Ken McElroy, The 'Town Bully' Murdered In Front Of A Crowd Of Witnesses But Nobody Saw A Thing
Ken Rex McElroy, a name that could evoke fear and anger among the residents of Skidmore, Missouri, was notorious for his reign of terror over this small town. Known as a brute and a bully, McElroy's life and ultimate death have become a stark reminder of what happens when justice fails a community.
The Infamy of Ken McElroy
Ken McElroy's infamy in Skidmore stemmed from his repeated criminal activities and his ability to evade justice. Born in 1934, McElroy grew up to become a man whose life was marked by violence, intimidation, and lawlessness. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 270 pounds, his physical presence alone was intimidating. But it was his actions that truly terrorised the townspeople.
McElroy's criminal record was extensive. He was accused of numerous crimes, including theft, assault, and arson. However, his most egregious crime was the attempted murder of Ernest "Bo" Bowenkamp, a 70-year-old grocer. In 1980, McElroy shot Bowenkamp in the neck during a dispute, nearly killing him. This act was a tipping point for the town of Skidmore.
Apart from the shooting, McElroy was suspected of numerous other felonies. He was known for stealing livestock and grain from local farmers. These crimes not only hurt individuals financially but also instilled a sense of vulnerability and fear within the farming community. He was also suspected of setting fires to properties of those who dared to oppose him or testify against him. Additionally, McElroy had a history of assaulting and threatening those who crossed his path. He harassed women, including allegedly raping young girls, and often used his power to manipulate and control others.
McElroy had more than 10 children with multiple women. He began a relationship with his last wife, Trena McCloud, when she was just 12 years old and in eighth grade, while he was 35. McCloud was subjected to repeated acts of rape by McElroy. Initially, McCloud's parents were against the relationship, but after McElroy set their house on fire and killed their dog, they reluctantly consented to the marriage.
At the age of fourteen, McCloud became pregnant, dropped out of ninth grade, and moved in with McElroy and his second wife, Alice. McElroy divorced Alice and married Trena to avoid being charged with statutory rape, as she was the sole witness. Sixteen days after Trena gave birth, she and Alice escaped to Trena's parents' home. Court documents reveal that McElroy located them and brought them back. During Trena's parents' absence, McElroy once again set fire to their house and shot their new dog.
Based on Trena's story, McElroy was indicted in June 1973 for arson, assault, and statutory rape. He was arrested, booked, arraigned, and released on $2,500 bail, while Trena and her baby were placed in foster care. McElroy took to sitting outside the foster home for hours at a time staring at it. He told the foster family that he would trade "girl for girl" to get his child back, since he knew where the foster family's biological daughter went to school and what bus route she rode.
The Failure of Law Enforcement
One of the most perplexing aspects of McElroy's story is how he managed to evade justice for so long. There are several factors that contributed to this failure. McElroy was notorious for intimidating witnesses and victims. He would stalk and threaten anyone who dared to speak against him, ensuring that they were too frightened to testify in court. He also hired an adept attorney who managed to delay trials and exploit legal loopholes. This strategy helped McElroy avoid convictions or receive lenient sentences.
Author Harry MacLean wrote a book McElroy’s story called In Broad Daylight. When talking about McElroy, MacLean wondered how he was able to be so crafty.
“He didn’t have a bank account, didn’t have a Social Security number, he didn’t read. How did this uneducated person — how is he able to outwit the criminal justice system for 20 years?”
said MacLean.
Furthermore, the local law enforcement was often ineffective in dealing with McElroy. Whether it was due to fear, corruption, or incompetence, the police were unable to bring him to justice. The pervasive fear of retaliation led to a culture of silence among the townspeople. Witnesses would retract their statements, and jurors would acquit him out of fear for their own safety.
The Town's Response
The people of Skidmore were vocal in their hatred for McElroy. He was seen as a plague upon their town, someone who operated above the law and thrived on their fear. Interviews and reports from that time reflect a community in despair, feeling abandoned by the legal system meant to protect them. McElroy's presence cast a shadow over Skidmore, with many residents recounting stories of his threats and violent behavior. The collective fear eventually reached a breaking point after the Bowenkamp shooting. McElroy had been arrested and charged with the attempted murder of Bowenkamp, and was convicted at trial of assault, but freed on bail pending his appeal. Immediately after being released at a post-trial hearing, McElroy went to the D&G Tavern, a local bar, with an M1 Garand rifle with a bayonet attached, and made graphic threats about what he would do to Bo Bowenkamp.
As a result, numerous individuals opted to explore legal options to stop McElroy from causing harm to others.
The Day of Reckoning
On the morning of July 10, 1981, townspeople met at the Legion Hall in the center of town with Nodaway County sheriff Dan Estes to discuss how to protect themselves. During the meeting, McElroy arrived at the D&G Tavern with Trena. As he sat drinking at the bar, word got back to the men at the Legion Hall that he was in town. Sheriff Estes instructed the assembled group not to get into a direct confrontation with McElroy, but instead seriously consider forming a neighborhood watch program. Estes then drove out of town in his police cruiser. The citizens at the meeting decided to go to the tavern en masse; the bar soon filled completely. After McElroy finished his drinks, he purchased a six pack of beer, left the bar, and entered his pickup truck.
While sitting in his truck, McElroy was shot at several times but hit only twice—once by a centerfire rifle and once by a .22 rimfire rifle. In all, there were 46 potential witnesses to the shooting, including Trena McElroy, who was in the truck with her husband when he was shot. Nobody called for an ambulance. Only Trena claimed to identify a gunman; every other witness was either unable to name an assailant or claimed not to have seen who fired the fatal shots. The DA declined to press charges, and an extensive federal investigation did not lead to any charges either. Missouri-based journalist Steve Booher described the attitude of some townspeople as
"he needed killing."
The silence of the witnesses was a clear indication of the depth of fear and the desire for collective justice.
McElroy was laid to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri. Following this, on July 9, 1984, Trena McElroy initiated a $5 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Town of Skidmore, County of Nodaway, Sheriff Danny Estes, Steve Peters (Skidmore's Mayor), and Del Clement (whom Trena accused of being the shooter, although he was never formally charged). Subsequently, all involved parties reached an out-of-court settlement totalling $17,600, without any party admitting fault. This resolution was reached to avoid the high legal costs that would have been incurred if the case had gone to trial.
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