When I visited often in the late 50s, 60s & early 70s, it was a prettier & quiet little town. The best part of this book is when the old acquaintance of Ken looked him up and decided to tell him about salvation through Jesus Christ. Painful. Could someone on this blog sheet tell me what the title of that other movie was? Additional charges were filed against McElroy.[7]. McElroy was shot at several times while he was sitting in his truck. All Rights Reserved, Slender Man stabbing, Waukesha, Wisconsin, Update: Police Release Dead Serial Killers Account of Murder of Samantha Koenig. Glad to hear she moved on to a happy life, sorry she died so cruelly. Who was Ken Rex McElroy? Consisting of around 440 residents and a number of small family-run businesses, the farming town revolved around work ethic. You can find it on YouTube, or at least you could a few weeks ago. The man one the phone said his name was Jeffrey. He wasnt nearly as mean as portrayed in the movie. I loved your book Very thorough and compassionate accounting. ive done alot of surching on the story lately and am sorry to hear that trena passed. Let people interpret them, as they choose. Unsolved 'Vigilante' Murder in the Heartland: Missouri Town Goes Quiet 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. The word snitch is a word mostly used by the criminal elements of our world. When he decided I was all right, all sorts of doors in the community opened for me. As your life Is meaningful. The thought of all of the rotten crap McFadin pulled in order to protect his criminal client makes me sick to my stomach. Thank you Harry for putting that in the book. Although Henry survived to personally testify against McElroy, the bully was still found not guilty. I intend to write something about it soon. i know that the town never had any intent in shooting trena. [11] 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. [2], In all, he was indicted 21 times but escaped conviction each time, except for the last. On 1 June 1934, Ken Rex McElroy became the 15th of 16 children for Tony and Mabel McElroy. Loved the original book, and would like to find the movie in DVD, but it doesnt seem to be anywhere. Even the worst people can sometimes act pleasantly. As one of over a dozen children raised under modest financial means in and around Kansas and the. Interesting story. Just a fascinating story. Before then he just knew he had been adopted. I dont think people realize how many things go by the wayside in these rural areas. I do not think badly of this man and I dont know that the rest of you should either cuz I have heard some pretty good stories about him stories that shows that he has a heart. But I live in eastern NC & kind of doubt Ill ever get out to Colorado. "[13], McElroy was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri. Ken McElroy and the Vigilantes of Skidmore, Missouri Now, there is a saying, that explains it but it doesnt excuse it. Stockholm Syndrome at its finest! Only crybabies speak of other peoples finances. Im sure she felt anger & betrayal, along with what that kind of abuse does to your psyche. I just wish she had been left in the truck as well. I didnt feel sorry for Ken Sr but I did feel bad for the kids. As for Ken Rex, no surprise. I would not doubt that situations like this one still happen in this day and age. I understand his thieving ways gave him plenty of cash to attend to his and his familys needs, but WHO did he buy off to get repeated passes on his crimes? No sympathy for KM or his wife. You seem to be a good guy. However, Im sure that he knew who McElroy was. I agree! 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. It is very sad but true that someone should have stood trial. I would guess that if someone was saying and doing things that McElroy agreed with, theyd get along ok. Ken was a lazy theif , rapist, hild molester, he got what he deserved/ this type needs dealt with this wAy more to show the criminals that they they cant hide behind the law because we will get you / thats whats wrong with this country nobody wants to work just take what they want and blame it on you because they dont have what youve got. I was immediately intrigued by the story and decided to read your book (well written). Lori met her and they have corresponded off and on over the years. They left the night McElroy was shot. In one, he is holding his daughter in his lap and looking into the camera. And is Timmy McElroy still around? A common refrain among the people MacLean interviewed? they knew what she had to deal with and she only did those things becouse she had to. Honestly the person I have the biggest problem with is the defense attorney for McElroy. I guess Id want to know if Trena was truly regretful later in life. That, alone, is testament to just how horrible a human being this man must have been. I agree with you in many respects. His parents, Tony and Mabel, were humble sharecroppers that could probably not have coped with so many offspring. Its use generally means that the person uttering it fears being exposed for his own crimes or the crimes of his friends or family. For some reason, the Ken McElroy shooting popped into my mind and I wondered what happened to Trena and Kens children. To make up for the short comings of the law, there is a place for the law being ignored, and justice being dealt in other ways. He never rasises his voice. Thanks for sharing. You are in no position to talk :). I agree that the laws are much better this day and time in regard to stalking, etc., but I still dont feel law enforcement did enough in this situation. LOL. It might be worth something to a fanatic if it still exists. 