Rogers family, however, was immediately concerned. Two years later, Nick and his brother Brooks, who was also in on the drug smuggling, killed Brooks's then girlfriend, Crystal Rogers, who had uncovered information on the drugs and the murder of Officer Jason Ellis. The FBI announced Friday that it had uncovered an "item of interest" on the fourth day of digging in a nelson county subdivision. Brooks Houck. Your email address will not be published. There was a problem saving your notification. That very evening he sent a text out to a babysitter for he and Crystals date, date with death more like. On the one-year anniversary of Tommy Ballard's death, signs showed up around Bardstown speculating about Brooks' involvement in Rogers' disappearance. Hes very deceiving, she said. You have permission to edit this article. It's very, very hard, Ballard said. The FBI homed in on one property being built by Rogers' boyfriend -- Brooks Houck, the only suspect named in the case -- at the time of her disappearance in 2015. It was also announced that Nick Houck was fired from the Bardstown Police Department for interfering with the investigation. Copyright 2017 WAVE 3 News. Can you refresh my memory please, I watched a video last night insinuating the delphi murders of lobby and abby may have links to here especially the cover up but seems far fetched to me. In 1979, Crystal Rogers Aunt, Freda Sharene Sherry Ballard, went missing from Bardstown, . In July, the lead detective in Rogers' case, Snow, retired. Warren County Jail As CrimeOnline previously reported, FBI agents and cadaver dogs are at a subdivision in Bardstown, the town Rogers, then 35, was living in when she vanished in July 2015. "When my daughter went missing, Brooks was building in that neighborhood.". WAVE reported Kathy had been shot multiple times, while Samantha had been bludgeoned about the head, both women showing knife wounds to their necks. He escaped on foot, which is why the roadblocks didn't stop him. And the Nelson County Sheriff's Office named Brooks Houck the main suspect, but he wasn't arrested or charged. Nick then failed a polygraph test conducted by an examiner from the FBI when questioned about the case. Agentsreportedlywere using a cadaver dog to search the subdivision and a Courier Journal photographer saw investigatorsusing a jackhammer on the driveway of a home. Ballard has also been in a custody dispute with Houck. Rogers was last seen alive on July 3, 2015. detail_page_enabled: true, "I think eventually she will be found, yes," Snow said. When nothing is being done and there is so much attention drawn to a case the FBI gets involved they dont always need authorization. I always wonder what my life would be like if she and my papaw was still here.". Among the other past shows on the missing mother is"The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers," which premiered in 2018 onOxygen. Brooks Houck is named the. Rogers disappeared in July 2015. publisher_id: "7544", "He made eye contact with me. submission: { When I graduated high school, seeing all the kids with their moms and they were like so proud. I agree with all of this I always knew the disappearance and the murder of Jason Ellis were connected.any connection to the women and her daughter who were murdered in their home before Jason Ellis was killed. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Pennsylvania woman missing since 1992 found alive in Puerto Rico, Missing San Francisco DJs wife posts heartbreaking update, Father of 5 vanishes after leaving Louisiana bar during work trip, San Francisco radio DJ had mysterious brain issues before disappearing, missing Kentucky mother last seen six years ago. In one of WDRB last interviews with him, we asked if Rogers' body would ever be found. When Rogers went missing, Brooks said he wasnt initially worried about her absence since she often went out with friends and stayed out late, sometimes not coming home until the next morning. Crystal was last seen on the afternoon of July 3rd, 2015 playing games on her phone at her home. "We've searched the rivers, we've searched farms, houses, sinkholes, wells, any place she might be," family member Sammy Johnson said. Thank you! orientation: "portrait", Despite Rogers' family's criticisms, he claimed he was helping search efforts behind the scenes and said that his polygraph test was determined to be "inconclusive.". It never gets easier, she said. Houcks attorneys had the trial held in Bowling Green out of concerns that Houck would be unable to get an impartial jury in Nelson County due to the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, WDRB reported; after less than two hours deliberating, the jury acquitted him. was