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

 

[Mel70]

They all do don't they these days? Or pretend they will all the way while dumbarse who thinks he would never go to prison still hopes he might not. Then it starts sinking in. Then they angle for a deal. And they go all the way if deal is not good enough although at last minute finally they realize some time might be better than what a conviction by a jury and sentencing might due OR they play the cards to the end.

THeir defense atty. starts out giving them hope and that they can prove their innocence but as time pases, then they start preparing them for well maybe even though you say you are innocent, they have this and maybe you should consider taking a few years and they play the defendant for their own drawn out pay. Etc., etc.

I'm kind of off track but yeah. Arrogant enough to go to trial. Who doesn't these days. We get so few guilty defendants that confess or give up a body because they actually don't like what they did and have true remorse but when there may be a rare one, let's think Allen with confessing all over the place, his attorneys I believe stopped or tried to turn around what he felt the NEED to do. Their big case, their fame, you name it. I honestly think that may be the case. There may be some good attorneys who believe in justice and representing their clients but boy oh boy I see it less and less. ALL an agenda for selves these days.

I hate the courtroom games and how far it has gotten. It isn't funny. Some family was devastated. There should be lines drawn on b.s. but even that has to be looked at.

Yeah I have a single day off in a ton and have a ton to do and just kind of talking generally on the whole subject.

I don't have time but even in Kohberge, there's talking heads saying his defense atty. agreeing to let the U demolish the home could end up in his being able to claim ineffective counsel !

But to come back to this case, NO there's no arrogance in this bunch is there...?

Yes. They do. The prosecution wants to make sure they have enough for conviction. As you know already. "Double Jeopardy".
And you can also only lose on "Jeopardy" Once. You're done on there too.

 

[Mel70]

Ya know if one didn't participate in murders one would't be in jail with high bond.

Apparently they need him from the wording for testifying or in cooperation with the trying of others.

I'd say he is safer in jail on that basis. There are enough people dead and justice has been a long time in coming... I couldn't find much on earlier and aws watching a video on this case and it refreshed a lot of it even though I know it fairly well.

Well I've rarely seen a defendant whose first move and that of their attorney is to ask for reduced bond. He deserves no special treatment and this is murder and personally I don't think murder merits home incarceration regardless of his health or any issues.

If you did it once, you can again, you have already crossed that line and the public is not safe.

I understand at this point he is charged and not convicted but it sounds as if he has cooperated and to me that means admitted guilt most likely. I also don't think he'd be safe from a certain defendant or family if out on bail.

Jmo though.

Yeah. Good point. Country justice. I do think they would have done it by now. But that doesn't mean he isn't a coward. From watching the documentary, They are positive of the people involved. They want to see the justice system do their jobs. Just the circumstantial evidence presented that I saw seemed obvious. So since LE is accused of being involved. Even as much as they would want to. It would be a very bad idea to carry out justice on their own. I really feel for the mother. Losing Crystal and her husband.

 

[Mel70]

How do you get immunity if you're innocent?

Exactly. Good point.

 

[Mel70]

Ya know if one didn't participate in murders one would't be in jail with high bond.

Apparently they need him from the wording for testifying or in cooperation with the trying of others.

I'd say he is safer in jail on that basis. There are enough people dead and justice has been a long time in coming... I couldn't find much on earlier and aws watching a video on this case and it refreshed a lot of it even though I know it fairly well.

Well I've rarely seen a defendant whose first move and that of their attorneyi is not to ask for reduced bond. He deserves no special treatment and this is murder and personally I don't think murder merits home incarceration regardless of his health or any issues.

If you did it once, you can again, you have already crossed that line and the public is not safe.

I understand at this point he is charged and not convicted but it sounds as if he has cooperated and to me that means admitted guilt most likely. I also don't think he'd be safe from a certain defendant or family if out on bail.

Jmo though.

Right. 10 Million. Parking tickets. That is one of the highest bails I've ever seen. Good luck with that. Can you buy "Powerball" Tickets from prison?.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/crime/article284042853.html

Judge lowers bond for suspect in Crystal Rogers murder case​

A Nelson County judge has reduced the bond for one of three men charged in the case of missing Bardstown mother Crystal Rogers.

Bond for Stephen Eugene Lawson, 53, of Chaplin, in Nelson County, has been reduced to $250,000, according to an order filed in Nelson Circuit Court Tuesday.