6. I flew Sally into our town before I moved to her town. Obit with photo of Trena Louise McNeeley McElroy Williams, 1957-2012. She begged to talk to him. So, they stole the information. Its similar to Stockholm Syndrome. Im not being crude or rude I really mean that. But the way the parents let things happen, the abused child could evolve into the accomplice of a criminal in adulthood. Sorry, I havent lived in St. Joe in 20 years and didnt realize I had reversed that until I re-read my post just now. Ordinarily, Id say vigilante justice is not the way to go, but the folks in Skidmore were terrorized on a day-to-day basis. She was a wonderful, amazing, caring woman. HE WAS A MAN IN HIS THIRTIES WHO IMPREGNATED A FOURTEEN YEAR OLD CHILD. I think the Stockholm syndrome applies in her case. Its astonishing to think the entire population allowed it to go on. The show was a cheap hatchet job. Youre saying a 12 year old was at fault for being raped and forced into marriage by a grown man? I was 20 years of age in 1981 and living south of The River in Warrensburg when I learned of all of this. Personally, the judge was the worst of all. It was an act of self-defense. The blazing summer heat. 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. I really love this post. I know so, because I saw a description of this other movie in a book that Leonard Maltin had published back in 1989 in which he provided movie reviews. Holy cow. Why was he gunned down in the first place? He was my favorite person in the book and someone I would have really liked to meet. I know some were farmers there for years it was home yada. Why not just say that in your comment. Thats nonsense. Flipping television channels I ran across the old film Road House. Anonymity, his just desserts. I believe grace & mercy of God she met a good man and had 5 more children is more than enough to realize she was blessed later for her life that was stolen from her. Goodbye Ken. I am glad she went on to live a relatively happy life. [5] She became pregnant when she was fourteen, dropped out of school in the ninth grade, and went to live with McElroy and his second wife Alice. Skidmore, Missouri menace Ken McElroy: His horrible life and death All those kids to support. Right. They were innocent of all of this. McElroy chose to be a bully. He had no respect for the law or those who enforced it. All were threatened including their children yet she was the one who felt that she was wronged, horrible dangerous individual she was. Ill buy the first edition. As for Trena, when I talked to her she sounded like a 14-year-old girl, about the age when McElroy go ahold of her. Thank you! because this can/will happen again if it is allowed to. Damien, you may well be right. But perhaps I should have looked a little deeper into the place. We need the courage of 1981 Skidmore now more than ever. This is amazing, Just when you think theres nothing new a young man like Damien has the heart to come forward, Damien you are a strong person to admit this, after all that has happened, I commend you. 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! Sharon (1st wife) children; son, daughter (Tina), daughter (Teresa), daughter (Tammy), daughter (???). Vigilante justice ended up being the last resort for the townspeople. You have never been an abused woman!!! I felt sorry for Trena to a certain extent. You have to remember people were terrorized and held captive in their own town. The FBI investigated to try to find out who actually shot and killed Ken Rex McElroy, but they had no success. Required fields are marked *. 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. Why do you think they are referred to as legal thieves? That isnt one side of the story it is a fact. She made that choice of her own. i lived in mound city from 1978 to 1996. i heard about the story when i was old enough to understand. One of the kids I thinkbut Im not sureis in Philly. 