The End Of Reason

The Chilling Justice of Ken Rex McElroy: Skidmore's Dark Chapter

• C.R Night • Season 1 • Episode 7

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What if an entire town took justice into its own hands? Join us on the End of Reason podcast as we unravel the shocking and controversial story of Ken Rex McElroy, a man whose reign of terror left the small town of Skidmore, Missouri, forever changed. From his troubled youth, marked by an abusive father, to his manipulative relationships and escalating criminal activities, McElroy's life was a relentless spiral of violence and fear. Hear the harrowing details of how he managed to evade justice at every turn, only to meet his end in a public, yet unanswered, act of vigilantism.

We'll explore the chilling events that led to McElroy's death, including his twisted marriage to Trina Louise McLeod McNeely, which he orchestrated to escape prosecution for his heinous crimes. Discover how a community, pushed to the brink by one man's unchecked brutality, ultimately took matters into their own hands. Tune in for an in-depth examination of McElroy's dark legacy and the lasting impact on the residents of Skidmore, who continue to live with the unresolved questions and eerie silence that followed his shocking demise.

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Speaker 1:

Before we begin today's episode, we want to provide a subject matter warning. This podcast delves into real-life crimes and their often graphic and disturbing details. Today's episode contains discussions of violence, murder and other sensitive topics that may not be suitable for all listeners. We understand that this content can be triggering or upsetting for some, and we urge you to consider your own well-being as you listen. With that said, let's proceed with today's case.

Speaker 1:

Skidmore, missouri, is a small rural town with a dark history that has made it infamous. With a population of fewer than 300 people, it might seem like an ordinary farming community. However, it gained notoriety in 1981 when Ken Rex McElroy, a local bully and suspected criminal, was shot to death in broad daylight in front of dozens of townspeople. Despite many witnesses, no one was ever charged with the crime, leading to a chilling silence that still haunts the town. Today. Skidmore's eerie reputation lingers as a place where justice took a shadowy, unsettling turn.

Speaker 1:

This is the End of Reason podcast. Today, we are looking at the case of Ken McElroy. To start, let's look back to the beginning. Kenneth Rex McElroy was born June 1st 1934, in Kansas, a state in the Midwestern United States known for its vast plains, agricultural roots and central role in American history. Often called the Sunflower State, it played a pivotal part in the lead-up to the Civil War, during the Bleeding Kansas period, when violent clashes erupted over the issue of slavery. Kansas is also known for its severe weather, including tornadoes, earning it a spot in Tornado.

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Alley McElroy is the 15th out of 16 kids born to Tony and Mabel McElroy. They made their living from farming but were never financially stable, so they moved around a lot before ending up in Skidmore. Mcelroy's troubled path began early, shaped by a harsh upbringing under his father, tony, who was notorious for his abusive ways. Tony didn't just inflict harm himself. He forced Ken to channel his rage toward helpless animals, twisting the boy's mind. By the time McElroy was 15, the darkness had fully taken hold. He dropped out of school and spiralled into a life of crime, carrying the scars of his father's cruelty with him.

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By this time, mcelroy was known for stealing alcohol, gasoline, antiques, grain and other livestock. He was also gaining the reputation of a womanizer. Yet he was married three times. Mcelroy was also a known paedophile. It wasn't uncommon to see him with girls as young as 12. It was at this age when McElroy started seeing his third wife, trina Louise McLeod McNeely. Mcelroy was 32 at the time. At one point, trina confided in her parents that McElroy had sexually assaulted her, leading to charges being filed against him. Facing the prospect of prison, mcelroy devised a twisted plan he proposed to Trina, knowing that marriage could shield him from prosecution. Trina, under pressure, reluctantly agreed. However, for the plan to work, her parents had to grant permission for their underage daughter to marry the man who had betrayed her trust. Initially, trina's parents refused McElroy's proposal, but their defiance came at a price Shortly after their dog was found shot and their home was reduced to ashes. Faced with the escalating violence, they reluctantly gave their consent. With that, mcelroy moved Trenner into his home alongside his second wife, solidifying his twisted control over both women. Alongside his second wife, solidifying his twisted control over both women. By the time, traynor was 14, she was pregnant with her first child and McElroy was 34.

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In 1974, mcelroy faced charges again, this time for assault, arson and statutory rape. With these new charges put forth, traynor was taken from the home and placed in foster care with her young child. But even with this, mcelroy would not stop. He would stalk Traynor, going as far as to ask the foster parents to trade a girl for a girl. It's believed that McElroy knew where the foster parent's biological daughter went to school. Believed that McElroy knew where the foster parent's biological daughter went to school. In 1976, a Skidmore farmer, romaine Henry, accused Ken McElroy of shooting him twice with a shotgun during a dispute. Yet no matter how often charges were brought against him, mcelroy always seemed to evade justice. Despite being charged more than 20 times, nothing ever stuck.

