We had that one long conversation, and that was it. The reason the lack of resolution around McElroy's death is so noteworthy is because of the simple fact that the man was gunned down in the middle of the street in broad daylight in front of approximately 60 witnesses; and yet, to date, nobody has ever been charged with the crime. Shocked that trena passed on, her updated pic shows ahappy woman, you mentioned some of the kids are in Pa? 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. The law did nothing to help. If someone is wealthy or not isnt your business. I live in this area of missouri and have always wanted to know the location of where the farm house use to be can you point me in a direction. Its an old saying, but one can argue that his children are also victims in this case. I think that town had enough punishment all the years he terrorized them.. Besides,from what I have read,even lawmen were scared of Ken Rex. funny how all you people talk crap about a dead man. This guy is dead, a town lived through hell, and women/childrens lives were destroyed because for SOME reason members of law enforcement ALLOWED it. He threw in the towel sixteen years ago, and hasnt spoken to her since. My grandfather is a great man and to know that he placed the fear of God in Ken and he never backed down from him makes him a remarkable man! Once they got ahold of this story they sucked the life out of that town. My grandparents farmhouse mysteriously burnt down while they were away in the early 80s. Karmic: WRONG. McElroy was shot at several times while he was sitting in his truck. On April 2, 1983, she was united in marriage Kenneth Howard Williams, and. Its a tribute to the human spirit that she was able to turn her life around and have another happy family. Search on Find A Grave for Ken McElroy. He has resolved some of the most embattled conflicts students have engaged in while maintaining a never ending sense of humor. And I am sure if this man shot, bullied, stole from, and terrorized you, you would be singing a different tune. McElroy dumped Oleta after a few years and married a 15-year-old girl, Sharon. Thats nonsense. One cant imagine a man more the opposite of Ken McElroy. Yours is definitely the majority view, and one that I share. Much to consider and assess here, even after so many years. The sleezoid attorney is always a given with guys like this thug. Even your sniveling about the author being a rich is typical of a problem personality. Had ours for years. With him gone, and a weasel lawyer manipulating her, its no wonder she sued the town. But it was an easy thing for them to do, to raise their hands and lie under oath.". That act alone showed me what that woman was really all about. I wish peace and happiness for all of them and hopefully they can close this chapter of their lives. Good comment. He taught me a lot about life and how being true to yourself makes a difference in your life and the lives of others. :)Lee. Interesting comment.In later years I think Trena did come to see what happened as almost inevitable given Kens crimes. Maybe Im forgetting that part of the book, but why was he ever released on bail during the appeal process? And neither of them had parents who were able to serve as any kind of good role model. They operate a gourmet traveling food stand. I have some questions. Trena Louise Williams, daughter of Ronald and Treva Peters McNeeley, was born January 24, 1957, in Horton, Kansas. The law even puts away innocent people, and executes innocent people. While it is sad the people of Skidmore had to resort to shooting, fear can be a very strong force. The family appeared not to be given any help at all. I think the Stockholm syndrome applies in her case. Ive met your uncle, Jeff. A judge aint gonna do anything, Caitlin, and I thought I told you to shut your clown whore mouth! Its interesting to learn more about the kids and how they grew up. Too bad. Cell phones taking photographs, calling police would have made a big difference back then. Trena too young to know a better way and being unable to make her own judgements, plus being gaslighted by Ken to the point that she couldnt think for herself and her parents not protecting her. I think it came out in 1987 or 1988, but Im not sure. I seriously doubt that his father being ken rex mcelroy has anything to do with who he is today after all he did not even know the man. I intend to write something on it soon. You arent afraid of the man himself, but what he is capable of doing behind your back. The people took control of their lives back. In between his many felonies and intimidation tactics, McElroy fathered ten children with different women and married four times. ..so you might try to argue but there was one person who had no excuse, that was clearly at fault. Filmmaker Avi Belkin's 'No One Saw a Thing . Glad for her and respect her privacy. Consisting of around 440 residents and a number of small family-run businesses, the farming town revolved around work ethic. The book told the story of Sally, who at fourteen began having children by Ken. I currently work with him in a Behavioral/Learning Disorders School