Thank you Harry for your good work. Bear, I loved Skidmore in late 70s and early 80s. I think one of the rifles used in McElroys shooting was a Winchester 94 (or Marlin 336) chambered in 32 Winchester Special. In closing here, I have to say that of all I read, I could easily visualize the McElroy Clan. One problem solved, but obviously from the tremendous amount of crime in that county, not the ONLY problem. He died of electricution when he made contact with a high voltage line while stepping out of the car. I was in Skidmore once and innocently asked about the shooting, I was told to mind my own business or I would wind up like Ken shot from behind. They are all over. I do not see that you wrote of this in your comments. . That was what infuriated the townspeople. Thanks for the comment and the complement. Doesnt Ken have a daughter in law named Tonya? Ken Rex was bad news from day one. The guy was obviously a bad, mean, thief, rapist , and bully. But your right, it would have been more polite to just go around to the front of the truck and shoot the SOB in the eye. My interest was once again renewed, so I purchased and read your book which I enjoyed very much. It wasnt hard to imagine him jerking the gun from his pickup in a burst of anger and opening up on the large black head on the other side of the rear window of the pickup. This man was a domestic terrorist whose actions were deadly to anyone and everyone that crossed him. I already found a news item where one of his sons (Juarez) had been arrested at age 26 for knifing a man. Thats how Ken McElroy felt. Well said. If an eyewitness had turned in the killers in, it would have been a spectacular trial, likely ending in an acquittal. the people of skidmore mo murdered ken rex mcelroy-plain & simple. Are there any other in print material available that you would recommend? Some internet accounts have one of the rifles being a 30-30. I went to school at NWMSU at the time of Ken Rex. When the law refused to deal with him and people feared for their lives they did what they thought they had to do to survive. He probably thought it would make him a bigger man in the eyes of the townfolk something he always wanted. (two increments noted in his description). My point on his courage was, that I doubt he would have done it if he had been face to face with McElroy. I hear more and more stories as time goes on. The classic print edition is now available at: http://tiny.cc/KeepsakeEdition Del, a short man with a chip on his shoulder and a hot temper, wore a cowboy hat and drank heavily. Most of the guys in NW MO can take care of themselves and would not be afraid of Ken if they had a gun in their hands. Shooting him was a justified act of self-defense for everyone. Yesterday I came across an obituary of Trooper Richard Stratton, may he rest in peace. The justice system failed in releasing this revengeful, dangerous man back to his community. I never actually thought Del Clement and the other shooters were cowards. It tells in some detail the process of writing and researching the book, particularly the difficulty when the town was closed up around the killers. Looking at Google Maps, it appears the Delta runs North/South from V, and then after the first curve, runs East/West for a bit, and then after another sharp curve, heads North/South again. Being shot in the back of the head means nothing, anywhere to take him down was what was necessary.. He was a member and enjoyed his friends at the Maryville Elks Lodge #760; he was a member of the Town and Country Saddle Club at Skidmore, MO. Please move on with your life. we just thought he was some creepy dude, then when the story broke about him & i saw pics i was literally shocked. It didnt have to end like this if the law did their job. I just finished the book Judgement Day and although not as detailed as yours I also enjoyed it. Two additional questions Harry, I have heard that the post office in Skidmore has been closed and the high school was also closed and tore down. This year being the 40th anniversary of the killing, brought it back into focus for me. The city hall has moved into the old bank and B & B is shuttered and closed. How could someone get away with these kinds of crimes for so long?! Want more true crime? Dont hate cuz even cops are corrupt. The food was quite good and the young waitress was very hospitable. and yes ken got his ass handed to him a couple times. That is the the bottom line. He was a boaster and a bully, but he carried through on just enough of his threats to scare the hell out of people. I hear its a cheap knockoff of the real story. i told this guy ( didnt know his reputation at the time) to back off he gave me an icy cold stare , he did in fact have an imitadation factor about him. As I said, my feelings and comments are not for everyone, and obviously you have taken offense to them but sadly you wont be able to do anything about it so too bad. unless the last living person of that oath is on their deathbed & decides to tell who the shooter was, the shooter that they all covered for. If the action against McElroy was spontaneous, wouldnt Clement expect to be held accountable for his actions? That County has a long history of bullies and criminals. I have found this whole drama so very intriguing for quite a while. The deputy was too scared to confront him. I would be very interested to find out your source of information. Only hard core criminals laugh in court. In the book you wrote that nobody ever saw McElroy in an actual physical confontation, e.g. Yes, Bo died before the book was published. Once the grocery store goes, then goes the bank, and the gas station, and theres little left. If people dont want to hear or read about this story, then dont come hear. Pausing to milk it a little too long. 2) Planned or not a real man could have dealt with it..when your a bully you had better be readycause its always comin, 3) Del was the main shooter but he would have gladly been the ONLY shooter. McElroy's third wife, Trena McCloud, met Ken when he began dating her mother while she was 12. I commented on how nice the station was, and asked if they worked on cars, as i noticed what looked to be an attached garage. To get these girls out of here trouble was getting ready to happen. You care for the sheep but