LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- One of the three man charged in the Crystal Rogers murder told investigators last year that he saw his son, Joseph Lawson, and another man digging in an area of Nelson County where investigators have searched in connection to the case.

In an investigative document released on Friday, Steve Lawson told investigators that his son and a man named Jeremy Thompson were digging on the farm on Thompson Hill Road within five days of Rogers' disappearance in 2015.

The document, filed in Nelson Circuit Court, appears to be additional evidence submitted to bolster the prosecution's argument against Steve Lawson getting immunity for cooperating with investigators.

An agreement between prosecutors and Lawson stipulated he had to be 100% honest with investigators. Prosecutors argued this week that Lawson lied repeatedly, in part to minimize his own part in the Rogers case.

The investigative document claims Lawson said there was construction equipment, a "skid-Steer," on the property while the men were digging and burning large amounts of wood on the Thompson farm. Later, Steve Lawson denied the construction equipment was ever on the farm, according to a summary of a Nov. 21, 2023, interview.

"Steve Lawson cannot explain the change after being questioned," according to the document.

Thompson has not been charged with having any involvement in Rogers' disappearance. 

The summary of the interview does not give details as to why the men were digging. 

Kentucky State Police and the FBI searched the farm on Thompson Hill Road in 2023. Investigators haven't revealed whether anything was found.

In addition, according to court records, Steve Lawson's attorney has said Rogers' vehicle was brought to the Thompson's farm by Joseph Lawson during the time she disappeared.

"My client told Joey (he) wouldn't want that car out here," attorney Ted Lavit said in an interview.

Rogers was last seen on July 3, 2015. The next day, her car was found on the side of the Bluegrass Parkway with her purse, phone and keys still inside. Her body has never been found. 

The document, filed in Nelson Circuit Court, appears to be additional evidence from prosecutors arguing against Steve Lawson getting immunity for cooperating with investigators.

Lavit has asked that the charges against Steve Lawson in the Rogers murder case be dismissed — or at least that his statements be thrown out — because he was promised immunity for talking with investigators.

But Nelson County Judge Charles Simms noted this week that in all the records he has seen, the agreement between prosecutors and Lawson stipulated he had to be 100% honest with investigators. Prosecutor Shane Young said that stipulation was mentioned two dozen times during the multiple interviews prosecutors and investigators had with Lawson.

Young said Lawson admitted lying to investigators in a jail phone call and to a detective, acknowledging he had messed up his immunity deal.

"We believe there are numerous examples" of Lawson lying to investigators, including about phone calls to Houck and his role in what happened to Rogers' vehicle.

When asked by Simms if Lawson told the truth 100 percent of the time, Lavit said he "did not lie purposely" and that investigators pushed Lawson to tell them what they wanted to hear.

Regardless, Lavit said Lawson's statements led to the indictment of his son, Joseph Lawson, and Rogers' former boyfriend, Brooks Houck.

"When they say he lied and therefore he broke the agreement, that's not how the courts have looked at it," Lavit said. "He provided info that led to the arrests."

The judge said he would take the matter under submission and issue a ruling later.

In September, Joseph Lawson was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the death of Rogers.

Houck, the primary suspect in the disappearance of Rogers, was arrested Sept. 27, after being charged with complicity to murder and tampering with physical evidence.

He has pleaded not guilty and is in jail on a $10 million bond.

This story will be updated.

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