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Brooks Houck wants his trial separated from other suspects in Crystal Rogers case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The main suspect in the Crystal Rogers murder is pushing for his trial to be separated from the other two suspects.

Here's what you can expect to learn on Monday when Brooks Houck is in court.

In the police interrogation, just days after Crystal Rogers disappeared in 2015, investigators asked Houck if he knew anyone who would want to hurt his girlfriend. He said, "As far as I know, she's a well likeable person."

Now, nine years later, Houck is charged with her murder. He's set to appear in court in Nelson County on Monday morning.

Police told him at the time, "Did I not tell you when you came in here to to sit down here today, that you are the main person of interest. I explained to you the reason you are the main person of interest, you are the last person to see her alive right? I went through your timeline with you, and I explained there is some gaps in your time line, be it good bad or indifferent there are some things you can't remember about Saturday. There are some things you can't remember about Sunday. That's not a ment against you, that's just a fact."

For Monday's hearing, the other suspects in the case, Steve Lawson and Joseph Lawson are not scheduled to be there.

Whether all three suspects will be tried together in February 2025 hasn't been decided yet.

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

Butler argues that Steve Lawson "fabricated the entire story" of what happened after Crystal Rogers disappeared in 2015 because Steve Lawson was threatened, coerced and promised immunity by investigators.

Steve Lawson never got the immunity and his motion to get his charges dropped just got denied.

Rogers was last seen with Houck before she went missing over the Fourth of July weekend in 2015.

Her car was left running on the side of Bluegrass Parkway with her purse still inside. She's presumed dead, but her body was never found.

In a June 13th hearing for Steve Lawson, Special Prosecutor Shane Young said, "There's proof based on cell phone usage that we can show Steve Lawson was at mile marker 14. After he got off the phone call with Brooks Houck, he drove to mile marker 14."

Steve Lawson's attorney Ted Lavit claims Joseph Lawson drove Crystal's vehicle west on the Bluegrass Parkway where he had a flat tire and Steve Lawson then went to pick up his son.

If all three men are tried together, Butler argues, it is doubtful Steve Lawson will testify. That means Houck's defense will be unable to question him about the multiple contradictions in his statements.

"They're trying to tie him to the use of a skidsteer I guess for the digging of some ground and the burial of Crystal Rogers," Lavit said. "That did not occur by my client. He had nothing to do with that. He told them I never harmed that girl."

And a big part of the case -- a phone call Steve Lawson made to Houck while Rogers was missing. Houck even called Steve during his police interview in 2015. .

Steve Lawson said to Houck, "I just want to tell you I'm sorry about everything that's going on in your life brother, I got you in my prayers. Certainly, this is a very difficult and trying time."

Houck responded, "I appreciate you saying that, but I need your help while I got you on the phone. Do you remember the night you called me really really late. I forgot what you asked me can you ... Can you remember what you asked me or what you were after? I can't remember."

Steve Lawson said, "I sure can. I asked you for numbers for the house."

Houck said, "Oh, for a rental house."

In court Young said to Lavit, "He's saying that phone call was about obtaining an apartment?" Lavit responded, "Yes."

Young fired back and said, "Because he testified the phone call was to let Brooks Houck know that the job had been done. He's under oath. This game of charades that's going on with the Houcks and Lawsons and what they're trying to pull, is no different than what they've been doing the last 8 years."

Prosecutors said both Steve Lawson and Brooks Houck deleted 24 of their telephone conversations from May and June of 2015. That's right before Crystal Rogers went missing. This all came out in a 's court ruling last week.

They also said for the court, there isn't sufficient evidence to determine several key issues in the case. That includes whether Lawson worked for Houck, whether Lawson knew that Rogers' vehicle was going to the Bluegrass Parkway, whether Tammy Lawson who was Lawson's wife at the time was involved and whether a skid-loader was used for digging after Rogers disappeared.

But he said what is clear is Lawson lied and contradicted himself when talking to investigators and the grand jury.

In the ruling, a judge also denied Steve Lawson's request to get his charges dismissed. Steve Lawson argued he was offered immunity, but he never got it.

Prosecutors said the immunity agreement required that Lawson be completely truthful. The also denied Lawson's request to exclude his grand jury testimonies in his trial.

Prosecutors have argued the men should stand trial together because they are facing the same charges and allegedly worked with each other.

While attorneys have agreed to move the trial to Hopkinsville in Christian County, the still hasn't approved that.

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

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