hate the sheepdog. If anyone know where Trena is, I would love to know. Born in 1934, Ken Rex McElroy was a resident of Skidmore, Missouri. Its in the book In Broad Daylight, toward the end. walked around the back of the old grocery, then looked at the buildings and grocery, out front. I did get the side eye from someone who walked in though, when I was by the front door looking at the photos on the wall. Harry. This story, and the book, will far outlive me, and anyone else alive today, Ive come to believe. Way Way before 1981. Maybe in 30 or more years you will know there names but i wont be saying because there is still a lot of Mcelroy decents around these parts. Memorials are suggested to the Maryville Elks Lodge #760, Maryville, MO. Kenny boy didnt seem to have a problem threatening anybody old or smaller than him. And by the way, theres NO ONE as tough as Jesus, because he knew what was coming, faced it squarely, did what had to be done. Not that it really matters, I suppose. I ended up moving from skidmore after his death , glad he got what was coming to him .sorry bastard , now I hope he is burning in hell . Same title. If I may ask, just suppose for a moment you were able to speak with him. And even if something of a glimmer came to pass, who would believe it after all this time? But the system did not work, and throughout history when that happens, when it gets BAD enough, people will act. If someone would have cut his hands off for stealing some years before it got so bad things wouldnt have gone as far as they did either.. I remember as a kid Ken stealing grain in middle of night from our grain bin. I was quickly sent in the house. I admire the town for keeping their mouths shut, and the people who took up arms and took care of business. How would you attempt to relate to him? t was Mr Sumy. I dont agree with calling him a coward, at least not for the shooting. You may email me if you do not want to post it publicly. what a fascinating story. the only hope that we can ever find out who fired the fatal shot is the last person alive who took the oath , as they die one by one , it will be the last person will they make a deathbed confession , will they knowing that their the last will they let the name be known thats the only way it will ever come out. Im especially interested in the troubles his kids caused once they moved out of Skidmore. He pointed out all the untrue facts in the booksuch as that he was shortand seemed on the verge of throwing a punch, until a friend stepped in. I was in college (NWMSU) when all of this was happening. As I understand it and read your post, you were on the same corner as my grand father that morning opposite of Sumys. Ken Rex McElroy (1 Juni 1934 - 10 Juli 1981) adalah warga Skidmore, Nodaway County, Missouri, Amerika Serikat. It also tells the story of The Lost Son of Ken Rex McELroy. And his ex wife Sharon is also a very kind woman. Hell, he might have actually been loving the anger he was generating. I bet a lot f the boys around those parts were jealous of him but are not man enough to admit it. Woulda, coulda, shoulda done some yung folk sum good. i know she passed on , glad to hear she was happy later on & found a guy who i heard was madly devoted to her. A whole new book could start here. Did McElroy ever actually kill anyone that you heard of? McElroy was soon infatuated with his future child bride. just wondering how the locals felt about her also. I just heard that a new cafe has opened in Skidmore, in the old B & B grocery store. I feel for the people of Skidmore. 1) There was nothing Alpha about Ken or you,look what happened to Ken. Years ago I met one of the gunmen, he was a polite gentleman. You can find it on YouTube, starring Brian Denehey. The masonic building is gone, as best as I can tell. Or is it a numbered road?? They TRIED EVERYTHING, it did not work. He always denied any role in the killing. I am loyal to the town. I am sure that CC was not meaning a threat, I do not know who CC is but I thank him for standing up for Del, when Del has passed from this life. How do they know that he was shot with a .22 and a .308 if they didnt run ballistics? When I talked with Trena, she was no longer defending McElroy. and it holds to this day. I came from a town just like thathad 1500 people and now has 230. farmers used to go to town to buy their shoes for the kids and groceriesnow there are no farmers. Eventually sitting on a sidewalk across the street from what was the D&B. the skidmore we got away with murder museuem. Alice Woods was Ken's second wife, but she has stated that she's not sure their marriage was legal because McElroy may have still been married to Sharon when they wed. I read the book, the epilogue, and the Making of(thanks Kindle store!). I look forward to getting your new POD paperback. I was 10 years old and saw the whole thing. Little more than a manipulative bully, who exploited weaknesses in our legal system. They should be strung up for the way they did it. Why bring the past back up?? If youre 68 youre outside the height limit to be a Marine. Im sure theyre out there somewhere in cyberspace. Trena McElroy, center, is led to a car with her stepson Ken McElroy Jr. and an unidentified man following Ken Rex McElroy's funeral in Maryville, Mo. glad to know her life had a happy ending so to speak. Is hostile.. Cruel people . Anyone that has the courage to stand up to a bully and shoot him is no coward in my book. I relied on the FBI report on stating on the caliber of the shells. skidmore will never be the same since the passing of mcelroy . None of those last two incidents is surprising. Alice died a few years ago. Looked at your bio. The only hope for solving the crime seemed to be that one of the witnesses, or maybe one of the killers, would confess on his deathbed in order to clear his conscience. But if you read the 2007 version of In Broad Daylight, which contains an epilogue bringing the case up to date, youll get some interesting information on who were on the other two guns. Where I live we have had a NON Stop Crime Waive since 1971. Last i heard she was in Columbia. This sparked my interest, but did not pursue any additional information until I recently viewed the movie In Broad Daylight.
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