BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) -- Nearly a decade after Crystal Rogers vanished without a trace, the man long suspected in her disappearance will stand trial next week -- and the small town of Bardstown is bracing for what comes next.
Brooks Houck, Rogers' former boyfriend, is set to go before a jury on June 24 in Bowling Green, where the trial was moved following a change of venue. Houck is charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with Rogers' presumed death in 2015.
Although the trial won't take place in Bardstown, the weight of the case still hangs over the Nelson County community where Rogers lived and disappeared.
"It's been going on for too long," said Peggy Coffman, a Bardstown resident. "It's time to get it settled and let this family move on.”
Rogers was reported missing on July 3, 2015. Her car was later found abandoned with her belongings still inside. Despite extensive searches and years of investigation, her body has never been recovered. She is presumed dead.
Houck, who was the last person known to see her alive, was publicly named a suspect early in the case but wasn’t indicted until September 2023. Prosecutors allege he conspired to kill Rogers, then worked with others to cover it up.
He will be tried alongside Joseph Lawson, who faces the same charges: murder and tampering with physical evidence.
Just weeks ago, Lawson’s father, Steve Lawson, 54, was tried separately. A jury found him guilty May 30 of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence — marking the first conviction in the case. The jury recommended 17 years in prison for Steve Lawson, through a judge will have the final say. A formal sentencing date was scheduled for Aug. 6.
“Let’s hope it’s almost over,” said lifelong Bardstown resident Carolyn Martin.
For many here, the trial marks a pivotal moment in a saga that’s haunted the town for years. Billboards, bumper stickers, and posters calling for justice for Crystal remain fixtures in the community. Residents say the emotional toll of the case never faded.
“I just hope they find peace for the family,” Coffman said. “That’s the main thing.”
Others, like Ella King, aren't sure we'll get the long-awaited answers to questions that have remained since the beginning -- like where Crystal's body is located.
“Where her body is — that’s the main thing,” King said. When asked if she believes that answer will come out in court, she replied simply: “No.”
The case has gripped Kentucky and garnered national attention over the years for its proximity to a string of other unsolved cases in the Bardstown area — including the 2016 shooting of Crystal’s father, Tommy Ballard, who was killed while hunting on family property. That case remains unsolved.
Still, Rogers’ loved ones and many in town hope next week’s proceedings will finally bring some clarity.
“It’s going to be a lot of emotions brought out,” said Bardstown resident Mike Maupin. “Especially both sides of the families.”
The trial begins Tuesday, June 24, in Warren County Circuit Court. Cameras will not be allowed in the courtroom, but the outcome will be closely watched by many across the state — and especially in Bardstown.
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Steve Lawson had minor involvement in Crystal Rogers case, but didn't help in murder, attorney says
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