I learned today that Trena McElroy, Ken McElroy’s former wife, died on January 28, 2012. She lived in Conway, Missouri, and apparently died of cancer. Although Trena rode with McElroy at the end, she was victimized by him at age 12. I always felt very sorry for her. She remarried in 1983, and, from what I know, lived a fairly happy life. I will find a picture of her and post.
So she has died? Whatever happened to the children of ken McElroy?
They’re scattered about. Some in Nodaway County, some in southwestern Missouri, and others in faraway places like Pennsylvania.
hi, Harry.
Shocked that trena passed on, her updated pic shows ahappy woman, you mentioned some of the kids are in Pa? Do you know where abouts? I live in Pa in Philadelphia..
Thank you for updating this story…
One of the kids I think–but I’m not sure–is in Philly.
Trena was my grandmother, she died on January 24th, her 55th birthday, not the 28th…. I saw this while browsing and just couldn’t not comment. She was a wonderful, amazing, caring woman. She did not let her past define her. As for the question on where her children live, esp the one in Pennsylvania? Why?? This is something my family especially my Grandma and the 3 children she had with that monster don’t want to remember or think about. She moved on to have a wonderful life, A man who worshiped the ground she walked on for nearly 30 years, 5 more girls who called her Mom and so many grandchildren and great grandchildren than I can even rack up in my brain. She finally got the life she always deserved!!! It saddens me though that you only know(write about) the GIRL she was, not the WOMAN she became, she was loved by so many and left this world much much to early!!!!!
Whatever happened to Ken’s truck that they shot him in?
As I understand it, the insurance company had it repaired and sold. It would be worth something to day.
I believe the engine in the truck seized up because Mr. McElroy’s foot was on the accelerator and no one moved his foot or even shut off the engine. It was probably held as evidence and then junked
The insurance company took it back, after a body shop in Maryville fixed it up. Think what you could get for it on e-bay.
Harry
Obit with photo of Trena Louise McNeeley McElroy Williams, 1957-2012. Other than listing hers and Ken’s children among her survivors, it is her husband of almost 3 decades, Howard, and her longtime residence in Lebanon, MO, which are mentioned in the obituary.
http://www.holmanhowe.com/sitemaker/sites/Holman1/obit.cgi?user=559576WilliamsLebanon#.TyhZNgTT0J0.facebook
this link is broken. I just re-read In Broad Daylight and would like to visit Skidmore (I live in KCMO), and also would like to see a pic of Trena that wasn’t with Ken.
There is a photo of Trena with Alice in the book, and an obituary photo of Trena in an earlier post on this blog. I’m glad you liked the book.
Is Steve Peter still around Skidmore, & if so what is he doing now days? How about the guy Red that ran the bar when Ken was shot?
Red died several years ago, and Steve Peters and his wife divorced and Steve moved to St. Joe, where he is working for an engineering company.
I read the first book, In Broad Daylight. I also believe someone knew the killer/killers, but as long as it’s bin since the killing, I kind of doubt anyone will ever come forward as to ever get a conviction in the case. It will probably remain unsolved.
I agree — the crime will go unpunished.
But Ken may have done wrong, but he was a human being too, & looks like someone who knew something would have had the heart to come forward to help out in the matter. For the kids sake anyway.
Ken may have done wrong is quite an understatement. You have to remember people were terrorized and held captive in their own town. Law enforcement and the legal system failed. The fact that 45+ people didn’t see anything tells me that there was no choice in the matter. I don’t believe any of those people are murderers or bad people, they truly felt that was their only choice. You’d protect your family same as they had to protect theirs. I’m sure the only regret those 45+ people have is that they didn’t do it sooner. On paper, a crime was committed, but justice was nonetheless served.
Yours is definitely the majority view, and one that I share. People who judge the town harshly don’t understand what it went through.
Were you ever able to make any connection between McElroy and the town of Peculiar, MO?
No, as a matter of fact I don’t think I”ve heard the name before. Did he run around there?
Harry
I feel some pity for this woman,but none for the criminal who got his just deserts.
The fact that she was victimized and obviously traumatized at a very early age was truly heinous. However, she had her opportunities to disappear or move on on numerous occasions and she didn’t take it. Instead, she contributed to Ken’s thievery, bullying, harassment, and assaults. At a certain point, she has to be held responsible for those actions. It was amazing the town folk found the restraint not to grant her Ken’s fate.
I think the shooters, or the man who pulled her out of the truck anyway, had a sense that killing a woman would do them no good, in fact would lose them the moral high ground. I think the Stockholm syndrome applies in her case.
I understand that was probably the case. The more I think about it, the more I believe the shooters/townspeople believed Trena wasn’t the problem. While she contributed to whatever Ken did, she posed no threat individually. Killing her wouldn’t have made anyone safer, but would’ve made the townspeople murderers in their own eyes. Killing Ken was justified and was a necessity.
I don’t have any sympathy for Trena, however. She was a girl who became corrupted and was abused, no doubt. She doesn’t get a free pass because of it.
Here is Trena’s obituary and photo.
Is Richard Stratton still living & living in Kansas City, & how bout Dave Dunbar? What did they ever do with the lot were Ken’s house was? And is Timmy McElroy still around? How’s Kriss Goslee?
Richard Stratton is still alive and kicking. He was elected sheriff in a neighboring country for several terms after retiring from the state patrol, and I heard recently that he was head of the state fair, although I didn’t verify this. Dunbar lives in Marvyille with his girl friend Bobbie. They operate a gourmet traveling food stand. The lot where Ken’s house once was still stands empty, although there is a trailer in the woods behind it. Tim McElroy still lives down the road and still works in a pizza parlor in a town not far away. Kriss lives in Skidmore.
You know Harry, some day I would really like to meet you, shake your hand & get your autograph. You seem to be a good guy. But I live in eastern NC & kind of doubt I’ll ever get out to Colorado. I wish I was able to go to Skidmore & to Ken’sgrave to visit
I agree. My mom bought the book back in the 80′s when I was a kid, and I read it for the first time in high school. It’s so well written, or maybe since I’m from Missouri, I can totally see the scenes that are described in the book. It’s just fascinating.
Oh- are we going to relegate Trena to Sainthood? She was cruel and her actions can not be disregarded. Obviously neither of them ever heard of the Golden Rule….
harry my name is sam lewis. i lived in mound city from 1978 to 1996. i heard about the story when i was old enough to understand. ken was shoot on my forth birthday. i knew some of his family and the people in the book. the odd thing is sence june of ’96 i have lived in lebanon mo. ive done alot of surching on the story lately and am sorry to hear that trena passed. i feel sorry for all the women he terrorized for all the years. i know that the town never had any intent in shooting trena. they knew what she had to deal with and she only did those things becouse she had to. i am happy that she did get to move on and live a happy life. im sorry that some people dont have sympathy for trena. only if you are from that area could you understand what happened.
Thanks for the comment. I agree your feelings toward Trena–she really was grabbed at a very young age, and no one really stuck up for her, certainly not her parents–but I know others in the area aren’t so forgiving.