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. Some in Nodaway County, some in southwestern Missouri, and others in faraway places like Pennsylvania. The McElroys never had any money. The Most Hated Man In Town. The story of Ken McElroy | by Chelsea Rose Visited the places you wrote about. Just a comment on the burning of the house: Trena, Alice and their children were all long gone by the time McElroys house burned down. That poor child could not stand up for herself against that man. The children had little parental supervision, and for the most part ran free around town. In researching the book, I learned of only three kids. Hard working people who never give up. I will find a picture of her and post. Cant blame the kids for the fathers sins. Other than listing hers and Kens children among her survivors, it is her husband of almost 3 decades, Howard, and her longtime residence in Lebanon, MO, which are mentioned in the obituary. ", Ariana Madix Got Caught On Camera Reacting To A "Scandoval" Joke At The WHCD, Kim K Cries In 'The Kardashians' Season 3 Trailer After Her Pete Davidson Breakup, Tom Sandoval Straight-Up Lied About Hooking Up With Raquel On Vanderpump Rules, Everything To Know About 'RHOC' Season 17, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. 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. Does no one stand up to him? It just seems odd . Attempting to sue her victims. His bloodline should end. Thats lousy that they didnt even have the decency to credit you. He was arrested, booked, arraigned, and released on $2,500 bail. Mr Dalsing is a man who puts others needs before his own. Cause she did stick up for him! To say he was a human being is laughably naive and the kind of thing stated by someone who engages in fantasy. One cant imagine a man more the opposite of Ken McElroy. Ive heard stories from the locals that on a moonless night the ghosts of Ken and Trena will come driving through Skidmore in the same Silverado he was killed in. I have heard about this man for many years growing up. Im sad to see that she did pass on, but so happy she was a happy WOMAN ! Agreed. 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 wish I was able to go to Skidmore & to Kensgrave to visit. He would have only threatened me with a gun one time. According to the the citizens of Skidmore, Mo. However, when he and Mrs. Bowenkamp purchased the town grocery store he put away his custom made Mother of Pearl grip Colt .45s and his special made Crocodile ammunition belt. Any new on them? A very interesting post, and thanks for the kind words. Once they wake up, they make different choices. Let them rot. No one else ever helped her. [1] To date, no one has been charged in connection with McElroy's death. This presents Skidmore in the rural light that enables normalcy and humanity to evolve in a place where so much despair has been documented. Watched No One Saw A Thing as well. She should have thanked them instead of blaming & suing them. Im just sorry, her life started out like it did. Thanks! I agree. 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. LOL This is plain ridiculous. Those parents should have moved away with the 12 year old as fast as possible, even without a house. I too am sorry for your loss. He raped McCloud repeatedly. Did he run around there? I researched every aspect of the family as thoroughly as I could and tried to be as fair as possible. Thanks for clearing this up. She still seemed somewhat like a child when I met her. I am friends with her now on Facebook and have had brief discussions about it. You made a non-point just then. The book told the story of Sally, who at fourteen began having children by Ken. Besides,from what I have read,even lawmen were scared of Ken Rex. Without him around to protect her, she wilted back down to reality. Crazy book. In a place where he doesnt know EVERYTHING about EVERYONE, they take it down a notch. The townspeople were the ones who suffered punishment. She was bullied by this devious, evil, selfish man, completely dominated, and she made mistakes. It is very difficult to escape an abusive situation even as an adult. McElroy was born in 1934, he was the fifteenth of sixteen kids - so it really wouldn't be surprising to find out he didn't have much supervision. As the mother of a son with special needs, I applaud those like Jeffrey who choose to work in this difficult field. I plan to write a rebuttal to the show it was all inference and speculation and wishful thinking. Skidmore is 90 minutes or more north and west of downtown Kansas Cit, Peculiar is 40 minutes south. Its clear there is no zoning or zoning enforcement in Skidmore. I want to know WHY. Its amazing that she was able to recover and lead a fulfilling life. I guess I should wait to read but just so fascinated by this story, I at one point felt sad because he caught the shots from behind , not down playing anything he did but my human emotions just got the best of me I guesskeep up the good work. Well, MP, you women have the choice about the kids you usually can NOT afford. Things are much different now. She was lucky that the second bullet didnt strike her. If she later realized how brainwashed she was, did she apologize to the town and the people she sued? She tried to get away from him more then once , t so true .she will answer 4 her deeds on judgement day 4 what she did 2 the townspeople but if they say she turned her life around thats good heaven ..HERESSSSSSSSS TRENA, Mp? Im not sure if Ken physically abused her but I wouldnt be a bit surprised to learn that he did. You can also make the case that it was in defense of the cowardly act of shooting an old man in the neck. Where was the FBI? Shooting that animal was not cowardly except in a criminal mind. 