Godspeed. By then, he was dead and could no longer harm her. Im sorry, in my comment above I mean to say the bar was called Brews Blue Town. My point is that now I am a very happily married wife and mother of two and nothing at all like the girl I was. I believe the townsfolk honestly had no choice. It seems Q Goslees family has experienced losses at an earlier age than I would have thought. Glad for her and respect her privacy. I havent followed the Branson case that closely, but I know the crime hasnt been solved. Who was Ken Rex McElroy? The Town That Got Away With Murder - Ken Rex McElroy The lot where Kens house once was still stands empty, although there is a trailer in the woods behind it. Maybe Im forgetting that part of the book, but why was he ever released on bail during the appeal process? Well Im watching the Sundance series. How would he know anything about any of this and of course he did live in Skidmore at the time he is still a very young man. Others have identified the houses location on Google Earth. ken was shoot on my forth birthday. Hi Harry, I read your book In Broad Daylight 4 years ago.I want to say it was an excellent book, Thanks for all your hard work!! I get what youre saying. Seriously, what was the point of even making your comment? Neither of them contributed anything to society and loved no one. .His father was indeed the legendary terrorist of Nodaway County, the man who raped and shot and assaulted and stole and burned almost at will for over twenty years, and who, until the very end, was never prosecuted. Bless the people who had to put up with these two monsters. The whole shut up or be shut up is now a pervasive presence in whats left of the place. Dad said he was relieved that he did not have to go through a full blown trial as he was fearful of Ken Rexs revenge/harassment of prior juries. "It pained a lot of them, there's no doubt about that. I dont understand how a man could allow someone to take your child without putting up a good fight ! The word snitch is a word mostly used by the criminal elements of our world. 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 . Much to consider and assess here, even after so many years. It would be worth something to day. LOL. McElroy chose to be a bully. McElroy's appeal hearing was again delayed. 1. I believe trena is in heaven , as for Ken well I think he ended up in hell. being physically abused takes numerous tolls. Have just finished the book, I was very saddened that the towns people didnt try and help the defenceless Bowenkemps during McElroys intimidation ordeal, would of thought that a small town would rally around the unfortunate family that got the brunt of McElroys nasty bullying. Interesting comment. March 28, 2023. Hello Mr. MacLean. The Sheriff said the case was actually not mysterious at all and simply a murder among drug acquaintances. She should have thanked them instead of blaming & suing them. Damien would not know anything about his grandpa except hear say as he was not even a live than. Realize you have something disgusting deep within you because of those horrid pieces of shit. He hasnt married or had any children, and he wonders if one of the reasons might be that he might be worried about passing along McElroys genes. They use their size and weapons as intimidation so they dont have physical altercations that shows their lack of ability to be a real bad ass. My grandparents farmhouse mysteriously burnt down while they were away in the early 80s. Ken was 18 and Oleta was 16. . For those not familiar with the environment in which we work I can only add that a person who lacks confidence and empathy is short lived in this career field. He wS sent away. There is nothing cursed about Skidmore. If, some time after her confrontation with the consequences of Kens way of life, Trena sincerely came to know that her old way of living in the world was wrong, and she began to live in the world in a way that positively affects others, thats all I believe necessary to forgive her. i know that the town never had any intent in shooting trena. Im sure youve heard many good and bad things about him. And yes, they all knew about McElroy & I didnt hear of anyone saying that his death was a pity. A sad story for certain. Robert Dick McElroy 1928-1999 Helen Lorene McElroyCurley 1929-1999 Children Debbie Ann McElroy 1965-2020 Advertisement See more McElroymemorials in: Saint Joseph Memorial Park Saint Joseph Buchanan County Missouri USA Find a Grave Flower DeliverySponsor and Remove Ads Explore more He really didnt have a reason. McCloud identified D&G owner Del Clement as one of the shooters, but Clement was never officially charged with the crime, Mental Floss writes. It makes me realize that no matter who your biological parents are, you choose to be the person you want to be. People reading the book In Broad Daylight need to understand how different the laws,courts, legal system, forensic evidence & DNA analysis have changed everything so much today from the way the laws & legal system was in 1981. They only understood fear. Thanks for the answer to my question, Jeffrey. I dont believe any of those people are murderers or bad people, they truly felt that was their only choice. Quit posting lame excuses for that criminal. Skidmore is 90 minutes or more north and west of downtown Kansas Cit, Peculiar is 40 minutes south. LOL This is plain ridiculous. NO BREAKS ON THIS ONE !!!! Bonjour je vis en France je viens de voir la srie sur votre grand mre ctait une femme trs courageuse dans un village trs trange paix son me, Thank you for setting the record straight. This all happened over three decades before he was even born. I know some were farmers there for years it was home yada. Before then he just knew he had been adopted. I wanted to clarify the last comment I made, Lori is also Sally and Kens biological child. No way a son of a bitch is going to sit in front of my home and fire a gun at my house buy one time. I told her I had spoken with her