LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The main suspect in the Crystal Rogers murder case is set to appear in Nelson County court Monday morning, just days after the ninth anniversary of Rogers' disappearance.

Attorneys for Brooks Houck will argue why his trial should be separated from the other two suspects in the case — father and son Steve and Joseph Lawson.

The Lawsons are not scheduled to appear in court on Monday. Prosecutors have argued the men should stand trial together because they're facing the same charges and allegedly worked with each other.

But Houck's attorney, Brian Butler, is asking that his client's trial be separate. 

Prosecutors are questioning why Steve Lawson called Houck after Rogers went missing in 2015. Butler argues he "fabricated the entire story" of what happened after she went missing because he was "threatened, coerced and promised immunity by investigators."

But he never got that immunity. Prosecutors said the immunity agreement required Steve Lawson to be completely truthful, and his motion to get his charges dropped was recently denied. His attorney, Ted Lavit, claims his client's son, Joseph Lawson, drove Rogers' vehicle west on the Bluegrass Parkway where he got a flat tire and was picked up by his father. 

Houck was the last person to see Rogers, his girlfriend at the time and the mother of his son, alive on July 3, 2015. She is presumed dead, but her body has never been found. 

He was identified as the primary suspect in the Rogers case days after she went missing July 2015. He now faces charges of murder and tampering with physical evidence after being indicted by a Nelson County grand jury Sept. 20.

Houck is being held at the Oldham County Detention Center on a $10 million cash bond.

Joseph Lawson's next hearing is scheduled for later this month. Steve Lawson's next court date is in August.

Previous Coverage:

Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.