present) to take photos of Maupin for the purpose of posting them on Facebook. Houck runs Houck Rentals, a business involving real estate holdings of more than 130 parcels in 2018, the Kentucky Standard reported. Snow said a crime involving Rogers is believed to have happened at the Houck Farm. Rogers has been missing since July 3. A few reports revealed that a suspicious man had been watching Molly. He is the father of Crystal Rogers' youngest child. Its so obvious the murders/disappearance are all connected. In 2017, Kentucky State Police hired former troopers to investigate the cases of both Rogers andJason Ellis, aBardstown police officerwho wasambushed in 2013and killedby at least two people. Singleton later pleaded guilty and was released from jail after being in custody for six months. According to radio station WBKR, Brooks did not report her missing for two days, and ultimately it was her own family that went to police. News; Restaurants & Bars; jim martin death couples massage class san diego beaver falls football kelley brown adam brown's wife remarried. Crystal Maria Rogers is an American woman from Bardstown, Kentucky who went . This case stinks to high heaven. We know that there are individuals out there who have specific information about Crystals disappearance and want to do the right thing, FBI Louisville tweeted Saturday. Beshear preemptively declares State of Emergency ahead of Kentucky storms, No one injured after historic building in Forest Hills neighborhood catches on fire, WDRB FCC Applications & Related Materials. Brooks Houck was named as a suspect in the 2015 disappearance of his ex-girlfriend Crystal Rogers, who is presumed dead. In March 2018, the Kentucky House of Representatives and State Senate passed a resolution honoring them, as well as the victims of other unsolved Bardstown murders, and urging witnesses to come forward. Crystal Rogers with her two daughter before she disappeared in 2015. Crystal Rogers, 35, has been missing since July 3. But when you really get to know him? You hope it gets solved, Bardstown resident Paul Monin told the station of the six-year missing-person probe. Nick Houck was also questioned by investigators in Rogers' disappearance. "He has not offered once to search or help or do anything for the family," she said. Feb 21, 2023. !, And @WHAS11Hasch is at Nick Houcks home where federal search warrants are also being served this morning. And that's the day that if I ever have too much on my shoulders, that might be the day. The body of Rogers has never been found. The Rogers and Ballard cases are unfortunately not the only unsolved cases to afflict the tightknit community of Bardstown, Kentucky. The ex-troopers were also looking into Tommy Ballard's death and theslaying of teacher Kathy Netherland and her teenage daughter Samanthain 2014. According to WDRB, he owns 129 properties and 11 houses. Whitesides' lawyer said, There are lots of things, particularly in a high-profile case, where there is as frenzied an investigation as there is here that could ensnare an 82-year-old woman.. Again, the motive and perpetrator have never been determined. "Crystal was a very good girl. But his own investigation was cut short when he was shot and killed in November of 2016. By the time Kyleigh was 19, the reward has grown to $100,000. There were no witnesses, and no arrests have been made in connection with the fatal shooting. When the Houck brothers' grandmother Anna Whitesides was subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury in June of 2016, the then-82-year-old invoked her Fifth Amendment rights, refusing to testify for the fear she might incriminate herself. As the years have come and gone, there's been a yearning for justice. Her disappearance has garnered national attention, but there are still no answers and no signs of her. While we do not have a timeline in regards to when the search will conclude, we will continue our efforts for as long as it takes, FBI Louisville tweeted Thursday. An item of interest has been discovered in the search for a missing Kentucky mother last seen six years ago, FBI officials said. Some of those properties Houck sold represented properties he had owned for many years, some as far back as 2005. People say it gets easier. Sherry Ballard said her daughter's children are now 22, 21, 19, 17 and 9. Her car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkwaywith her keys, phone and purse still inside. Brooks Houck was dating crystal rogers at the time she went missing, and they have a child together. According to Dun & Bradstreet, the company has four employees and made nearly $330,000 in sales. Little did anyone know it would be much longer. Ellis stopped, turned on his blue lights and got out of his cruiser to clear them. Crystal Maupin pleaded guilty to theft charges in court Tuesday. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Copyright 2017 WAVE 3 News. Former Chief Rick McCubbin said that Nick told his brother, Brooks, to leave the interrogation room, and Brooks did. #26. Her estranged husband, Edsel Eddie Barnes, and another man, George Weir, were eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her murder. "I'll never think it was.". Nick has never been charged or arrested in connection with Rogers' disappearance. Early on, a friend and employee of Brooks Houck, Danny Singleton, faced 38 counts of perjury for lying to detectives during the investigation, but pleaded guilty to lesser charges of false swearing. "I don't think they would just randomly pick a driveway unless they had a reason to do that," Ballardtold WHAS. "And I do have a lot of hope that this is where the investigation needs to be at and that they may be able to provide me answers this time," Ballard said. "We will definitely send something out when that changes," Anderson said. Crystal Rogers disappeared on July 3, 2015. HLN Investigations is a news team that produces breaking news specials and HLN Original Series within the crime and justice genre. Someone, perched on top of the stone cliff above him, fired a shotgun. While Sherry Ballard has been hoping yet dreading the day her daughter is found, she told WDRB News in a recent interview that it won't be an easy day. Brooks Houck, Rogers' [] All Rights Reserved. 2. How 5 people could be murderer in a SMALL area with no arrests is unbelievable- simply unbelievable. BARDSTOWN, KY (WAVE) - The new girlfriend of the main suspect in the disappearance of Bardstown woman Crystal Rogers has pleaded guilty to stealing signs about the missing mother of five. Nestled between the post office and the Shell Gas Station, Bourbon City Kitchen and Trade Company is a hidden gem of Cox's Creek and Nelson Co. He was about to go hunting with his grandson, one of Rogers' five kids. Wonder what he was burning uh probably evidence and or a body! , Brooks did not report her missing for two days, and ultimately it was her own family that went to police. He said when they got home, he went straight to bed, and Rogers stayed up playing games on her phone. They were discovered on a farm close to where Rogers car was found. I do know Officer Jason Ellis was investigating Nick Houck and was murdered when he got too close. At the VERY LEAST -crystal and her fathers murder isnt connected. These residents are not considered suspects.. Nelson County Jail Three properties owned by Houck, believed to be the last. The 35-year-old was last seen alive on the Fourth of July weekend in 2015 and her loved ones have been searching ever since. However, family members of the still-missing Rogers were there to see the man unofficially considered a suspect i, Crystal Rogers: FBI Takes Over Investigation Into Missing Louisville Woman. Investigators had wanted to ask her about a white car of hers they believed was connected to Rogers disappearance. I'm innocent. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I moved out of Bardstown over a year ago when I realized I was in the crosshairs of Nick Houck, unbeknownst to him or me. he wasnt initially worried about her absence since she often went out with friends and stayed out late, sometimes not coming home until the next morning. ", "I just hope that I can handle that, when they come to me with that news, even though Ive waited for six years," shesaid. The six episodes in the entire "Real Life Nightmare" series, which focuses on other mysterious cases, will be available on-demand the day after the broadcast premiere via cable/satellite systems. . They were discovered on a farm close to where Rogers car was found. Officer Ellis was shot and killed at the exit off the Bluegrass Parkway near Bardstown. pic.twitter.com/fg7nhk25jc, Fallon Glick (@FallonGlick) August 2, 2018. after she was allegedly caught on camera ripping up signs connected to the investigation. Beshear preemptively declares State of Emergency ahead of Kentucky storms, No one injured after historic building in Forest Hills neighborhood catches on fire, WDRB FCC Applications & Related Materials. I don't need an attorney. Detectives believe she was murdered. On October 16, 2015, Brooks' brother Nick Houck was fired from the Bardstown Police Department for allegedly interfering with the investigation of Crystal Rogers disappearance, according to NBC affiliate WLEX. In May, KSP Commissioner Rick Sanders hired two retired troopers to investigate a handful of unsolved and high-profile cases in Bardstown, including that of Rogers and Tommy