Lawson was indicted Dec. 6 on a charge of criminal conspiracy to commit murder, and his bond was set at $500,000, the order states. Lawson also was indicted last May on a charge of complicity to commit tampering with physical evidence, and his bond was set at $50,000. The order says both cases are related to Rogers’ disappearance.

He has pleaded not guilty. Lawson’s name is also spelled “Steven Lawson” in court records.

Lawson was being held Tuesday in the Nelson County Correctional Center, according to the jail’s website.

In deciding to lower Lawson’s bond, Circuit Judge Charles Simms III wrote that he “considered the gravity of the conspiracy to commit murder charge while recognizing that Lawson’s pretrial assessment indicates that he is a moderate risk of flight and a moderate risk to reoffend.”

He ordered that Lawson have a dusk to dawn curfew except for his job and medical or family emergencies. Lawson also was ordered not to have any contact with Rogers’ family or his co-defendants and prohibited from traveling outside the state.

 

[GrandmaBear]

https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/crime/article284042853.html

Judge lowers bond for suspect in Crystal Rogers murder case​

A Nelson County judge has reduced the bond for one of three men charged in the case of missing Bardstown mother Crystal Rogers.

Bond for Stephen Eugene Lawson, 53, of Chaplin, in Nelson County, has been reduced to $250,000, according to an order filed in Nelson Circuit Court Tuesday.

Lawson was indicted Dec. 6 on a charge of criminal conspiracy to commit murder, and his bond was set at $500,000, the order states. Lawson also was indicted last May on a charge of complicity to commit tampering with physical evidence, and his bond was set at $50,000. The order says both cases are related to Rogers’ disappearance.

He has pleaded not guilty. Lawson’s name is also spelled “Steven Lawson” in court records.

Lawson was being held Tuesday in the Nelson County Correctional Center, according to the jail’s website.

In deciding to lower Lawson’s bond, Circuit Judge Charles Simms III wrote that he “considered the gravity of the conspiracy to commit murder charge while recognizing that Lawson’s pretrial assessment indicates that he is a moderate risk of flight and a moderate risk to reoffend.”

He ordered that Lawson have a dusk to dawn curfew except for his job and medical or family emergencies. Lawson also was ordered not to have any contact with Rogers’ family or his co-defendants and prohibited from traveling outside the state.

A moderate risk to flee or reoffend? I take that as not a LOW risk but a medium risk. These charges relate to a MURDER, what is this judge thinking and then IF released or makes bond, no ankle bracelet?? And he can travel the entire state?

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Examining prosecuting all three Crystal Rogers suspects together

The prosecution wants to try all three of the men together but the defense says it may fight that.

www.wave3.com

By David Ochoa
Published: Feb. 8, 2024 at 11:54 PM EST
Updated: 7 hours ago

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - The three men accused of being involved in the murder of Crystal Rogers were in the same court room at the same time, and a trial date has been scheduled.

The date is set for nearly exactly a year from now on Feb. 10, 2025.

The prosecution wants to try all three of the men together, but the defense says it may fight that.

Brooks Houck’s lawyer Brian Butler says he plans to object to a motion that would see Houck, Steven Lawson, and Joseph Lawson all tried together for the murder of Crystal Rogers.

He’s not the only one who doesn’t seem to be on board with the idea, as Steven Lawson’s Ted Lavit attorney expressed uncertainty after the hearing.

“I have mixed feelings at this time,” Lavit said.

So why would the prosecution suggest something like this?

“Logistically so you only try the case once,” said Frank Mascagni, a defense lawyer.

Mascagni said the simple answer is to save time, but there’s more to it.

“[It] maybe presents the favorable opinion one of the two or two of the three will testify against the other,” he said.

Mascagni said if the cases are tried separately, there’s a possibility that they can blame everything on one person or even one person can take all of the blame.

 

[RoundPeg]

Discovery in Crystal Rogers’ death includes evidence in two other unsolved Bardstown murders

For the first time, Special Prosecutor Shane Young mentioned Jason Ellis’ case in connection to the Bardstown mother’s disappearance.

www.whas11.com

That evidence includes thousands of documents, hours of police interviews and possible evidence from previous searches from three law enforcement agencies.
WATCH: Houck brothers questioned in 2015 about Crystal Rogers’ disappearance; Full interviews here
According to Young, it also includes investigative files in two other unsolved Bardstown murders Young has been assigned to prosecute: Tommy Ballard and Jason Ellis.

 

[Cousin Dupree]

I get confused with cases. Is this the one where they burned down the house to destroy evidence?

 

[Kimster]

I get confused with cases. Is this the one where they burned down the house to destroy evidence?

