In the nature versus nurture debate, this story fits on the nurture side of the spectrum. They likely did the best that they could have, though, as any parent would. By fearing him and and letting him frighten him the empowered him. Obit with photo of Trena Louise McNeeley McElroy Williams, 1957-2012. They went to high school together. And you do not involve anyones family or friends EVER. Unsolved claims that, throughout his life, McElroy was indicted on at least 21 charges, sometimes being brought up on felony charges as frequently as three different times a year, ranging from theft and cattle rustling to harassment, assault, arson, statutory rape, and even shooting two people. It is my pleasure to interact with Jeffery on a daily basis and I truely feel he helps keep me grounded. Worse felonies included assault and arson. She did what she had to do to survive.the law sure didnt help her . You seem to be a good guy. Or she could have been waiting for him in the truck. I saw him back down from a guy once at Rutledge over a dog. I plan make a pilgrimage to Skidmore, park in that spot, and toast to the commencement of that SOBs journey to Hell and to those with the bravery to send him there. Thanks for the comment. 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. SKIDMORE, Mo. Jeffrey Therefore, it was as though she were sending out the wrong message about her involvement with him by filing that lawsuit. Did he terrify judges? I had heard a little about cattle rustling. 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. Before then he just knew he had been adopted. This led to several patrons deciding to see what they could legally do to prevent McElroy from harming anyone else. 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. He is a positive man with a great personality and has a charming demeanor about himself. But thats television. 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. And I call he to imply there is some sort collective evil there. 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. KRM was a freaking coward! In the end, Dan McElroy was done in by his own success. It takes a lot to reverse that type of brainwashing and Im grateful she found someone to treat her that way she truly deserved. 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. The marshal turned in his badge and quit the next day. I take him to task in the book. I had a fascinating interview with her, though. She may have come out the other side, but its been tough to locate any kind of record showing her apologize to all those people she terrorized and women and children she shamed when they tried to come forward with their true, horrifying accounts of this mans abuse. Although Trena rode with McElroy at the end, she was victimized by him at age 12. Im glad you liked the book. You have to remember people were terrorized and held captive in their own town. A common refrain among the people MacLean interviewed? I always felt very sorry for her. I knew your grandmother and her family and yes she was a beautiful normal girl that is until Ken decided she belong to him I remember the last time I seen her she was pregnant setting in the swing talking to my sister crying , I remember him stalking her as she was with her family visiting mine , I remember her families house being burned to the ground, 40 + years and I still remember the fear. As for her having a choice, no, no,no! AP Writer Typlifed Irresponsible Writing About Ken McElroys Murder, http://www.holmanhowe.com/sitemaker/sites/Holman1/obit.cgi?user=559576WilliamsLebanon#.TyhZNgTT0J0.facebook, https://vintageaerial.com/photos/missouri/nodaway/1980/ONO/29/17, In Broad Daylight Classic Print Edition. There, in black and white, were the names of his parents: Ken Rex McElroy and Sally. "His family was not part of the successful farming community of northwest Missouri. 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. What was his/her name, and have you had any contact with him/her? Growing up poor MEANS NOTHING. I met her but we had a falling out. I wish you guys could have had more time together. Realize you have something disgusting deep within you because of those horrid pieces of shit. Love ya Bud, Bobby. I believe trena is in heaven , as for Ken well I think he ended up in hell. Which is one of the big reasons the rustling really bothered me. To me, what makes a person unforgivable is their refusal to repent for their actions. Trena (3rd wife) children; three her obituary stated she had 8 children ?? At a certain point, she has to be held responsible for those actions. If someone is wealthy or not isnt your business. They really do not need their memories spoiled by the memories of the rest of the world. She , at least did eventually find normality and happiness. Ive tried to leave her pretty much alone the last few years, let her see if she can find a normal life to live. Loved the book! I havent seen you since you was about 2. I'm happy she found happiness afterward. You could argue that the town failed to protect an abducted 12 year old and owed her damages for the subsequent rapes and abuse she endured. I know I am really late to the party, however, I read through some of these comments. Ken married first name McElroy. With him gone, and a weasel lawyer manipulating her, its no wonder she sued the town. Ive still got mixed feelings about the shooting. Cold. Hard. Scary. The face beneath the eyes was smiling and friendly. I dont believe I heard the name. The ones who shot him are also cowards even though he got what he deserved. 