Ken McElroy

American criminal and murder victim

Ken Rex McElroy (June 1, 1934 – July 10, 1981) was an American criminal from Skidmore, Missouri. He was known as "the town bully".[1] His unsolved killing became the focus of international attention.

McElroy was accused of dozens of felonies, including assault, child molestation, statutory rape, arson, hog and cattle rustling, and burglary.[2]

He was indicted 21 times but escaped conviction each time, except for the last.[2][3] In 1981, McElroy was convicted of shooting and seriously injuring the town's 70-year-old grocer, Ernest "Bo" Bowenkamp.

On July 10, 1981, McElroy was shot to death in broad daylight as he sat with his wife Trena in his pickup truck on Skidmore's main street.[2] He was struck by bullets from at least two different firearms, in front of a crowd of people estimated as between 30 and 46.[1] To date, no one has been charged in connection with McElroy's death.[1]

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bradley, Donald. "3 decades on, who killed Skidmore town bully still secret". Mcclatchydc.com. Archived from the original on 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Ken McElroy Murderer, rapist and consummate intimidator". Trutv.com. 1981-07-10. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  3. Harry N. MacLean, In Broad Daylight. NY: Harper & Row, 1988.