Not that I remember? Crystal is still missing.

 

[Kimster]

View attachment 8027

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

Here’s the initial information about this case

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Crystal Rogers case: Man files motion to drop charges, ‘promised immunity’

Based on interview transcripts provided by the court, from June 8, 2023, to Sept. 12, 2023, Lawson was offered immunity for his cooperation over 14 times.

fox56news.com

Crystal Rogers case: Man files motion to drop charges, ‘promised immunity’​

One of the men charged in connection with Crystal Rogers’ disappearance has filed a motion to dismiss the indictments against him.

Court documents filed on Tuesday state that Steven Lawson will go before the court and request that the indictment against him or any statements he made from June 8 to the present be non-admissible.

Lawson was indicted in December 2023 and charged with criminal conspiracy to commit murder. He was also indicted on charges of tampering with physical evidence in May 2023.

In his indictment, Lawson reportedly agreed to assist in the planning or commission of the death of another and “destroyed, mutilated, concealed, removed,” or altered physical evidence around July 4, 2015.

The argument filed states that Lawson, based on his offer of immunity by three investigators, submitted to numerous interviews with investigators and grand jury appearances. The second argument made is that in the alternative, Lawson’s statements should not be admissible as they were part of plea discussions.

This argument is based on Kentucky Rule of Evidence 410, which states “evidence … is not admissible against the defendant who. was a participant in plea discussions,” according to court documents.

Based on interview transcripts provided by the court, from June 8, 2023, to Sept. 12, 2023, Lawson was offered immunity for his cooperation over 14 times.

“I’ve been doing this for 25 years. I’ve never extended this offer to anybody, ever,” Prosecutor Shane Young said on June 8, 2023, according to court documents. “I’m giving you blanket immunity; take advantage of it.”

According to court transcripts, detectives even allegedly said they would offer his son, Joseph Lawson, the same deal. Joseph was the first man to be arrested in connection with the Crystal Rogers case in July 2023, and he currently faces 25 years in prison.

After Lawson’s Sept. 20 court appearance, Young did not offer Lawson immunity and indicted him in December for conspiracy to commit murder. Lawson’s defense team claims that he was indicted despite his continued cooperation with investigators.

Lawson is set to appear in court around 1 p.m. on March 21.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I can only guess there is another side to this and await the response.

I can think of the recent Montgomery case and the deal only applies IF the one receiving the deal does their part AND is for the period of time covered.

This is a very old case and I'd hope prosecutors know and knew exactly what they were doing.

THey could have even lost Kayla in Montgomery since she was charged with perjury etc. and didn't win out entirely but she went against and didn't tell the entire trugh...

I'd hope as I said this is on the order of that kind of thing. I can'tn believe LE and/or prosecutors were so dumb to offer full immunity without conditions as to if they find something on their own, other charges, and so on.

Waiting to hear the other side to take down the defense bluster.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Attorneys for all three suspects in Crystal Rogers case request change of venue

All three defendants in the case involving the disappearance of Crystal Rogers have filed a motion through their attorneys to change the venue for their upcoming trial.

www.lex18.com

Attorneys for all three suspects in Crystal Rogers case request change of venue​

All three defendants in the case involving the disappearance of Crystal Rogers have filed a motion through their attorneys to change the venue for their upcoming trial.

Last week, attorneys for Houck requested a change of venue in the case, stating that their client could not get a fair trial in Nelson County or any other county in central Kentucky due to extensive media coverage. Houck's defense team is requesting the trial be moved to either Boyd or Daviess County. Since then, attorneys for both Joseph and Steven Lawson have filed similar motions to request a change of venue in the case.

The motion will be heard on Thursday, March 21. A trial date has been tentatively set for all three of them for February 10, 2025.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

Crystal Rogers update: Brooks Houck, Lawsons murder trial to move from Nelson County

Prosecutor of three charged in murder of Crystal Rogers also asked the judge to try the three men together.

www.courier-journal.com

Rachel Smith
Louisville Courier Journal
March 21, 2024

The three men charged in connection with Bardstown mother Crystal Rogers' murder will not face trial in Nelson County, a judge said Thursday afternoon.

The decision by Judge Charles Simms came after attorneys for Brooks Houck, Steve Lawson and Joseph Lawson argued that the nearly decade-long public fervor around the case is too massive to host court proceedings in Nelson County or even central Kentucky.

<snip>

All three defendants filed motions to move the trial, arguing they could not have a fair trial. Prosecutor Shane Young agreed with the venue change request.

