Ken Rex McElroy Terrorized His Town and Paid the Fatal Price in Skidmore Missouri

For years, the small farming town of Skidmore, Missouri, lived in fear of one man: Ken Rex McElroy. McElroy was the town bully, a man known for his violent temper, intimidation tactics, and repeated run-ins with the law. Born in 1934, McElroy quickly earned a reputation as a troublemaker, dropping out of school early and becoming involved in petty crime. Over the decades, his offenses escalated, and he became known for theft, assault, and harassment. Despite being charged with over 20 felonies, McElroy managed to avoid significant jail time, often using threats, intimidation, and legal maneuvering to escape justice.

McElroy’s violent behavior was not limited to criminal activities. He was infamous for his manipulation of the legal system and his brazen defiance of law enforcement. With a network of fear in place, he frequently terrorized the residents of Skidmore, often intimidating witnesses to ensure they wouldn’t testify against him. The community felt powerless, with McElroy seemingly operating above the law. His reign of terror continued unchecked until a confrontation in 1980 sparked the chain of events that would lead to his death.

The Incident That Sparked the Town’s Anger

The final straw for the town came in 1980, when McElroy shot and severely wounded a local Skidmore shopkeeper named Ernest “Bo” Bowenkamp. The 70-year-old Bowenkamp owned a small grocery store in town and had a run-in with McElroy over a supposed dispute involving McElroy’s children being accused of shoplifting. McElroy, known for overreacting to even the smallest grievances, took out his rifle and shot Bowenkamp in the neck while he was standing behind his truck.

Though Bowenkamp survived the shooting, the town was outraged. The incident highlighted just how dangerous McElroy had become. Yet, even after this violent attack, McElroy remained free on bond pending an appeal. The townspeople knew that, as in the past, McElroy would likely escape serious punishment and return to continue his reign of terror. Frustration and fear simmered beneath the surface as it became clear that the legal system would once again fail them.

The Morning of July 10, 1981

Tensions reached their peak on the morning of July 10, 1981. After attending a court hearing regarding the Bowenkamp shooting, McElroy was released on bail. He wasted no time in heading to D&G Tavern, a local bar in Skidmore, with his wife, Trena, by his side. Inside the bar, word quickly spread that McElroy was back in town and acting as though nothing had changed. The people of Skidmore had “had enough”. A group of roughly 60 town residents gathered outside the tavern, determined to do something.

As McElroy emerged from the bar and climbed into his pickup truck, the tension in the air was palpable. McElroy lit a cigarette and sat in his vehicle while the crowd of townspeople watched in silence. Then, without warning, shots rang out. McElroy was struck multiple times by bullets from at least two different firearms, killing him instantly. In a matter of moments, the town bully was dead. Trena, sitting next to him in the truck, was unharmed but in shock.

A Town’s Silence: The Aftermath of the Killing

What followed the killing of Ken Rex McElroy is one of the most extraordinary aspects of the case. Despite the fact that dozens of people witnessed the shooting, no one in the crowd came forward to name the shooters. The town, which had lived under McElroy’s tyranny for years, collectively decided to remain silent. The investigators who arrived on the scene were met with a wall of silence. When questioned, residents were taciturn and said they “didn’t see anything” or “couldn’t tell” who fired the shots.

McElroy’s death was initially investigated as a homicide, but with no witnesses willing to testify and no one willing to step forward, the case quickly stalled. The authorities knew that many people had been present during the shooting, but without evidence or cooperation, they were unable to make any arrests. Even McElroy’s wife, Trena, who had witnessed the entire event, later changed her story and refused to identify the shooters.

Why the Town Stayed Quiet

To understand why no one in Skidmore was ever prosecuted for McElroy’s murder, it’s important to look at the deep sense of frustration and fear that had built up over the years. For decades, the people of Skidmore had felt powerless against McElroy’s relentless bullying and criminal activity. He had repeatedly manipulated the legal system, intimidated witnesses, and evaded justice. The townspeople had reached a breaking point, and when the legal system failed them once again after the Bowenkamp shooting, they took matters into their own hands.

There was a pervasive belief in Skidmore that if McElroy were allowed to walk free, the town would never be safe. His pattern of violence was well-known, and many feared he would eventually kill someone. The residents viewed his death not as a murder, but as a necessary act of self-preservation. In their eyes, they had no other choice.

The Legal Proceedings: A Dead-End Investigation

Despite the widespread silence, there were still efforts to investigate McElroy’s death. The FBI and Missouri State Highway Patrol became involved, hoping to break through the town’s code of silence. However, their investigations were met with resistance from the tight-knit community. No one in the town of Skidmore wanted to risk retaliation or be labeled as a “snitch.” Moreover, many residents felt that McElroy’s death had brought them peace and didn’t see a reason to reopen old wounds by cooperating with law enforcement.

The legal proceedings that did take place were limited and ultimately inconclusive. Trena McElroy, Ken Rex’s widow, initially attempted to pursue a civil lawsuit against the town and several of its residents. However, her case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. Without any witnesses willing to come forward and testify, both the criminal and civil cases surrounding McElroy’s death fizzled out. The investigation was eventually closed, and no one was ever charged in connection with the killing.

The Legacy of Ken Rex McElroy’s Death

The killing of Ken Rex McElroy remains one of America’s most notorious unsolved murders, not because of the mystery of who did it—many believe it was an open secret in Skidmore—but because of the way the entire town banded together in silence. The event is often cited as an example of vigilante justice, where an entire community took the law into its own hands after feeling abandoned by the legal system.

Over the years, the case has continued to capture the public’s imagination. Books, documentaries, and TV specials have explored McElroy’s life and the events leading up to his death, often examining the broader implications of vigilante justice in small-town America. For many, the case symbolizes the tipping point at which a community, after years of suffering at the hands of one man, collectively decided that enough was enough.

McElroy’s death brought a sense of relief to Skidmore, but it also left lingering questions about the nature of justice. Was the killing justified? Should the legal system have done more to protect the town before it reached that point? These questions, along with the enduring mystery of who fired the fatal shots, continue to be debated today.

The Town of Skidmore After McElroy

In the years following McElroy’s death, the town of Skidmore experienced a strange kind of quiet. The sense of fear that had dominated daily life dissipated, and many residents were relieved to finally be free of McElroy’s bullying presence. However, the town also found itself in the spotlight, with national attention focused on its collective silence and refusal to cooperate with the investigation.

For some residents, the notoriety surrounding McElroy’s death was unwelcome. Skidmore became a symbol of lawlessness and vigilantism, attracting media coverage and curious outsiders. The town’s residents, who had largely wanted to move on from the dark chapter of McElroy’s reign, were continually reminded of the event through books, articles, and interviews.

Nonetheless, the killing of Ken Rex McElroy remains a defining moment in Skidmore’s history. It is a story of how a small community, pushed to the brink by fear and intimidation, chose to take drastic action to protect itself when the legal system failed. And while the truth about who pulled the trigger that day may never be revealed, the legacy of the event is one that continues to resonate in discussions about justice, community, and the limits of the law.