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 smart, attractive, sweet, caring, and has a bigger heart than anyone I have ever known. This man had such a shameful history of crime to his name that he was definitely no saint. Jeffrey And the local bar with a loud air conditioner in a window somewhere making a racket while the locals hid from the heat of the day. When you grow up like that, I really do believe that it stunts your empathy. As McElroy got into his pickup truck with his wife Trena McCloud, shots suddenly rang out. Ken Rex McElroy | Harry N. MacLean I noticed that in your book, In Broad Daylight, you mentioned that Sally had borne Ken three children Ken Jr, Lisa, and Jeffrey. I really enjoyed this book so much so, that I just read it a 2nd time! I feel I owe you a debt for making me forget this damn pandemic for a while! , I met Jeff in the fall of 1984. There have been 2 tornadoes & a fire hit the town in my grandmothers memory. he might get the point & stop being a dumbass, I recently have seen the tv show called city confidential. It saddens me how people can be stuck in their convictions when they didnt have to walk the same path she did. Kenneth Rex McElroy "Bully" Murder - Getty Images I havent been able to find an address for Ken McElroys house that was burned. Outside of the D&G Tavern, the engine of a truck could be heard roaring to life, until it gave out, and eventually the engine blew. What was his/her name, and have you had any contact with him/her? I was startled. . When you grow up like that you can become an absolute mental slave to someone who makes you feel like you matter to them, particularly if they sink their teeth into you when you are a teenager and your frontal lobes havent fully developed. People dont just do it, unless they are already murderers, etc. There is nothing cursed about Skidmore. Whatever money spent to investigate his death, was just good money thrown after bad. Not something she wants to talk much about. What happened next would be the last straw for many Skidmore residents. Very interesting. They only wanted to control through violence. I, of course, never met McElroy, but Ive heard the descriptions and Ive seen the pictures. Harry, I understand that Trena passed away in January 2012 on her birthday. On the day of what should have been his bail hearing, McElroy was back at D&G, still a free man. I just saw the story of your grandmother and then found this article online. Even today if you google any of the names of the children you will find hateful things written by people. McElroy dumped Oleta after a few years and married a 15-year-old girl, Sharon. He was known as "the town bully",[1] and his unsolved killing became the focus of international attention. Doesnt change anything. It had to be difficult walking the tight rope, during research obtaining information from pertinent people, while trying your best to remain impartial. I believe the townsfolk honestly had no choice. They only understood fear. His farm was about 20 miles west of Kirksville. I get what you are saying, but consider that many violent people (rapists especially) often say things like, I just couldnt help myself, becausefill in the blank. When they find themselves in prison around even tougher people or surrounded by armed guards, they control themselves and behave better. Thank you! That act alone showed me what that woman was really all about. It is quite a few pictures from the 2021 Skidmore Punkin (sp) Show. Oh, and by the way the skidmore people need not pat themselves on the back to hard they shot him from behind and he went to town that day knowing it was his last day and they just done him a favor. The ones who shot him are also cowards even though he got what he deserved. Ken McElroy - Wikipedia May this sweey woman RIP, and she was to young!! This poor lady. The bar was called The Timeout and has since been torn down. His friends say he is kind and gentle and wouldnt hurt a fly. Yes, that would make him Ken McElroys grandson. He shot men. Ken Rex McElroy (1934-1981) - Find a Grave Memorial An understandable wish. Even the United States has a legal system, even back then. I currently work with him in a Behavioral/Learning Disorders School in Kansas City. Why he did it, well never know. No matter how many years go by and how well things seem to be going for these children, I have to wonder how all this has really scarred them. Secondary, the authorities would have been responsible as well because laws were broken. Thank you for your service in the special needs field. I knew he covered a lot of territory, but I didnt know he had made it to Lawrence.
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