in Kansas City. I am friends with her now on Facebook and have had brief discussions about it. HE WAS A MAN IN HIS THIRTIES WHO IMPREGNATED A FOURTEEN YEAR OLD CHILD. To this day my source informs me the townsfolk still refer to Bo as the Clint Eastwood of Skidmore Missouri and all the surrounding area. [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. They acted out of desperation as they were given absolutely no alternative. Trena had her young children to think about, and probably no job skills at the time Ken was killed, so I really dont fault her seeking a settlement and I doubt seriously anyone in that town would help her out. Shell casings from at least two different guns were found at the scene, fired from somewhere within that crowd of 60-odd people. Not once do you hear of him going toe to toe with anyone, just threats and guns and of course beating on women, which is a classic sign of a coward. Not something she wants to talk much about. I am not sure how I even ran across it, but it caught my interest and I started researching it. I know easy for me to say I wasnt there. Farming is damn hard work. A man who could only get his way through force and violenceThat was my first impression when I resd about the Skidmore Murder. A few stiff sentences, and Dan would have been forgotten, as he deserved to be. One McElroy kid followed in his fathers footsteps, getting arrested and imprisoned for shooting a man in a bar, allegedly the same bar that his dad shot some one. I wish I was able to go to Skidmore & to Kensgrave to visit. Lori met her and they have corresponded off and on over the years. Neither of them ever heard of the Golden Rule is true. They tried law enforcement, which at times failed and other times was too intimidated to try. I feel some pity for this woman,but none for the criminal who got his just deserts. I think McElroys lawyer might have encouraged her to file the lawsuit. I have their pictures in The Story Behind In Broad Daylight. The law fails. We are still very good friends and I still try to get whatever stories I can from them. Its just another dying small rural town. Ken McElroy was born in 1934 as the penultimate child among 16 other children. As another poster stated, the Golden Rule could have been applied in this situation. He charmed the girls with dime-store gifts and rides in his truck. He had to have been only about 15 or 16 at the time. You stand up to a bully you strip him of his power. It sounds to me like some powerful people didnt want Ken to go to prison and so let him run rampant with impunity. SKIDMORE, Mo. Watched No One Saw A Thing as well. McElroy showed up at the local bar, the D&G Tavern, carrying a rifle and bayonet, making "graphic threats" about finishing off Bowenkamp, according to Unsolved. I met several of them, including Wilma, before her husband chased me off the farm with a gun. By the time I met Trena a couple years after McELroys death, she had moved on, with a new husband and family. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. You cannot show any fear. Not surprising at all. I am glad she was not harmed in the shooting of Ken. The word snitch is a word mostly used by the criminal elements of our world. Living in northeast Kansas, I found it compelling that this took place in my area of the world in a small town that doesnt seem all that unfamiliar to me. It was right for the town to take action, they were prisoners in their own town. Jeffrey seemed curious, but was not interested in meeting any of many siblings living in the area. It had to be difficult walking the tight rope, during research obtaining information from pertinent people, while trying your best to remain impartial. Anyone who knows your Grandmother or has heard her story needs to be reminded of this. She had been just a girl, and McElroy was a monster. As a survivor and advocate for women who have escaped or are involved in domestic violence- I can only hope some of the people commenting never go through it themselves and hopefully- instead of immediately judging someone- do some research . He said that in Bos younger years he was known as the fastest gun in Northwest Missouri. Your email address will not be published. When she was at her worst it is clear to any thinking person that she was possessed by that human demon through relentless abuse. A common refrain among the people MacLean interviewed? Furious that McElroy was drinking instead of getting locked up, the irate citizens of Skidmore held an impromptu town hall meeting in the American Legion Hall across the street from the D&G to discuss how to handle the McElroy situation. Good and evil are not social constructs. He was a young man. The McElroy story has fascinated people for the past three decades, and it's easy to see why, with its twists and turns seemingly pulled from the pages of a pulpy crime novel. Even the worst people can sometimes act pleasantly. We have one. Id read In Broad Daylight a long time ago. Come back and talk to us when you are 70+ years old and a thug shoots you, leaves you to dies and gets away with it. Why do you think they are referred to as legal thieves? You know