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. How sad for him. March 28, 2023. why you attracted such a horrible person into your life. Im glad you set the record straight, on the facts. My uncle is Jeff Dalsing. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) PURCHASE A LICENSE. 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. May this sweey woman RIP, and she was to young!! My brother and I bought a Coonhound pup from Ken less than a month before.he was shot. The ones on the Sundance series were from Alice Woods. The thug known as Ken has a few defenders just as all criminals have a few defenders. Thanks for the post. There is a photo of Trena with Alice in the book, and an obituary photo of Trena in an earlier post on this blog. I truely believe Jeffery has found his calling in helping others and, although I will not speculate, feel that his history plays an important role in what he does. McElroy was charged with assault with intent to kill. All this still going on is bull what he done is nonthing compared to what goes on in the big cities everyday and they dont go making books and movies about it. Whatever happened to the children of ken McElroy? Jeffrey traveled to California to meet his mother. I dont believe there is a price tag to cover that. Dunbar lives in Marvyille with his girl friend Bobbie. I dont understand how a man could allow someone to take your child without putting up a good fight ! It would be worth something to day. It will never change the ending. You can find it on YouTube, or at least you could a few weeks ago. Followed the link to Trenas obit so pleased to see the post @ her Christian Faith God forgives everyone who repents, and love(d) Trena as much as Mother Teresa and everyone in between Perfection is not a pre-requisite. Hows Kriss Goslee? Jeff and I both shared a huge interest in bodybuilding and worked out together for years and years. 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. What part of the country was your grandparents farm? His parents, Tony and Mabel, were humble sharecroppers that could probably not have coped with so many offspring. It certainly must be a burden knowing your father was Ken McElroy, but hes certainly entitled to be proud of what hes done with his life. Motion detection lights & cameras would show him shooting in public. How many times had I heard that look described by the residents of Skidmore? I find myself momentarily intimidated, in spite of what hes saying, in spite of all the good I know about him. This is a compelling story whether you knew or had any connection to the McElroys or not. Godspeed. No need to respond to my posts on this discussion thread. Im sure youve heard many good and bad things about him. Who knows, they might be following this blog? You dont have that many people of one mind unless there is a serious situation. She had missed her children every day of her life. Sundance omitted the plague of crimes that KRM inflicted on the people he knew & grew up with, the fear that gripped the entire community, the hopelessness that the legal system would ever stop him, the abuse of young women and children, the disregard for law, his disdain for humanity, his incredible evil and success at evading the law Most of all, the nauseating recognition that Ken Rex McIlroy, out on bond, would finish the job of murdering the victim(s) and witnesses before he would ever go to jail If anything, the series proved that Skidmores silence is still unbroken and the secret that at least 70 people keep, is still unspoken. Hate to say it but of course his family members will defend him and claim he was the best grandpa/whatever but even if he wasnt convicted of anything, his activities are well known and well documented. McElroy left many children, and some of them were extremely unhappy with the way their father was killed and the way he was portrayed in my book In Broad Daylight. ken was shoot on my forth birthday. If not, it should be on my website. You cant make that case at all. Sharon had children in 1961, '63, '64 and '65, and Sally in '61, '63 and '64. I was brutally beaten by a 24 year old boyfriend when I was 14. Lots of pictures of the parade. [2][3] In 1981, McElroy was convicted of attempted murder in the shooting of the town's 70-year-old grocer Ernest "Bo" Bowenkamp. It is easier to some to stick with a deadbeat supplier of food and money and even help him with his crimes than to run away and learn a trade, go to work 8 hours daily, earn their own money and lead a non-criminal life. Your book may give me a different perception, we will see. [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 one, he is holding his daughter in his lap and looking into the camera. Agreed. Farming is damn hard work. The trauma and scars he left behind will only be brought to justice in the next life, not this one. In between his many felonies and intimidation tactics, McElroy fathered ten children with different women and married four times. 