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Mcelroy's ability to stay out of jail was no accident. It was part of his ruthless strategy. He would threaten anyone who dared press charges or testify against him, often by sitting in his truck outside their homes, silently staring them down or making ominous remarks about burning their house to the ground. The townspeople of Skidmore were terrified of him, too frightened to stand up against the man who seemed untouchable. In 1980, a few of the McElroy children wandered into a grocery store owned by Skidmore locals Ernest Bow and Lois Bowenkamp. One of the kids grabbed some candy, prompting the clerk to ask if they intended to pay. The children ran out in tears, which brought their mother, trina, storming into the store. She confronted the owners and the clerk, warning them with a chilling remark you haven't met Ken Rex McElroy yet. You haven't met Ken Rex McElroy.

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Yet what followed was a campaign of terror. Ken Rex McElroy, a notorious bully, began stalking the Bowen camps, often parking outside their home, brandishing his gun at Bow and seizing every opportunity to instill fear. After months of relentless harassment, ken Rex McElroy escalated his terror campaign by shooting 70-year-old Beau Bowenkamp with a shotgun. Beau, critically wounded, was rushed to the hospital but managed to survive the attack. Mcelroy was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, but thanks to the piles of cash he had amassed from his illegal activities like livestock theft, he was quickly out on bail.

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The people of Skidmore, long tormented by McElroy's reign of terror, testified against him, hoping to finally rid themselves of the man who had earned the notorious title of the town bully. When McElroy was convicted of assault, the town breathed a collective sigh of relief, thinking they were finally free. But their relief was short-lived. Mcelroy was granted an appeal and allowed to post a $40,000 bond, leaving him free to roam Skidmore once again Defying court orders. He resumed stalking those who had dared to testify against him, openly carrying a gun as a menacing reminder of his power.

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On July 10th 1981, mcelroy was scheduled to appear in court once more, this time facing bond revocation for his continued defiance, the townspeople of Skidmore nearly every adult in town gathered at the Legion Hall to discuss their next move. Several residents were scheduled to testify against McElroy at his hearing, so they decided that a united convoy to and from the courthouse in a nearby town would offer the best protection. But their sense of dread deepened when they received word that the hearing had been postponed. Mcelroy, the man who had terrorised them for years, would remain free to haunt their lives a little longer. Fear for their families and their own safety consumed them. Fed up and desperate, the townspeople decided to form a neighbourhood watch, spurred on by the sheriff's suggestion. But soon after the sheriff left town, just as McElroy and his wife Traynor arrived, setting the stage for what would come next. He never bowed to anyone, traynor, mcelroy told the Associated Press.

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Later, determined to make a statement, ken insisted on driving into Skidmore and heading to the D&G Tavern, the town's only bar. As Ken and Trainer settled in for a few beers, the men from the Legion Hall poured into the bar. Their collective presence, a silent stand against the bully. The atmosphere grew tense as the townspeople against the bully. The atmosphere grew tense as the townspeople, united in their resolve, watched Ken and Traynor with unwavering intensity. The crowd followed them outside. When the couple eventually left the tavern and got into their pickup truck, surrounded by a sea of hostile faces and armed with an array of weapons, the standoff escalated quickly. Ken, armed with a shotgun and a bayonet, faced the gathering. The air crackled with tension before gunfire erupted.

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On July 10th 1981, ken Rex McElroy, 47, was killed while sitting in his pickup truck with his 24-year-old wife, traynor. After the shooting, traynor was pulled from the vehicle and escorted to the bank. The townspeople, having witnessed the aftermath, simply returned to their daily routines, leaving Ken's body in the truck with the accelerator pressed to the floor and the vehicle in park. During the investigation, no one admitted to knowing who had shot McElroy. Although police suspected that at least two people were involved, witnesses claimed to have seen nothing. Traynor alleged that the murder had been orchestrated by the townspeople at the Legion Hall and claimed to have identified the shooter. However, authorities believed the fatal shot had come from a different direction, casting doubt on her accusation. The case was presented to a grand jury, which ultimately decided there was insufficient evidence to indict anyone for the crime.