what would be really interesting would be both you and him meeting in July like we talked about. Thats just like in 1991 movie titled In Broad Daylight, the part of Ken Rex McElroy was given the fictional name of Len Rowan. You certainly dont get an entire town to cover it up, if the man is not exceptional at being a monster and being hated by everyone. Getting them to to talk about it like pulling teeth. Thank you in advance for clarifying. It was an act of self-defense. This all happened over three decades before he was even born. being physically abused takes numerous tolls. When your book came out our Grandmother made sure that all the children and grandchildren had a book. You can google him and see his record. Cause she did stick up for him! Now 47, he is the same age McELroy was when he was shot to death on the main street of Skidmore Missouri. You got a beef with a man you settle it with that man. I am interested to know, do u live in skidmore? I remember watching the movie when it came out. I decided at an early age to never go looking for trouble. I just finished your book, its an excellent read. He could easily have kept McElroy in jail after his conviction, or set a bond so high he couldnt meet it. DNA can and is irrefutable evidence though. What do you say? The ones still living can be found listed in obituaries of some of the siblings. Mr Dalsing is a man who puts others needs before his own. June 16th, 1934: Ken Rex McElroy is born to Mabel and Tony McElroy, the thirteenth out of fourteen children. Thank you for your service in the special needs field. My condolences to her family. You know Harry, some day I would really like to meet you, shake your hand & get your autograph. Many elements in common with McElroy/Skidmore: small town local bully, law enforcement and legal system unable to manage the issue and ultimately townspeople took matters into their own hands. She had to do whatever he told her to to survive! She was young and he probably brainwashed her impressionable young mind until she without a doubt thought this was how life was supposed to be. Maybe because he knew he would no longer be the big man of the block . I previously wrote you on your website about the professional relationship I have the privilege of having with Jeffery. I agree with you and Jack. McElroy's appeal hearing was again delayed. You need to be leave peoples names out of this where was it proven that tammy had anything to do with anything these our false accusations as I am sure a judge would agree. Previous Chapter 1 2 3 . Not a good time for anyone involved in the story and it ended as fate intended it to end. The demise of Ken Rex, is one that will continue to be debated, for years to come. Theyre scattered about. Thanks again for writing the book. I am glad she went on to live a relatively happy life. He was one of the jurors on the Romaine Henry case. Born into a crowded family, Ken McElroy would soon make a name for himself in the worst way. Loved the book! First: WHO THE HECK WAS THIS GUY? Speaking of her, did she profit at all if the production of the movie? Good for her , if thats true she (I believe) is in heaven because were all sinners & God gives us a chance to redeem ourselves & it sounds like trena redeemed herself . Millions upon millions of people endure the exact same problems in early life and dont go through life as a fearsome criminal that the thug was. Aside from his cruelty and sociopathy, given different life circumstances he could have put that nimble mind of his to some meaningful use. ive done alot of surching on the story lately and am sorry to hear that trena passed. Same with all the killers we see in courts.. their lame defense attorneys snivel that they had a rough child hood. Jeffery has done some amazing things in the 6+ years I have known him. . He appeared in a local bar, the D&G Tavern, armed with an M1 Garand rifle and bayonet, and later threatened to kill Bowenkamp. LOL This is plain ridiculous. Just read your latest blog, in which you talked about your meeting with Jeffrey. The figure sitting across from me at the small table only barely resembled the young man I had met almost twenty years ago. Trena did get remarried, about five years after Kens death. It was a credible threat as he had already shot 2 innocent people. Its similar to Stockholm Syndrome. he was a sociopathnot psychotic. Mouse was a good looking teenager but he had a violent streak. Sorry Harryjust to clarify, when I asked what was his/her name, I was referring to the fourth child of Sally, not mentioned in your book. From the impression I got, the law enforcement officers, with exception of Corporal Stratton of the State Patrol, seemed to back down to Ken out of fear the same as the townspeople did for a while. Of course she was a Victim, I was not aware she tried to get away from him to her parents and he killed their family dog! He never served a full day in jail for shooting two people why should they be held to a higher standered. Rather than put up with it, I just moved and finished my beer and left. Whether this is the case or not, Ken McElroy terrorized the town he lived in, however