Skidmore, Missouri – 1980
By the summer of 1980, Ken Rex McElroy’s grip on Skidmore was no longer just psychological—it was physical. His threats had escalated into violence, and the town’s patience was wearing thin. The incident that finally pierced the veil of silence began with something small: a child caught shoplifting.
🛒 The Confrontation at the Grocery Store
Bo Bowenkamp and his wife Lois, ran a modest general store in Skidmore. One day, a clerk noticed McElroy’s daughter pocketing candy without paying. The clerk didn’t call the police—she simply asked the child to return the item. But McElroy saw it as a personal attack.
He began stalking the Bowenkamps. He parked outside their store for hours. He threatened Bo repeatedly. And then, on a quiet morning, McElroy pulled up in his pickup truck, raised a shotgun, and shot Bo Bowenkamp in the neck.
Miraculously, Bo survived. However, the message was clear: even the slightest provocation could spark deadly retaliation.
🧨 Justice Denied, Again
McElroy was arrested and charged with attempted murder. But the trial was delayed. Witnesses were intimidated. Rumors swirled that McElroy had bribed jurors or manipulated the system yet again.
When the case finally went to court, McElroy was convicted—not of attempted murder, but of second-degree assault. He was sentenced to two years in prison. Then came the twist: he was released on bail pending appeal.
He returned to Skidmore, smug and armed. He began openly carrying a rifle in his truck, parked outside the Bowenkamp store, daring anyone to challenge him.
🧠 The Town’s Breaking Point
This wasn’t just about Bo anymore. It was about every resident who had been threatened, stalked, or silenced. McElroy’s return was a slap in the face to the entire town—a reminder that the law had failed them.
At a community meeting held in the Legion Hall, residents gathered to discuss potential solutions. The mood was tense. No one spoke of violence directly. But the fear had curdled into something else: resolve.
🕯️ Tone and Takeaway
The Bowenkamp shooting wasn’t just an act of violence—it was a catalyst. It exposed the limits of the legal system and the depth of Skidmore’s trauma. Part Two marks the moment when fear began to shift into collective action.
Next Up: Part Three – The Killing in Broad Daylight We’ll walk through the day McElroy was shot in front of dozens of witnesses—and why no one ever spoke up.
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