KY CRYSTAL ROGERS: Missing from Bardstown, KY - 3 July 2015 - Age 35 *ARREST*

Parents of Missing Kentucky Woman Crystal Rogers Suspect Foul Play

The parents of a Kentucky woman last seen 10 days ago suspect foul play in her disappearance.

abcnews.go.com

The parents of a Kentucky woman last seen 10 days ago suspect foul play in her disappearance.

Crystal Rogers, 35, a mother of five, was last seen by her live-in boyfriend, Brooks Houck, on July 3, according to the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office.

Houck has said he had nothing to with Rogers’ disappearance. He has been extremely cooperative with investigators, police said, and he took a polygraph test.

Officer fired after 'tampering with brother's missing girlfriend case'

Mother-of-five Crystal Rogers, 35, was last seen on July 3. Her boyfriend Brooks Houck is the only suspect. His brother Nick was fired from the Bardstown Police Department.

www.dailymail.co.uk

A Kentucky police officer has been fired for allegedly tampering with an investigation regarding the missing girlfriend of his brother, who has just been named the only suspect in her disappearance.

Crystal Rogers, 35, has been missing since July 3. Her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, has claimed the last time he saw the mother of five was the night before, playing games on her phone.

The only clue in Rogers disappearance was her maroon Chevy Impala, which was found unlocked and with a flat tire on Bluegrass Parkway on Saturday.

Inside were her keys, purse and uncharged phone.

edited by staff to add media link

CRYSTAL ROGERS has been missing from Bardstown, #KENTUCKY since 3 July 2015 - Age 35

Crystal, a mother of five, was last seen by her live-in boyfriend, Brooks Houck, on July 3, according to the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office. Houck has said he had nothing to with Rogers’ disappearance. He has been extremely cooperative with...

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Crystal Rogers Case: Latest on where the death investigation stands

The three men charged in Crystal Rogers’ death will face juries in two different trials in Bowling Green later this year.

www.whas11.com

Crystal Rogers Case: Latest on where the death investigation stands​

2025 marks ten years since Crystal Rogers, a mother of five from Bardstown, was first reported missing.

Now, her family and community are hopeful this is the year they finally see justice with three men facing charges and two trials scheduled.


Steve Lawson will be the first man tried in Rogers' death. His trial will be at the Warren County Justice Center in late spring.

Steve Lawson's trial has been separated from that of his son and employer because of what the judge calls “undue prejudice” against Houck and Joseph Lawson, if the three were tried together.

Steve Lawson's trial date is scheduled for May 27, 2025 at 9 a.m.


Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson will be tried together in one trial, a month after Steven Lawson. That trial will also be held at the Warren County Justice Center in Bowling Green.

Both attorneys for Houck and Joseph Lawson requested separate trials, but the judge denied their request.

The combined trial for Houck and Joseph Lawson is scheduled for June 25, 2025 at 9 a.m.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Bring them on.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Judge denies request to delay trial in Crystal Rogers case

Lawson is one of three men expected to stand trial in connection with Rogers’ disappearance and murder.

www.wbko.com

Judge denies request to delay trial in Crystal Rogers case​

Attorneys for one of the men charged in connection with the death of Bardstown mother Crystal Rogers made another attempt Thursday to delay his upcoming trial, set to begin in May in Warren County.

Judge Charles Simms had previously pushed back Joseph Lawson’s trial from Feb. 11 to May 27 and moved the venue from Nelson County, where the alleged crimes occurred, to Warren County.

According to WBKO’s ABC affiliate in Louisville, Lawson’s status hearing lasted less than 10 minutes. Judge Simms denied his legal team’s request for another delay.


Prosecutors and the FBI reportedly turned over several terabytes of evidence in the case. Lawson’s attorneys argued that the large volume of material left them without enough time to properly review it before trial.

According to WHAS11, Judge Simms told Lawson’s attorneys he could have Lawson transported to the courthouse every day between now and the trial’s start “if that’s what it takes.”

Brooks Houck, who faces charges of murder and tampering with physical evidence, and Joseph Lawson, charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence, are expected to stand trial together in Warren County beginning June 24.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Good! Fairly rare a judge denies a defense request for more time. They should do so more often.

 

[Kimster]

Yes! Let’s get going on this trial. The family has waited long enough.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Yes! Let’s get going on this trial. The family has waited long enough.

You got that right!! It's past time.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I haven't had a chance to watch it but The Docket has some document from this case a day or so ago. Not representing anything just letting people know, he is known for getting the actual legal filings or paperwork. I have no idea what it is about. He also has had something on Donna Adelson. A lot going on in a lot of cases at a time that i can't keep up so just mentioning.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Looks like this trial may get pushed back after all... Still untested evidence after a decade.

Crystal Rogers case: Judge orders new DNA testing for hairs found in missing woman's car

Nelson County Judge Charles Simms has ordered two hairs found in Crystal Rogers' abandoned vehicle be tested for DNA evidence.

www.whas11.com

Crystal Rogers case: Judge orders new DNA testing for hairs found in missing woman's car​

According to court documents filed in Brooks Houck's case, Kentucky State Police (KSP) told the Nelson County Commonwealth's Attorney in 2016 that two hairs discovered in Rogers' car could be subjected to DNA testing. That testing would result in the "consumption" of the hairs, however.

The hairs were collected by tapelifts, according to the document.

In that same letter, officials say an additional third hair was discovered at a different location and could be used as a possible avenue for mitochondrial DNA testing.

At that time, a judge ruled the FBI could test the third hair, but would need to maintain any DNA that was extracted for the purpose of "independent testing." At that time, the court did not allow testing on the first two hairs.

Nelson County Judge Charles Simms has now decided the two other hairs, discovered in Roger's car, will be tested by Bode Technologies for the purpose "obtaining a DNA profile." The prosecutor's office will pay for the test.

Rogers' vehicle has been named a key piece of evidence in the case since it was discovered on the Bluegrass Parkway. Family spotted the car days after her disappearance and alerted police.

The car was initially towed away as evidence but was eventually released back to family. Sherry Ballard, Rogers' mom, stored the vehicle in a storage facility for years until 2020, when the FBI took over the case and collected the vehicle.

2 hairs found in Crystal Rogers' car nearly a decade ago to be tested for DNA

Some hairs collected nearly a decade ago as evidence in the Crystal Rogers case will be tested as part of Brooks Houck's trial.

www.wlky.com

2 hairs found in Crystal Rogers' car nearly a decade ago to be tested for DNA​

A court order dated for Wednesday said two hairs collected from Rogers' vehicle after she was reported missing will get tested for DNA as part of Houck's trial.

The order was signed by all parties, the Nelson circuit court judge, special prosecutor, and Brian Butler, attorney for Houck.

According to the order, the hairs were identified by the Kentucky State Police Lab in 2016 as suitable for DNA testing, though testing would consume the samples.

The samples will be tested by Bode Technologies, and the state will cover the cost.

The order says this one follows another allowing the FBI to test a totally separate hair sample.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Hmm. Not that DNA isn't big, we all know it is, but it is sure front and center lately in a number of cases, along with private labs, new science on hairs, etc. We have heard before of one side being concerned or the other that something will be consumed in testing so they can't do their own testing after.

Interesting. I hope they get justice here. It's been a long time coming.