one day retribution would end his reign. The girly-woman had made herself a cozy nest in the strong arms of macho man the rapist, the local brute, and became his breeding machine, profited from him and thus never fled. Which at the very least is what every human deserves. Maybe an early trip to jail would have saved McElroys life in the long run. But, dont defend that nasty man. Instead, she contributed to Kens thievery, bullying, harassment, and assaults. Unsolved recounts how approximately 60 people were in attendance at the meeting, including both the mayor and the sheriff. Is Steve Peter still around Skidmore, & if so what is he doing now days? anyhing good about him. Oh yes, Im quite sure his lawyer knew exactly what his client was about. Any new on them? She endured beatings and rape or child molestation! Missouri is not like NYC firearms are easy to own and Im sure even in 81 carry permits easy to obtain. I always hoped she would find happiness once she got away. truth is she was kens partner in crime terrorizing the residents of skidmore( yeah I know she was young) but you dont just simply forget that . See her as a girl on TV in this story, then seeing her photo as a woman and reading comments like yours, does show how God led her to a wonderful place and she has surely left her mark on this world. Just look at any blog comment list. When you get into a situation that young its you really do NOT know what youre getting into to. But I also decided to not live my life even for a minute being afraid of another man. [8] At the trial, two raccoon hunters testified they were with McElroy the day of the shooting away from Henry's property. Law enforcement and the legal system failed. A six-member coroner's jury Tuesday ruled that McElroy was killed by 'person or persons unknown.' The decision was reached despite the testimony of Trina McElroy, his 24-year-old wife, who said. https://www.holmanhowe.com/obituaries/Trena-WilliamsLebanon-559576/. He shot men. I had a fascinating interview with her, though. How old is she? . The marshal turned in his badge and quit the next day. Ive never come across Charlie again. Let people interpret them, as they choose. For her thug partner ?? While she contributed to whatever Ken did, she posed no threat individually. I have spoken to him in the past about this situation and he allowed me to borrow the book In Broad Daylight It was an amazing book, and more interesting because I know Jeff. With Sharon pregnant, McElroy began romancing a 13-year-old named Sally. I live in Pa in Philadelphia.. McCloud identified D&G owner Del Clement as one of the shooters, but Clement was never officially charged with the crime, Mental Floss writes. She , at least did eventually find normality and happiness. It is said that he could shoot doves and quail in midflight with those .45s and light matchsticks on a fence post at 25 yards away. Why has no one stepped forward to identify McElroy's killer? They cant fight a man so they beat a woman. Ken McElroy, A man better known as a coward a rapest a bully. She and her kids moved to a small town outside St. Joe after the killing. Give the lady a break. His farm was about 20 miles west of Kirksville. Although three separate grand juries were convened and later the FBI investigated when local authorities failed to make any progress not a single person was ever charged with killing Ken McElroy. I pictured Del Clement and the other men as middle aged while reading the book, but then realized that Del was only a few years older than Trena when Ken was shot. A sad story for certain. I know some were farmers there for years it was home yada. Good riddance. Of the most serious, McElroy was accused of child molestation and statutory rape. I told her I would check with Jeffrey. Congratulations should have been in order after they delivered her from his wicked grasp. What you wrote about is potentially the tip of the iceberg. Im sure you would privately feel relieved in the City when your cops shot him dead, but publicly condemn your cops for doing it a-la woke 2021 morality. The bottom line is, without witnesses (which McElroy threatened and intimidated so that they wouldnt testify), any conviction was unlikely. In late 1964, with Sharon again pregnant and both young women with newborns, McElroy took up with Alice, a 15-year-old from St. Joseph, Mo., 50 miles south of Skidmore. Tonya was very sweet and loving and although Ive lost track of her in the last 20 years, I hope she has succeeded in life. I believe the townsfolk honestly had no choice. I had relatives in Fillmore, MO and found your comments of there a bit mean. They will always be associated with this tragedy, and they have to live with the harassment of others. ken was shoot on my forth birthday. In one, he is holding his daughter in his lap and looking into the camera. Only the local pastor and one or two others helped out, especially as it looks like the Bowenkemps were decent hardworking people, really pitied them and their daughter for what they had to go through. Im happy she found happiness afterward. It was uneventful but had a great tenderloin sandwich. Ken McElroy was