son a few days earlier. Im heartened to read of Trenas reformation, and saddened that her life was cut so short. It went down just as Ken had said it would that they would not dig to deep for his murder and that he would go down in history just like jesse james. He had read the book. Motion detection lights & cameras would show him shooting in public. You may have a point on my description of Fillmore. I always wondered how far from town he lived, not that I would ever go there, just wondered if its on google maps. When cattle rustlers were taking steer out of the fields at night everyone knew who and where they lived. Thank you! She acquiesced, then moved in with Sharon and McElroy. Yours is definitely the majority view, and one that I share. In reference to Tammy Hiltons question, the fourth child Ken Jr., Lisa and myself were Sallys and Kens biological children. Are they aware of their father and the history about him? The biggest culprit to hit Skidmore was/is the media. Its part of life to reflect on your youthful stupidity and take personal responsibility for the awful choices you made as a youthand try to understand why you attracted such a horrible person into your life and what you had to learn from it. He did attempt to do the right thing. The late David Graf played the part of Ken Rex McElroy. For more than two decades, McElroy was suspected of being involved in theft of grain, gasoline, alcohol, antiques, and livestock, but he avoided conviction when charges were brought against him 21 timesoften after witnesses refused to testify because he allegedly intimidated them, frequently by following his targets or parking outside their homes and watching them. Extremely hard working people. Was Treena her mother? (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) PURCHASE A LICENSE. 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. Whatever money spent to investigate his death, was just good money thrown after bad. I dont have any sympathy for Trena, however. The blazing summer heat. SKIDMORE, Mo. See he was tired of fighting the town people and all the rest of the crap. The show was a cheap hatchet job. It sounds to me like some powerful people didnt want Ken to go to prison and so let him run rampant with impunity. McElroy managed to escape conviction on all but one of these charges by intimidating witnesses and through the efforts of his accomplished attorney, Richard McFadin. Good bless your family, what a strong qonderful qoman to have survived Ken and his abuse, She protected her kids, and ended up with the life she deserved. I dont remember exactly when Alice passed away, but it was at least 5 years, from cancer. What you wrote about is potentially the tip of the iceberg. It is titled The Town Bully and it was released in 1988. But I was struck earlier today by the realization (once more) that art can often imitate life. Jeff proved that to me! He had read the book and put some pieces together and had come to believe he was Jeffy, McElroy's son with the hernia. He is what he is today more than likely because that is what he is skilled at in doing. Cause she did stick up for him! [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. A lot of people wanting to skirt the law are moving into small towns to have places to hide & lay low. I look forward to your thoughts on the book. They likely did the best that they could have, though, as any parent would. I grew up I guess what was considered poor in the 60s but my parents were both hardworking, well respected people and very loving parents. She deserved more than she got from the town with her settlement, which probably didnt go very far since she was raising children. He was still alive in 2007 when you did. Its hard to feel sympathy for her when his bullying made her feel strong and secure. How ironic that the law didnt protect the innocent and get Ken Rex locked up, yet they were there in force to investigate his death. Ken married first name McElroy. I remember watching the movie when it came out. How old was Kens daughter Tammy when she participated in the harassment along with her father and Treena? The case was later settled out of court by all parties for $17,600, with no one admitting guilt, for the stated reason of avoiding costly legal fees should the suit proceed. I remember seeing a Silverado with Missouri plates parked there. Before then he just knew he had been adopted. Were all better without them. The law fails. He got what he had coming why keep talking about it its over done, I believe that anyone that wants a vigilante tried for murdering the scum of the earth, is the reason the world is in the sad state of affairs that its in today. Shame on anyone who holds the things that Ken did to others, against Trena. I feel some pity for this woman,but none for the criminal who got his just deserts. I know there was a movie made about it in 1991 titled In Broad Daylight in which Brian Dennehy played the part of Ken Rex McElroy. The world needs more true American men like the ones that killed this POS, She was a victim just like so many others. You can see link to his father, which will list all of Kens siblings that are dead. Uggh. 1940 living with parents in Green, Nodaway, Missouri [2] Tony Mcelroy Head Male 50 Missouri The town has had a hard time forgiving Trena. 6. Thanks for the post. Ill talk to him as time goes along. Anyone who knows your Grandmother or has heard her story needs to be reminded of this. 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. I havent seen her kids defending McElroy, although they might have. But Ken may have done wrong, but he was a human being too, & looks like someone who knew something would have had the heart to come forward to help out in the matter. The family appeared not to be given any help at all. Cause no one else except his relation thinks The other thread that is much more active than this one is about Mcfadin, McElroys lawyer, and the debate over the role he played in facilitating McElroys crimes. June 16th, 1934: Ken Rex McElroy is born to Mabel and Tony McElroy, the thirteenth out of fourteen children. I take him to task in the book. I had a fascinating interview with her, though. Now 47, he is the same age McELroy was when he was shot to death on the main street of Skidmore Missouri. I cannot say that the townspeople were wrong in what they did. Sally gave birth to a fourth child in 1965. Wal-Mart killed the town. 