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. All of McElroys kids that I talked to liked the guy, but I suspect that was because he was gone from so much terrorizing other folks. I just re-read In Broad Daylight and would like to visit Skidmore (I live in KCMO), and also would like to see a pic of Trena that wasnt with Ken. Ken married first name McElroy. I think I know the answer to this, but the other children of Sally and Ken all know now that he was there father, correct? Now, DNA evidence could have convicted McElroy of statutory rape when a 16 year old gave first gave birth, supporting her testimony. I am good friends with a nephew of Kens. . Where was the law when Trenas parents needed them, where was the law when Romain Henry was shot and Ken Rex paying witnesses to lie and paying jurors to sway a Not Guilty vote. Right. McElroy's first shooting victim was local farmer Romaine Henry, who he shot twice in the stomach with a shotgun. I wish peace and happiness for all of them and hopefully they can close this chapter of their lives. Im a true crime buff, and your book is one of my favourites. funny how all you people talk crap about a dead man. He stole their livelihood in many ways. The figure sitting across from me at the small table only barely resembled the young man I had met almost twenty years ago. The entire town may not have shot the thug nor burned the house down, but its pretty clear that the entire town turned a blind eye for a reason. Even the worst people can sometimes act pleasantly. Ken Rex McElroy was born Jun 16 1934 [1], the fifteenth of sixteen 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 WAS A MAN IN HIS THIRTIES WHO IMPREGNATED A FOURTEEN YEAR OLD CHILD. harry my name is sam lewis. The more notes I get about what a tremendous fellow Jeffrey is, the more fascinated I become with theories of the origin of the personality. She lived in Conway, Missouri, and apparently died of cancer. She was doing things to help ken terrorize the town . I watched the Sundance Now film No one saw a thing the story of Ken McElroy. Ive never allowed anyone to threaten me face to face and I have never once worried about a man that tells you what hes going to do to you because hes all talk. I was seething reading These comments the justice system in that area was very corrupt why not pull a string that would actually be helpful and not harmful for a change? I believe that he took up for his family and I believe that he took up for his rights and I also believe that the townspeople tortured him as well. Sharon had children in 1961, '63, '64 and '65, and Sally in '61, '63 and '64. you reference). No one deserved to be treated the way she was and I just hope that all the children involved were able to move on and have better lives. 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. What I want to know, is WHO were the officials who let him walk every time and WHY? With all this said, my heart has always gone out to the people in Skidmore. Wal-Mart killed the town. And Im here to say that I fully believe 100% that he was not a bad man. Thats where I first met him and actually got to know him rather well. McFadin was so good at getting McElroy off that, as Unsolved claims, rumors spread that McFaden was actually a mob lawyer. Two of the children, a boy and a girl, were adopted together, to a family in St. Joe. The show was a cheap hatchet job. They terrorized an entire down. I agree wholeheartedly about the ridiculous Sundance show No One Saw a Thing. The producer had the story in mind before he even went to town. The Bowenkemps, the Strattons, the Preachers family and probably countless others? All of these things have combined to make me a true crime fanatic. When your parents show you arbitrary cruelty and dont acknowledge their wrongdoing, it humiliates you, and you begin looking for outlets on which to impose your own anger, so you can feel in control again. They had 10 children. As we spoke, he dropped his chin and looked at me. Thats the mentality of many bullies. You cannot show any fear. A town having inadequate policing. She did not let her past define her. 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. Others have identified the houses location on Google Earth. But to actually drive it.knowing someone died in the seat. I never felt I got the whole story on McElroy, but at some point I had to stop researching and begin writing. The legal system had completely failed them and McElroy continued to threaten to kill the townspeople. And yes, the person turning properties into storage for junk is really unfortunate. Harry, Trena passed away in 2012 I think and did remarry. Any woman who protects a child rapist and a sociopath is a waste of space and then made money on her husbands disgusting deeds. How could she have said he was a great man and she didnt know why the town hated and feared him? The way it was told, Ken understood that he needed to change his ways but he just wasnt ready. [2], In all, he was indicted 21 times but escaped conviction each time, except for the last. No one lives where his house used to be, but his brother Tim lives in house not far away. were the guys fixing the car and the girl in the house in on it? 