Thursday, Young said he would speak with the defense attorneys in the next month to propose a different trial venue. If all attorneys cannot agree on a location, Simms said he could propose one.

The judge said he would request the new venue be large in size and have a separate entrance for jurors.

 

[GrandmaBear]

It might surprise some but I don't have an issue with changing venue in cases. If the case is strong and tried well, it should convince any jury anywhere. We don't see it often I think due to the fact of cost, arrangements and maybe the fact that that county has done all the work, had the case, the investigators and witnesses have to travel and so on.

On the flip side, I also don't agree talk or pretrial publicity shoud affect it to begin with though. Any juror worth his salt it shouldn't even be considered an issue. You vet jurors for that reason and pick accordingly. Anyone who would believe more fully what an LE officer on the stand says over some other witness, anyone who would base a life decision on what they've heard or read, anyone who who would believe what their buddy heard and said who would believe it because it came from their buddy is a problem of course. You want to weed those and I don't think pretrial publicity is any different. It would either form your opinion or you'd put it aside if a juror if you heard any of it or you wouldn't. So many things are the same, either a juror can be influenced by the wrong things or they can't.

But let them change it. Why not. They can't complain about that later then.

 

[Kimster]

It might surprise some but I don't have an issue with changing venue in cases. If the case is strong and tried well, it should convince any jury anywhere. We don't see it often I think due to the fact of cost, arrangements and maybe the fact that that county has done all the work, had the case, the investigators and witnesses have to travel and so on.

On the flip side, I also don't agree talk or pretrial publicity shoud affect it to begin with though. Any juror worth his salt it shouldn't even be considered an issue. You vet jurors for that reason and pick accordingly. Anyone who would believe more fully what an LE officer on the stand says over some other witness, anyone who would base a life decision on what they've heard or read, anyone who who would believe what their buddy heard and said who would believe it because it came from their buddy is a problem of course. You want to weed those and I don't think pretrial publicity is any different. It would either form your opinion or you'd put it aside if a juror if you heard any of it or you wouldn't. So many things are the same, either a juror can be influenced by the wrong things or they can't.

But let them change it. Why not. They can't complain about that later then.

I think it just depends on what venue they’re moving to. If they’re moving to an area where the citizens don’t believe in harsh punishment as a whole, then it’s a problem. I’m thinking about the comparison with a jury that they would pull in the area where I live as compared to Portland.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I think it just depends on what venue they’re moving to. If they’re moving to an area where the citizens don’t believe in harsh punishment as a whole, then it’s a problem. I’m thinking about the comparison with a jury that they would pull in the area where I live as compared to Portland.

That's true and never thought of that but yeah it would be that way here if you moved from the northern more rural part of the state to the southern city filled part, more urban. That's also where all the politicis are and the money is, generally speaking. The state capital and so on, the ones that get the money for schools, highways, etc. versus the rest of the state where the voter population isn't as numbered and so forth.

However, that just popped this into my head and that is that our area does sh*t for bonds, you rarely see a cash bond and if you do, it is ridiculously low, even for murders. In the southern part you will see higher bonds and more cash ones, not as HIGH as many states and cases we see but more than our area does. However, they also have way more serious crime down there, a lot more of it.

Do the citizens do the sentencing there? Here it is the judge. Jury only decides guilt and has no say in sentencing. Or are you saying because of the area, Portland, the judges also are soft on punishment?

 

[Kimster]

That's true and never thought of that but yeah it would be that way here if you moved from the northern more rural part of the state to the southern city filled part, more urban. That's also where all the politicis are and the money is, generally speaking. The state capital and so on, the ones that get the money for schools, highways, etc. versus the rest of the state where the voter population isn't as numbered and so forth.

However, that just popped this into my head and that is that our area does sh*t for bonds, you rarely see a cash bond and if you do, it is ridiculously low, even for murders. In the southern part you will see higher bonds and more cash ones, not as HIGH as many states and cases we see but more than our area does. However, they also have way more serious crime down there, a lot more of it.

Do the citizens do the sentencing there? Here it is the judge. Jury only decides guilt and has no say in sentencing. Or are you saying because of the area, Portland, the judges also are soft on punishment?

The citizens do not vote on the sentence. And yes, the judges are very soft.

 

[Cousin Dupree]

I think it just depends on what venue they’re moving to. If they’re moving to an area where the citizens don’t believe in harsh punishment as a whole, then it’s a problem. I’m thinking about the comparison with a jury that they would pull in the area where I live as compared to Portland.

Just don't move it to Pinellas county.