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. She was a young girl trying to survive. A common refrain among the people MacLean interviewed? stubbornly in the dark. But Jeffrey, once he found his mother, learned of a fourth, I believe. Alice died about ten or fifteen years ago. Its so well written, or maybe since Im from Missouri, I can totally see the scenes that are described in the book. Say what you will, but not only was Ken Rex an obvious monster, but so was his brainless wife, Trena McElroy. Enjoyed your book greatly and so have others I have passed it on to who have no connection to the area which I do. With all this said, my heart has always gone out to the people in Skidmore. who testified in No One Saw a Thing, Ken Rex McElroy was considered to be the "town bully." Before McElroy died, he had threatened a number of people at gunpoint, shot a few people, and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl, Trena McCloud, before marrying her to evade statutory rape charges. I was brutally beaten by a 24 year old boyfriend when I was 14. Sounds naive I know, but I feel hope that perhaps Ken McElroy may well have found God, even if tangentially. Thats just like in 1991 movie titled In Broad Daylight, the part of Ken Rex McElroy was given the fictional name of Len Rowan. There is a serial killer in Kansas, or was, who nicknamed himself BTK. https://www.laclederecord.com/stories/debbie-ann-mcelroy,8800, https://www.maryvilleforum.com/gallery-2021-skidmore-punkin-show/collection_14ebd20e-f5fa-11eb-8cdc-c35d90891f9e.html#1, In Broad Daylight Classic Print Edition. This guy had dark hair, and a small paunch. She is hardly mentionedwhat happened to her after Ken died? 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. Sadly,like in many place,these folks were probably considered poor white trash and the law looked the other way. I enjoyed first edition of In Broad Daylight and didnt realize there was a second edition out. Ordinarily, Id say vigilante justice is not the way to go, but the folks in Skidmore were terrorized on a day-to-day basis. Circling the wagons doesnt help anyone. 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. This led to several patrons deciding to see what they could legally do to prevent McElroy from harming anyone else. BILLIONS of people on this planet are poor and they dont do what that thug did. 18 Facts About The Murder Of Ken Rex McElroy, One Of The Most My mother is Lori. I felt sorry for Trena to a certain extent. A man who could only get his way through force and violenceThat was my first impression when I resd about the Skidmore Murder. He typically preyed upon children from poor, uneducated families. However, I can also be sure that yet another movie was released back in the 1980s about these same events that took place in Skimore, Missouri. I think McElroys lawyer might have encouraged her to file the lawsuit. On 1 June 1934, Ken Rex McElroy became the 15th of 16 children for Tony and Mabel McElroy. Ive tried to leave her pretty much alone the last few years, let her see if she can find a normal life to live. The I seen quote kills me. Now he had to deal with the truth. McElroy controlled the whole town. Ken Rexs demise was over 40 years ago and the majority of those who lived there in 1981 are gone now. 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. Check the ages of his childrens mothers when they gave birth! Thanks for writing the book about Ken Rex. My daddy was a quite man but very protective of his 5 daughters and wonderful role model to my one brother ! No one was more a victim of the bastard McElroy than was she. I just cant get over how scarey it was to sit in that truck while seeing her hisband killed right next to jer! Whatever they say is normal, you force yourself to accept as normal. She remarried in 1983, and, from what I know, lived a fairly happy life. They should have shot her to she tried to fight the elderly shop keeper and gave interviews on what a saint ken was. Very interesting. They were all white trash, she was just as guilty as Ken McElroy was in terrorizing those people, although they picked the right town apparently, you can only bully people for so long, shes lucky she didnt meet the same fate. Theres not a day that goes by I dont think of her. Im not being crude or rude I really mean that. Trena (3rd wife) children; three her obituary stated she had 8 children ?? The sleezoid attorney is always a given with guys like this thug. I only know of Juarez, Ken Jr, tony and Jeff , such an amazing story, I am Juarez McElroys son Damien and i think your storys a lil.well..i guess not fully informed on the whole lifestyle of my Grandpa. Were you ever able to make any connection between McElroy and the town of Peculiar, MO? I remember him telling us not to go to the mail box because McElroy threatened to put rattlesnakes in every mail box belonging to the jury. What happened next would be the last straw for many Skidmore residents. Harry, Trena did not profit from the movie. That lawyer should have been run out of town on a rail, or at least been reported to the bar. Ive met your uncle, Jeff. I grew up in Oregon, MO which is a small town not too far from Skidmore. The citizens at the meeting decided to go to the tavern en masse; the bar soon filled completely. 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. McElroy was accused of raping two young women, as young as 12 years old, both of whom he was said to have "married" to keep them from testifying against him.
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