a functional illiterate. Ive seen a lot of criticism of the town and of Trena online, all of which I believe is unjustified. Someone involved in that might act in a toxic manner. we have an individual in our farming communitythe same exact behaviorthe problem with these bullies they are protected ..we know who protects our town bullyhe is the cousin of the states attorneythis bully steals,terrorizes,intimidates everyone including the copsworks as an informant & gets double protection..now who besides this guys attorney also was on the take I want to hear the whole story.bags of money ..follow the money and you will find the real culprits/gangsters. Others have identified the houses location on Google Earth. i feel sorry for all the women he terrorized for all the years. Also, it should be noted that the other movie that came out in the 1980s about this story was told from Trena McElroys point of view rather than that of the townspeople. Oh well, karma did its job and gave her the cancer. It saddens me how people can be stuck in their convictions when they didnt have to walk the same path she did. Thank you! Well Im watching the Sundance series. Its been a while since I saw any new posts on this blog. Aside from MacLean's book and Judge's podcast, the case has also been covered in episodes of the podcast My Favorite Murder and the TV show Drunk History, as well as having been turned into two movies, including the 1991 made-for-TV adaptation of MacLean's In Broad Daylight starring Tony winner Brian Dennehy, Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden, and Emmy winner Cloris Leachman. The real nasty part of it all is the sleezoid judges and prosecutors. No one lives where his house used to be, but his brother Tim lives in house not far away. She stayed close to her parents, which was always curious. Which is one of the big reasons the rustling really bothered me. There was no physical evidence linking Clement to the crime, and no witnesses willing to corroborate McCloud's assertions. I am curious as to what hold McElroy had over them when he was so terrified of jail but was allowed to continue to operate as he did for so long. You can see link to his father, which will list all of Kens siblings that are dead. He met his fourth wife, Trena, when she was twelve years old.. 1940 living with parents in Green, Nodaway, Missouri [2] Tony Mcelroy Head Male 50 Missouri By fearing him and and letting him frighten him the empowered him. Shooting that animal was not cowardly except in a criminal mind. Skip to main content Home But perhaps I should have looked a little deeper into the place. It would be very informative to hear what you have to say about your Grandpa, and I will certainly post whatever you write. Isnt it quite the irony that Trena was able to spend the remaining years of her life in happiness which would not have been possible had Ken not have been killed. I dont think Ill touch that one. Cant wait to get your book. McElroy is believed to be the inspiration for the character Brad Wesley the main antagonist of the 1989 film Road House portrayed by Ben Gazzara. No one else ever helped her. Youve got it right. Or she could have been waiting for him in the truck. Stuck in my back pocket and next time I got close I yanked it out by the Rawhide and put an 8 inch gash in his head tearing his ear nearly off. Either way, the prosecutor and judge are the gate keepers of civil society. Laws on stalking & witness intimidation are much stronger & better enforced. You need to get a job yourself and quit sniveling. My condolences to you and your family.? I have just recently heard of this story. She remarried and had children with her new husband. The way it was told, Ken understood that he needed to change his ways but he just wasnt ready. Thanks for clearing this up. I was mesmerized by how accurate Harry was in describing the atmosphere of Skidmore. Although Trena rode with McElroy at the end, she was victimized by him at age 12. I will say that your descriptions in the book are amazingly accurate, as I knew exactly where the trailer with the hogs were left south of Fillmore to deter the deputy chasing him. I know she had some responsiblity in this, but I truly believe she was doing the best she could do in such bad circumstances. If he was out stealing that night, Trena was most likely not with him. That is why the current condition of Fillmore is so sorry now. Give the lady a break. I havent seen you since you was 2 . I spent many summers at my grandparents farm in Winigan, MO. Thats where I first met him and actually got to know him rather well. I havent been able to find an address for Ken McElroys house that was burned. He was elected sheriff in a neighboring country for several terms after retiring from the state patrol, and I heard recently that he was head of the state fair, although I didnt verify this. Also, the entire town didnt burn the house, just like the entire town didnt shoot Ken. We all heard the stories about Ken Rexs rein of terror which started before my family moved to Oregon, MO in 1978 and ended with his shooting.

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