Ken, Rex McElroy was born on month day 1934, at birth place, Missouri, to Anthony, Wyatt McElroy and Mable, Marie Lister. Right now, Im looking at Skidmore via Google Streets and Google Earth. Born into a crowded family, Ken McElroy would soon make a name for himself in the worst way. Rest in peace. It will never change the ending. The town was harmed by poor law enforcement, Ken McElroys behaviour and its own fear. was it revenger against his father? "Ken McElroy married for the first time at age 18, and moved briefly to . As he sat drinking at the bar, word got back to the men at the Legion Hall that he was in town. Harry, Boyles motors towed the truck from the scene held that it during the investigation and fixed the truck so it could be sold again contact the owner of boyles motors in maryville bud can tell you of that day it came in. anyhing good about him. How many times had I heard that look described by the residents of Skidmore? I went to grade school near St. Joseph with one of his daughters after they moved away from Ken McElroy. I can not believe the people that defend him! The world needs more true American men like the ones that killed this POS, She was a victim just like so many others. They likely did the best that they could have, though, as any parent would. As one of over a dozen children raised under modest financial means in and around Kansas and the. I think that town had enough punishment all the years he terrorized them.. 6. The children had little parental supervision, and for the most part ran free around town. This presents Skidmore in the rural light that enables normalcy and humanity to evolve in a place where so much despair has been documented. Now, DNA evidence could have convicted McElroy of statutory rape when a 16 year old gave first gave birth, supporting her testimony. I am friends with her now on Facebook and have had brief discussions about it. Someone involved in that might act in a toxic manner. But thats television. Ken McElroy was a functional illiterate. I feel like the townspeople were just fed up and tired of being held hostage and terrorized in their own community. https://www.maryvilleforum.com/gallery-2021-skidmore-punkin-show/collection_14ebd20e-f5fa-11eb-8cdc-c35d90891f9e.html#1. 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. Definitely Im sorry to have to say this but ken McElroy got his just deserts. I had not thought much about this since this all happened when he was in the media way back when but I just saw something on YouTube that made me curious as to what happened to the thing. And Im here to say that I fully believe 100% that he was not a bad man. Then, when it suited their purpose, they were finished with him and made sure that no one was prosecuted for his death. btw will be reading the book soon. Appalling. Everyone that seen this movie and read this book has only heard one side of the story, I on the other hand have heard multiple stories about how things really went down. I believe your book is one of the better true crime books I have read. :)Lee. Somewhere down the line, one of his blood will become far worse than he ever was and the cycle will begin again. At a certain point, she has to be held responsible for those actions. Jeffrey has a lot of friends who think hes an amazing guy. It was amazing the town folk found the restraint not to grant her Kens fate. I am not saying that she was right in some of her actions, but, when people are really backed up in a corner and afraid, they do things to survive and to keep the people they love (ie her family and children) safe! This is a compelling story whether you knew or had any connection to the McElroys or not. This man was a horrible human being. One of the kids I thinkbut Im not sureis in Philly. I have just recently heard of this story. My mother is Lori. its been said that she moved on & found God and happiness later in life that she had changed . Doesnt add up to me, if she had moved on and wanted to forget everything, why go back to that memory???? 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. Im glad you enjoyed the book. McElroy knew this quite well and knew the only way he could duel with Bo was to shoot him while Bo was unarmed. But as long as McElroy kept paying him (in cash, no less! According to court records, McElroy tracked them down and brought them back. Though Ken McElroy was killed in broad daylight and in front of at least 30 witnesses, subsequent criminal investigations failed to identify any suspects. 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. She was trash, like her bully husband. Do you know where abouts? But perhaps I should have looked a little deeper into the place. That is why the current condition of Fillmore is so sorry now. Trena . Whatever happened to Kens truck that they shot him in? Interesting comment.In later years I think Trena did come to see what happened as almost inevitable given Kens crimes. I dont know just guessing. 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. Loved the original book, and would like to find the movie in DVD, but it doesnt seem to be anywhere. I wish I could have met her. Usually, it takes a dangerous gang and a community of people too scared to talk to get away with such behavior. Not here my friends .any way I hope they catch the kidnappers and find Branson, also did anyone think for a sec that K.R had mental issues and if it was taken care of like they do nowadays this wouldnt have happened? The demise of Ken Rex, is one that will continue to be debated, for years to come. I know some were farmers there for years it was home yada. I agree with you in many respects. However, Im sure that he knew who McElroy was. I couldnt help but think about the tradgedies , this small town has endured, and how many lives were changed, or ruined, due to them. I always hoped she would find happiness once she got away. He was defended by Gene McFadin, who defended Ken. Maybe because he knew he would no longer be the big man of the block . . Ill never forget the night of his visitation after he passed, people were lined up out the door to pay their respects . What was his/her name, and have you had any contact with him/her? Kind of a nobody saw a thing situation. It would be interesting. I moved to Kansas City in the 90s and on the first job I started here, the first friend that I meet was a McElroy. Im a true crime buff, and your book is one of my favourites. Be strong willed, and let friends lien on you. They really do not need their memories spoiled by the memories of the rest of the world. It will probably remain unsolved. That alone should have put him away. If she hadnt been terrorized to keep her out of court, she would have probably ended up with substantially more Im always glad to hear about true crime fanatics. What I haven read is how tough and how much of a man he was without a gun with a man face to face that wasnt afraid of him. His parents, Tony and Mabel, were humble sharecroppers that could probably not have coped with so many offspring. She endured beatings and rape or child molestation! 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. I want to feel something for Trena but as she carried a gun and was a lookout to help him when he went to town to terrorize people and sued them later, Im struggling. From the impression I got, the law enforcement officers, with exception of Corporal Stratton of the State Patrol, seemed to back down to Ken out of fear the same as the townspeople did for a while. The ability to get away with bad behavior from being a knee high scoundrel, probably from his father having too many kids. Admitedly he was good at his job. When Jeffrey turns his head that way, in his eyes is a streak of coldness that is remarkable in its intensity. I belive that my half brother is the grandson of ken rex McElroy my brother is the son of derome McElroy. She just knew him mostly as her dad and not all the other stuff. I am the Granddaughter of Richard Stratton (my mother is Vickie). LOL. BILLIONS of people on this planet are poor and they dont do what that thug did. Although, I understand the towns feeling about her as well. I would have loved to part of that neighborhood watch lol. How about the guy Red that ran the bar when Ken was shot? The Bowenkemps, the Strattons, the Preachers family and probably countless others? While I was familiar with his story before, I probably forget that he had had children. But they feared theyd have to pay you maybe. While she contributed to whatever Ken did, she posed no threat individually. . Im happy she found happiness afterward. I really enjoyed this book so much so, that I just read it a 2nd time! He raped McCloud repeatedly. I know easy for me to say I wasnt there. I also believe someone knew the killer/killers, but as long as its bin since the killing, I kind of doubt anyone will ever come forward as to ever get a conviction in the case. I havent been able to find an address for Ken McElroys house that was burned. He wasnt nearly as mean as portrayed in the movie. In her defense, however, she may have been suffering from Stockholm Symdrome that caused her to love him so much. Whenever someone threatened me I him in the mouth. Congratulations should have been in order after they delivered her from his wicked grasp. The movie was never released on DVD. So before you believe anything you might want to get all the facts. Glad to hear she moved on to a happy life, sorry she died so cruelly. The fact that 45+ people didnt see anything tells me that there was no choice in the matter. She made that choice of her own. When you grow up like that, I really do believe that it stunts your empathy. If she was suing to provide for his children, did she give the other Mothers some of the money? Does no one stand up to him? "[13], McElroy was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in St. Joseph, Missouri. [3] McElroy was acquitted. Good riddance to both of them. 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. Henry was forced to admit in court, under questioning by McElroy's attorney Richard Gene McFadin, that he had concealed his own petty criminal conviction from more than 30 years previous. I felt sorry for Trena to a certain extent. NO BREAKS ON THIS ONE !!!! It was Valley Road at the time. Agreed. I am not sure how I even ran across it, but it caught my interest and I started researching it. It had to be difficult walking the tight rope, during research obtaining information from pertinent people, while trying your best to remain impartial. I spent many summers at my grandparents farm in Winigan, MO. I havent followed the Branson case that closely, but I know the crime hasnt been solved. The Vigilante Killing of Ken Rex McElroy Things happen in small town America, but 1 in a million catch the attention of the media so it seems like an isolated incident. But to actually drive it.knowing someone died in the seat. I believe the townsfolk honestly had no choice. I think the shooters, or the man who pulled her out of the truck anyway, had a sense that killing a woman would do them no good, in fact would lose them the moral high ground. Even the worst people can sometimes act pleasantly. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. I live in Lawrence, Kansas which is about 90 miles from Skidmore, Missouri. 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. Its interesting to learn more about the kids and how they grew up. City Confidential pissed me off because all of the info in the show came from my book and they failed to credit it. Lori met her and they have corresponded off and on over the years. The sleeziest lawyer can only do so much for a thug if the judges and prosecutors are doing hat they should. He would come to a bar called Blues Brew Town carrying a gun and the bar would empty out.