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. Thanks for writing such a terrific book. I feel like the townspeople were just fed up and tired of being held hostage and terrorized in their own community. A thousand sleezy lawyers cant do the harm to society what a few ( especially in tiny communities were there may only be a couple) inept/corrupt/cowardly judges or prosecutors will. Whatever they say is normal, you force yourself to accept as normal. I was immediately intrigued by the story and decided to read your book (well written). Heres what I was able to put together. He typically preyed upon children from poor, uneducated families. It has since been renamed, but at the moment I cant recall it. She was a child. 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 am happy that she did get to move on and live a happy life. The man one the phone said his name was Jeffrey. Cant blame the kids for the fathers sins. Jeffrey is a softspoken man. As I understand it, the insurance company had it repaired and sold. McElroy knew this quite well and knew the only way he could duel with Bo was to shoot him while Bo was unarmed. Her obituary makes no mention of her time with Ken Rex McElroy. Yep. You made a non-point just then. Even today if you google any of the names of the children you will find hateful things written by people. I remember seeing a Silverado with Missouri plates parked there. Ordinarily, Id say vigilante justice is not the way to go, but the folks in Skidmore were terrorized on a day-to-day basis. Im sorry to hear that your Grandmother was relatively young when she passed. Im guessing the third shooter was a brother of either clement or dowling; or a second member of the group of four planning to testify. Life is so short.. to be filled with hate and violence. The vibe is the same in these northern Missouri rural towns. Interesting comment. What makes me wonder to this day.Did Trena get remarried? Just a fascinating story. He never rasises his voice. He picked on the weak. An understandable wish. The task of determining who killed the Skidmore bully McElroy has been handed to a grand jury and the Nodaway County prosecutor has has become as tight-lipped as the 60 witnesses to McElroy's vigilante type slaying. Doesnt add up to me, if she had moved on and wanted to forget everything, why go back to that memory???? Ken may have done wrong is quite an understatement. Q was quite an interesting fellow. And where are her adult children she & Ken had together now ? BILLIONS of people on this planet are poor and they dont do what that thug did. If she had just moved on and let the issue with his wrongful death go, I would have felt more pity for her in terms of how she first became involved with him. 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. You must be relted to the monster! That act alone showed me what that woman was really all about. Ken, Rex McElroy was born on month day 1934, at birth place, Missouri, to Anthony, Wyatt McElroy and Mable, Marie Lister. A few stiff sentences, and Dan would have been forgotten, as he deserved to be. Not at all. 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. at the young of an age. Crazy book. Fear was Ken Rexs weapon and he used it well. She still seemed somewhat like a child when I met her. 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. I saw this while browsing and just couldnt not comment. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Now, there is a saying, that explains it but it doesnt excuse it. ", 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. Eventually, he moved to her town and lived there for two years in an attempt to help her overcome her severe alcohol problems. Trena went on to remarry in 1983, and died in 2012. Shame on anyone who holds the things that Ken did to others, against Trena. When you grow up like that, I really do believe that it stunts your empathy. Let people interpret them, as they choose. No sympathy for KM or his wife. He had his first harem. The law is the law and no one should exploit loop holes in order to ensure someone does not pay for their crimes. As far as him never being convictedwell, you cant just ignore all those indictments and the rapes! He was a young man. Harry. I know this is a bit old to respond, but that was a loving tribute to your Grandma! Interesting how McElroy was functionally illiterate, but undeniably street-smart in the extreme. The law never punished him nor did he abide by the law i be live he would not want the law to interfere with his much needed death. Was Treena her mother? There wasn't much parental supervision, but McElroy had a knack for taking care of himself. Rather than put up with it, I just moved and finished my beer and left. 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. Havent got to the but Im proud of the community that took this into their hands. A man who could only get his way through force and violenceThat was my first impression when I resd about the Skidmore Murder. Which country is that, somewhere in central Africa? Ken was a psychotic menace and his ending was merciful. broward sheriff salary database, st george wharf service charge,

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