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The shadows of Skidmore, Missouri run deeper than most people realize. Following the infamous vigilante killing of town bully Ken Rex McElroy, a disturbing pattern emerged as three devastating tragedies struck the same family in this tiny rural community between 2000 and 2004.

We begin with Wendy Gillenwater, a young woman trapped in the cycle of domestic violence and methamphetamine addiction. Her boyfriend Greg Dragoo's controlling behavior escalated to unimaginable violence, culminating in a brutal assault that took her life in October 2000. Though Dragoo was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment, this conviction marked only the beginning of the family's suffering.

Just months later, Wendy's cousin Branson Perry vanished without a trace. Last seen walking to return jumper cables to his shed, the 20-year-old disappeared in broad daylight, leaving behind all personal belongings including his wallet. What started as a missing person case soon revealed disturbing connections to the local drug scene, with witnesses placing Branson at a house that suspiciously burned down days after he went missing—before he was even reported absent.

The investigation took a bizarre turn when Jack Wayne Rogers, arrested for child pornography in 2003, was discovered to have described picking up and murdering a hitchhiker matching Branson's description in graphic online chats. Despite this disturbing lead, authorities believe the truth lies closer to home, with approximately nine individuals from the community likely involved in Branson's disappearance.

Twenty years later, the case remains unsolved. Multiple searches spanning wells, ponds, and abandoned structures across several counties have yielded no concrete evidence. Perhaps most heartbreakingly, Branson's closest family members—his father, mother, and grandmother—have all passed away without the closure they desperately sought.

Join me as we unravel these interconnected mysteries and explore how one family paid the ultimate price for a small town's culture of silence. What secrets still lurk beneath Skidmore's surface? Subscribe now to hear the conclusion of this three-part investigation into a community haunted by its past.

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