LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Days before the trial begins for the murder of Crystal Rogers, Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson were moved to a jail in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
New mugshots were posted for both on the Warren County Regional Jail website. Houck goes to trial next week along with Joseph Lawson.
Nearly a decade after Rogers vanished without a trace, Houck, the man long suspected in her disappearance will stand trial next week — and the small town of Bardstown is bracing for what comes next. The trial was moved to Bowling Green after a change of venue from Nelson County.
Houck is charged with complicity to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with Rogers' presumed death in 2015.
She 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's charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.
Just weeks ago, Joseph Lawson’s father, Steve, 54, was tried separately on the same charges. A jury found him guilty May 30, 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.
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 Rogers' father, Tommy Ballard, who was killed while hunting on family property. That case remains unsolved.
Cameras won't be allowed in the courtroom, but WDRB will have daily team coverage of the trial, which is expected to last two to three weeks.
Crystal Rogers Coverage:
Timeline of the 10 years leading up to the 2nd Crystal Rogers murder trial
Legal analyst breaks down challenges of 2nd Crystal Rogers murder trial
Steve Lawson found guilty on all charges in connection to Crystal Rogers' murder
Steve Lawson's mother expressed anger with him for his role in Crystal Rogers' murder
Brooks Houck's brother and mother are suspects in Crystal Rogers' disappearance, prosecutor says
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