Chowcilla California lays in Madera County with a population of 18,270. It’s name is derived from Native American tribe known as the Chaushila, a Yokut tribe. It is said that the name translates to “murderers” which is a reference to the warlike nature of the tribe. Other then it’s intereting name there is not much to be said about the little town, but in 1976 something did happen that would put Chowcilla on the map.

WikiPedia article about Chowchilla, California

WikiPedia article about 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping

www.latimes.com/visuals/photography/la-me-fw-archives-the-1976-chowchilla-bus-kidnapping-20190709-htmlstory.html

www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2011-apr-03-la-me-chowchilla-kidnapping-20110404-story.html

Skidmore is indeed a small town, with only a population of 284. The local St. Oswald’s Protestant Epicopal Church is on is on the National Register of Historic Places. The town held a yearly “Punkin’ Show” up until 2004. It’s not the Punkin’ Show or the historical church people whisper about when they talk about Skidmore, it’s the shooting of former town bully Kennith Rex Mcelory. As you well see this story is the epitome of a small town secret. 

WikiPedia article about Skidmore, Missouri

WikiPedia article about Ken McElroy

www.bustle.com/p/13-things-about-ken-mcelroys-shooting-you-need-to-know-before-watching-no-one-saw-a-thing-18497585

YouTube video (tZktTdGHaJY). Buzzfeed Unsolved The Strange Killing of Ken Rex McElory”

morbidology.com/the-town-that-got-away-with-murder/

Local Headlines

www.coasttocoastam.com/article/watch-fleet-of-ufos-caught-on-film

www.cnet.com/news/mysterious-fireball-that-crashed-and-burned-wasnt-a-meteor/

www.mcdowellnews.com/news/bigfoot-posts-photos-of-strange-figure-at-lake-james/article_75933f40-e533-11e9-9342-c333d513abb0.html

Listener Stories

www.weirdca.com/location.php?location=482

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/accidental-death-of-picked-on-teen-stirs-peers-remorse/article4149177/

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