How a Small Town Took Out the Town Bully And Covered It Up for 30 Years | Unexplained

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How a Small Town Took Out the Town Bully And Covered It Up for 30 Years

In July 1981, the small town of Skidmore, Missouri, witnessed a shocking event that would remain shrouded in mystery for decades. Ken Rex McElroy, a notorious bully and criminal, was murdered in broad daylight, yet no…

March 10, 2025 • 3 min read • Art Grindstone

Art Grindstone is the hard-nosed storyteller behind Unexplained.co, a veteran investigator whose life’s work sits at the crossroads of the paranormal, fringe science, and the shadows most people try not to look into. With decades spent chasing impossible stories — black-budget psychic programs, vanished Cold War experiments, desert rituals that sparked UFO waves, and the strange phenomena buried in America’s forgotten backroads — Art brings a rare combination of skepticism, awe, and journalistic precision. He’s not here to debunk. He’s not here to blindly believe. He follows the evidence wherever it leads — even when it leads someplace deeply uncomfortable. Known for his immersive, cinematic style and his ability to turn obscure research into gripping narrative, Art has built a devoted following across podcasts, long-form features, documentaries, and serialized investigations. His interviews are direct. His analysis is unflinching. His voice has become a staple in the modern paranormal renaissance — the guy people turn to when a story is too strange, too complex, or too dangerous for anyone else to touch. Off-mic, Art works with a distributed network of researchers, archivists, and field operatives who help surface the stories mainstream media ignores. On-mic, he transforms their findings into meticulous, high-impact reporting that refuses to insult the intelligence of true believers. His philosophy is simple: Take the phenomenon seriously. Treat the audience with respect. Tell the story as if the world depends on it — because sometimes it does. When Art Grindstone digs into a case, he isn’t just chasing a mystery. He’s tracing the fault lines of reality itself.

In This Report(9)

In July 1981, the small town of Skidmore, Missouri, witnessed a shocking event that would remain shrouded in mystery for decades. Ken Rex McElroy, a notorious bully and criminal, was murdered in broad daylight, yet no one came forward to identify the killers. This article explores the chilling story of how an entire community banded together to eliminate a common threat and kept the secret for 30 years.

Key Takeaways

Ken Rex McElroy was a notorious bully in Skidmore, Missouri.
He was involved in numerous criminal activities but avoided serious consequences.
His murder in 1981 was witnessed by many, yet no one spoke up.
The case remains unsolved, highlighting the complexities of community justice.

The Rise of Ken Rex McElroy

Ken Rex McElroy was born in 1934 to a family of poor migrant farmers. By the age of 15, he had dropped out of school and quickly gained a reputation as a troublemaker. He was involved in cattle rustling and petty theft, stealing everything from alcohol to livestock. Despite numerous accusations, McElroy managed to evade convictions, often using intimidation tactics against those who dared to speak out.

A Troubling Relationship

McElroy’s life took a dark turn when he met Trena McCloud, who was only 12 years old at the time. Their relationship was marked by coercion and fear. McElroy would follow her school bus, demanding that the driver let him take her. Trena gave birth to their first child when she was just 14, and McElroy’s violent tendencies escalated. He even threatened Trena’s family, leading to a series of legal troubles that he ultimately avoided through manipulation.

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A Pattern of Violence

Throughout his life, McElroy was indicted 21 times for various offenses, including assault and statutory rape. His ability to intimidate witnesses and evade justice made him a local terror. One notable incident involved McElroy shooting a farmer named Romaine Henry, who had confronted him about firing guns on his property. Despite the evidence, McElroy was acquitted, further emboldening him.

The Breaking Point

The tipping point came in 1980 when McElroy’s daughter was accused of stealing candy from a local store. In a bizarre twist, McElroy confronted the store owner, Ernest “Bo” Bowenkamp, and even offered to pay Bowenkamp’s wife to fight his own wife. This led to escalating tensions, culminating in McElroy shooting Bowenkamp in the neck. Although he was charged with attempted murder, he was only convicted of assault and released on bail.