. It's said the county's law enforcement officials were afraid of encountering McElroy, who was known to be heavily armed. Within a few years, she had had four children by him. 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. 1. Many buildings are closed and falling apart. Nobody wanted to talk to us, retired Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Dan Boyer tells A&E True Crime. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD8iUdp33PqTsix2sGblEQZ8m5FQycC5D Vigilante justice, or. Trena dove from the truck and was taken to safety. That was the last failure of criminal justice.. No one called for an ambulance. McElroy made a living leasing land near his farm, and trading and racing dogs. McCloud was McElroy's third "wife," though all unions were suspicious due to the fact that some of his marriages overlapped. 1958: Ken McElroy becomes involved with a young woman named Sharon. In 2019, the McElroy killing was the subject of a docuseries on SundanceTV. None of the witnesses called an ambulance or gave information about a shooter. Bullet casings from two guns were found. His last wife, Trena, became pregnant with their first child at age 14. In all, McElroy was indicted 21 times and managed to escape conviction every time. If you were to go to Skidmore today, there isn't much to see. The people of the town keep their heads down and prefer to not speak about the incident. After McElroy fired a gun outside her house, Evelyn Sumy appealed to Dave Dunbar, the town marshal. 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. And its likely to stay that way. 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. Of the potential 40 or so witnesses, with the exception of Trena, none could name a shooter. He had a legendary status, and it all got to be bigger than he was. They sacrificed one for the betterment of hundreds. 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. That became the pattern. 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. Ken Rex McElroy sat in his truck for over an hour before the law was called. He didnt have a bank account, didnt have a Social Security number, he didnt read. Posted on July 14, 2011 by Harry. The streak ended when a jury convicted Mr. McElroy of second-degree assault in the grocers shooting. In the ensuing confrontation, McElroy shot Bowenkamp in the neck; Bowenkamp survived, and McElroy was arrested and charged with attempted murder. Biography Mini Bio (1) Ken Rex McElroy Jr. is known for No One Saw a Thing (2019). His attorney, Richard McFadin, said he routinely defended Ken McElroy in three or four felonies a year. After Sally had had three kids, Ken kicks her out of the house. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Win a Midday Makeover from Studio STL and West County, Hold my beer its time to sign up for the St. Patricks, Tims Travels: Dreaming in silestone and slabs its, Downtown is turning green for St. Patricks Day Parade, The 7brew Crew brings kindness, joy and of course,, Freshen up finds: Give your skin a slug-hug, What the Cluck! He believes one of the gunmen was the suspect named by the widow. 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. McElroys wifewhom he victimized as a childremarried and moved to Lebanon, Missouri. How did this uneducated person how is he able to outwit the criminal justice system for 20 years? said MacLean. A museum dedicated to Skidmore, Mo., sits on Elm Street, the towns main drag. 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. He was known as the town bully , but they may be putting it mildly. He was freed on bond. Retribution was slow coming to Ken McElroybut lightning fast when it happened. Lessons from History is a platform for writers who share ideas and inspirational stories from world history. He was known as the town bully, but they may be putting it mildly. Ken Rex McElroy, a notoriously brutal man who had terrorized Skidmore, Mo., for years, was killed in 1981. August 18th, 1980: Ken's preliminary trial begins. Everyone just went home. McElroy eventually left the tavern and got into his pickup truck with his wife, but the mob of people followed the pair outside. As Ken McElroy sat in his truck, he was shot at several times. There wasn't much parental supervision, but McElroy had a knack for taking care of himself. No one was charged, and the FBI closed the case. Boyer was out showing a trainee the ropes when he got the call of a shooting in Skidmore. July 8th, 1980: The Bowenkamps filed a legal proceeding against Ken McElroy after the incident in their store. Stratton knew McElroy from a previous stop when he threatened the trooper with a shotgun. The DA declined to press charges and the following investigation proved to be futile. When he got off on a trial, it grew even bigger. Trena McElroy accused Skidmore residents of turning her husband into a scapegoat. McFadin, McElroys lawyer, got the hearing postponed. However, in 1981, Trena told People magazine that the fire was a result of "faulty wiring.". Things reached a boiling point in 1980 when Ken McElroy got into a confrontation with the towns elderly grocer, Ernest Bo Bowenkamp. 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. What started with hunting raccoons escalated into petty crime until McElroy ultimately emerged as a full-fledged criminal. 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. McElroy made a living leasing land near his farm, and trading and racing dogs. 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. Didnt see a thing. Thats the response investigators repeatedly received when they questioned people over the death of Ken McElroy. As he sat drinking at the bar, word got back to the men at the Legion Hall that he was in town. The last three decades have been tough on this agricultural community of 342, about an hour and a half north of Kansas City. They just went stone silent. in the A&E App.]. His unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. There has been books written, movies, documentaries and more made about the killing. The person(s) responsible for firing the shots that killed McElroy remains unsolved. Actually, I think those shooters saved lives in the end, she said. As many as 60 people were reported to have been at the scene, but not one of them would say who had wielded the weapons. [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. He went about making public threats against the grocer while armed with a rifle. Tensions in Skidmore soared as McElroys trial neared. After the sheriff left town, the group walked from the hall and went down the street to the tavern. If they thought it was getting too out of hand, they would send one of us up and down the aisle. 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. Former Nodaway County prosecutor David Baird, Its proceedings are secret, but in news interviews at the time, McElroys widow said she told a county grand jury who murdered her husband. The townspeople organized a caravan to escort the witnesses to the hearing both to protect them and to show solidarity. They delivered messages in code. 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]. Everyone in town seemed to know McElroy had done it, yet he spent only a single night in jail for nearly killing the man. Looking back, the justice system had as much to do with killing Ken McElroy as anyone in Skidmore did.. Farmers carried them to kill varmints, or for hunting displaying them in plain sight in rear window gun racks. Theoretically, [the murder] could be re-investigated, veteran Kansas City criminal defense attorney J.R. Hobbs tells A&E True Crime. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved.