Timeline of Events
June 16th, 1934: Ken Rex McElroy is born to Mabel and Tony McElroy, the thirteenth out of fourteen children.
1952: Ken McElroy marries his first wife Oleta. Ken was 18 and Oleta was 16. The couple then moved to Colorado.
1955 or 56: Ken and Oleta McElroy move back to Missouri after Ken's accident in Colorado. They settle in Skidmore.
1960: Ken moves his young girlfriend Sally into his house with Sharon. Both Sally and Sharon begin having Ken's children.
1969 or 1970: Ken McElroy becomes involved with a young girl named Trena McCloud
June 12th, 1973: After continuing his involvement with Trena McCloud, Ken McElroy burns down Trena's parents' house.
April 25th, 1980: A few of Ken's children go to the local grocery store and is accused of stealing by Mrs. Bowenkamp. Ken McElroy issues threats against the Bowenkamp family.
August 18th, 1980: Ken's preliminary trial begins.
June 25th, 1981: McElroy returns to Skidmore out on bail until an appeal hearing.
July 1981: During the 1st week of July it was announced that there would be a delay in McElroy's bond hearing. The people of Skidmore were becoming more and more frustrated with the failures to protect them in the justice system.
July 10th, 1981: The townspeople gather around Ken's truck once he and Trena exit the bar. 1 or 2 men (unclear) took guns and shot Ken Rex McElroy dead in his truck. Trena dove from the truck and was taken to safety.
1948: Approximately the time when Ken begins his small thefts as a young teenager.
1954: While working for his sister's husband in construction, McElroy suffers a traumatic head injury that leaves him with lifelong pain. Some people have attributed his strange behavior with this event.
1958: Ken McElroy becomes involved with a young woman named Sharon. He divorces Oleta and marries Sharon to get out of a charge of assault after shooting Sharon during an argument.
1964: Ken meets another girlfriend named Alice Wood. He leaves Sharon to move in with Alice. After Sally had had three kids, Ken kicks her out of the house.
April 10th, 1972: After Alice runs away with their son, Ken McElroy gets into an altercation with Alice's stepfather and shoots him. Alice and Ken eventually separate.
October 20th, 1974: Ken McElroy marries Trena McCloud to get out of a statutory rape charge with Trena.
July 8th, 1980: The Bowenkamps filed a legal proceeding against Ken McElroy after the incident in their store. Ken stalks the family afterwards, and on the 8th, Ken shoots Bo Bowenkamp. Ken is later charged and arrested.
June 25th, 1981: Ken McElroy is sentenced to two years in jail.
June 29th, 1981: McElroy enters a bar with an illegal firearm, due to him being out on bail. He begins to rant about how he is going to ruin Bo Bowenkamp. A bond hearing was ordered.
July 10th, 1981: The Townspeople gather in the Legion to discuss what should be done about Ken McElroy. When the news that Ken and Trena went to the local bar that evening, everyone got up and made their way over.
September 2nd, 1982: Keven though there were over sixty witnesses, no one came forward to name the shooter. No one was charged, and the FBI closed the case.
The Vigilante murder of Ken Rex McElroy still remains a mystery today. Everyone involved continues to keep the secret and gives no answers. More awful crimes have taken place in the small town. There has been books written, movies, documentaries and more made about the killing. If you were to go to Skidmore today, there isn't much to see. Many buildings are closed and falling apart. The noted sites in the story are gone or boarded up. It's hard to believe that this small town was once a bustling community. The people of the town keep their heads down and prefer to not speak about the incident.
Main Street of Skidmore
Closed down gas station
Skidmore MO
Pictures by Jennifer Partridge