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Ken Rex McElroy's past was marred by troubling allegations. Traynor claimed he had raped her when she was a minor, but later retracted the accusation, saying it stemmed from jealousy of his then-wife. After divorcing his first wife, ken married Traynor, but his ex-wife continued to live with them and the family functioned in a manner reminiscent of a polygamous arrangement. Traynor remarked we had heard they were holding meetings around town before he even went to trial in Bethany. Ken's children struggled to comprehend the hatred directed at their father. His daughter, tammy, expressed confusion and sorrow, stating all my life they've blamed him for everything. He was the best father anyone could have. I worshipped the ground he walked on. In the documentary no One Saw a Thing. Ken's children appeared on screen visibly mourning their father. Saw a thing Ken's children appeared on screen visibly mourning their father. They acknowledged occasional visible injuries on Traynor and Alice but denied witnessing any abuse in their home. Despite no arrests being made in the case, trenna McElroy filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the man she accused of killing her husband, as well as against the town of Skidmore, nodaway County, the sheriff and the mayor, initially seeking $5 million in damages. Traynor ultimately settled for $17,600. The defendants denied any wrongdoing but stated that the settlement was made to avoid a costly legal battle. Following the settlement, traynor relocated with her children, leaving Skidmore behind.

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In 1982, the home once occupied by Ken and his family was destroyed by fire. The blaze went unreported and authorities declared that no investigation would be conducted since there were no complaints or requests for assistance. The house was vacant at the time of the fire. Some volunteer firemen responded to the scene, but the Skidmore Fire Department did not. They claimed ignorance of the fire and stated that it was outside their jurisdiction as the house was beyond the city limits. If no complaint is issued on a fire such as that, we don't do anything about it. We have fires around here all the time. People burn sheds, trailers and weeds. If we responded to every fire in Nodoway County, we'd be busy, constantly, explained Sheriff Deputy Jill Hogue.

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The Wild West aspects of this case captured national attention, inspiring a best-selling novel, a television movie and, more recently, the A&E documentary no One Saw a Thing. The documentary highlighted the brutal aftermath of the incident. Over the years, skidmore, missouri, continued to decline, with the population falling to 284 by 2000. Decline with the population falling to 284 by 2000. To this day, no one has been arrested or formally charged in Ken Rex McElroy's murder, while several individuals are believed to know the identities of the shooters. None have come forward. Some speculate that witnesses remain silent out of fear of retribution from the townspeople. The documentary suggests that those responsible for McElroy's death may have all passed away in the 40 years since the crime, but the violence in Skidmore persisted long after Ken Wreck's McElroy's death.

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On October 16th 2000, greg Dragoo brutally attacked and strangled his girlfriend, wendy Gillenwater. Dragoo had a long history of abusing Wendy, a fact that seemed to be overlooked in Skidmore. On the day of her death, he subjected her to a horrific ordeal, beating her savagely, tying her to his truck and dragging her along the road. Wendy was found lifeless in her yard following the brutal assault. Dragoo was subsequently convicted of her murder and sentenced to life in prison, where he remains to this day.

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On April 11, 2001, branson Perry vanished from Skidmore, missouri. His grandmother arrived at his house to find it unlocked and Branson missing. Extensive ground searches failed to locate him. At the time of his disappearance, branson was 20 years old and has never been found. His friend reported that Branson's last words were about retrieving jumper cables from a shed, but he never returned to the house. Despite numerous tips and searches, branson's fate remains unknown and he is presumed dead. There are speculations that he may have been involved with methamphetamines and had potentially dangerous knowledge, but no charges have been filed. In August 2022, nodoway County Sheriff Randy Strong revealed that while they had a suspect, there was insufficient evidence to make an arrest.

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One of the most brutal crimes in Skidmore, missouri's history was the murder of Bobbie Jo Stinnett, a 23-year-old mother-to-be. Bobbie Jo was killed in her home on December 16, 2004, by an online acquaintance. Her uterus was cut open and her baby daughter was abducted. The perpetrator, Lisa Montgomery from Kansas, was quickly identified. Lisa had faked a pregnancy and killed Bobby Joe to steal her baby. Convicted in federal court due to the kidnapping, lisa was sentenced to death. The US government executed her in January 2021, just days before the end of the Trump administration.

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Is Skidmore Missouri cursed? If Ken Rex McElroy was the problem, why did the violence not end with his death? Some believe the town is facing its own reckoning for the conspiracy and obstruction of justice surrounding McElroy's case. Others argue that McElroy's killing was an act of justified vigilante justice after years of terror and ineffective legal support. Years of terror and ineffective legal support. Northwestern Missouri has a history of crime dating back to the infamous outlaw Jesse James, who was killed in the region Before his death. Many locals sheltered Jesse James and his gang. One thing is certain Skidmore was never the same after that fateful day in July 1981. Thank you for joining us on this journey through the shadows of humanity. On the End of Reason podcast. As we conclude today's episode, remember that the pursuit of truth never truly ends. Until next time, stay vigilant, stay curious and never let go of reason.