Ballard, the ambush killing of Officer Jason Ellis and the brutal murders of Kathy and Samantha Netherland. Crystal Rogers' daughter talks about life without her mom during the 5 years she's been missing, CRAWFORD | Shift into 'March mode' powers positive postseason start for Louisville women, Indiana wobbles but rallies past Michigan State, 94-85, AT THE BUZZER | Van Lith's first-half tear carries Louisville to 74-48 ACC Tourney rout of Wake, Kentucky, Indiana utility companies working to restore power to thousands of customers, Humana sues architect, contractors over structural defects with 40-year-old downtown Louisville tower, Louisville mayor declares State of Emergency after damaging storms roll through Kentuckiana, Man dies after crashing car into tree in Indian Hills neighborhood, Louisville police say, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' actor, dies at 61, VIDEO | Louisville police release body camera footage of officer accidentally shooting 2 teenagers, Gov. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The disappearance of Crystal Rogers has been a mystery since 2015. So to think that it's been five years has been very, very hard, Ballard said. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Wed love to hear from you. In May 2013. on his way home from work, and shot multiple times. Rogers first disappeared back in 2015her boyfriend Brooks Hauck. After a day like that, and almost every day, Kyleigh writes to her mom in a journal. BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WDRB) This week marks five years since Crystal Rogers was last seen in Bardstown. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. At the time of that call, Nick Houck himself was an officer with the Bardstown Police Department. In March 2018. honoring them, as well as the victims of other unsolved Bardstown murders, and urging witnesses to come forward. Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com. "I think we're moving in the right direction. Houck's brother, Nick, was a police officer with Bardstown Police at the time of Rogers' disappearance andwas fired after interfering in the investigation. kelley brown adam brown's wife remarried kelley brown adam brown's wife remarried (No Ratings Yet) Did confirm federal warrants being served at both locations. There are other unsolved murders haunting Bardstown. The Nelson County Coroner's Office reportedly said he was shot once in the chest, with the bullet entering his chest and exiting his back. Beshear says 3 killed in Kentucky during severe storms Friday, Lawsuit claims Louisville pool company spent customer money on Vegas vacations and plastic surgery, Gov. After making it his lifes mission to find his daughter, Rogers' father, Tommy Ballard, was killed while hunting in November 2016. Inside were her purse, keys and cellphone. Crystal Rogers' mom speaks out:As FBI searches Bardstown subdivision, Sherry Ballard hopes for 'answers this time'. He was a 1958 graduate of Andover Central School. "She could have just said 'I'm sorry. PREVIOUS STORIES ON WAVE3.COM+KSP search Brooks Houck's grandmother's home in Bardstown+Father of Crystal Rogers shot and killed in hunting incident+Lead suspect in Crystal Rogers disappearance appears in court+Nelson Co. sheriff: One Houck brother a suspect in Crystal Rogers' disappearance, likely death. Brooks brother was fired from the police after being accused of interfering with the investigation. The envelope has never been found. Lexington, KY 40509. He is also the father of Rogers youngest child. No arrests have been made in connection withRogers' disappearance. Beshear declares state of emergency; 3 dead due to severe storms, KSP search Brooks Houck's grandmother's home in Bardstown, Father of Crystal Rogers shot and killed in hunting incident, Lead suspect in Crystal Rogers disappearance appears in court, Nelson Co. sheriff: One Houck brother a suspect in Crystal Rogers' disappearance, likely death. Jul 30, 2017. In 1979, Crystal Rogers Aunt, Freda Sharene Sherry Ballard, went missing from Bardstown, according to The Kentucky Standard. Ballard told WDRB that she believes that Houck is guilty of something and that her daughter got mixed up with the wrong person when she started dating him. Copyright 2020 WDRB Media. WHAS in Louisville said a team from FBI Louisville is searching the neighborhood with cadaver dogs. We are your neighbors. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Ballard's grandson, who was with him during the trip,was not responsible for Ballard's death, Kentucky State Police detectives later said. evvnt_require("evvnt/discovery_plugin").init({ Brooks has never been charged or arrested, Nick later told the Kentucky State Police, the Kentucky House of Representatives and State Senate passed a resolution. Investigators had wanted to ask her about a white car of hers they believed was connected to Rogers disappearance. If I needed the police where you live, I would NOT trust them, Small town police forces are always beyond corrupt. It's been a long road, and it may be even longer, but I think we're getting close.". He said that Rogers was on her phone when he went to sleep and gone when he woke up. I was calling and texting and she wasn't answering, she said. Ever since her disappearance, Rogers' family has plastered signs around Bardstown and its neighboring communities asking for any information on Rogers. Also, the farm isnt located right off the exit Ellis was shot from. Brooks Houck has been named the only suspect in the disappearance of his girlfriend Crystal Rogers (pictured here together with their two-year-old son). When Crystals car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkway with her belongs still inside, it didn't offer any clues. The little things really matter more than the big huge things, Kyleigh Fenwick said. The mother's case has spawned documentaries and podcasts and plenty of news coverage. On Monday, a search was being conducted at a farm at 345 Paschal Ballard Lane. map: false, Who is Brooks Houck? A year later, Tommy Ballard, Crystal's father, who had been at the forefront of the search for Crystal and the investigation into her disappearance, was shot and killed near his son's house, while hunting with his grandson. In May 2013, Officer Jason Ellis was ambushed on his way home from work, and shot multiple times. I'm sorry for my actions,'" Sherry Ballard said of the letter. Her red Chevrolet Impala was found abandoned on July 5 with a flat tire along the Bluegrass Parkway with her keys, phone and purse still inside, FBI officials have said. The FBI has been offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to arrests in Ellis' slaying. Large chunks of the driveway were hauled outof the neighborhood inconstruction trucks. Throwaway account for protection. Brooks Houck is the former boyfriend and main suspect in the disappearance of Crystal Rogers. The motive and person behind his murder remain a mystery to this day. I just watched the Disappearance of Crystal Rogers and a lot of this was theorized in the show. Check back with ABC36 for updates. The FBI has not released more details on the "items of interest" that were sent to the Virginia lab for testing. A vigil Monday night will honor Crystal Rogers, a Bardstown mother of five who disappeared in 2015. The mother and daughter were found dead in their home on Springfield Road near Bardstown. 5 years later, nobody knows, The FBI has been offering a reward of up to $50,000, FBI said it is "offering up to a$25,000 reward, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Maupin is the girlfriend of Brooks Houck. He is the father of Crystal Rogers' youngest child. READ NEXT: Crystal Rogers: FBI Takes Over Investigation Into Missing Louisville Woman, Brooks Houck: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Rogers first disappeared back in 2015her boyfriend Brooks Hauck was the only suspect named in the case at that time. Her kids need closure, but to physically hear it, its going to be so hard on us.". He is the only suspect who has been named in the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, his ex-girlfriend and a mother of five. " I'm just praying this will bring us some kind of closure. In the interview, Houck said that Rogers, their 2-year-old son Eli and himself left the family farm around midnight the night of July 3. widget: true, Honestly, none of this information is surprising but nice to have it explained out this way. Detectives say Crystal Rogers was last seen on July 3, 2015 by her boyfriend at the time, Brooks Houck. Houck is quite well-known in Bardstown, Kentucky. FBI said they arent doing any on camera things just yet. She appealed the decision. FBI agents have conducted multiple searches in and near Bardstown since Rogers went missing. Since my moms been missing, life has been really hard. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Regarding the thought of finally finding out what happened to her daughter, Ballard said, "I want it, but its going to be so hard for me. Brooks' friend was arrested for lying to police. Rogers, a 35-year-old mother of five children, was reported missing on July 3, 2015, from Bardstown. "But instead, it's like she was trying to defend herself.". She even let a friend stay with her because (the friend) didn't have a place to go. 3rdGenUKGrad. Other members of the Houck family were caught up in the investigation. He pleaded not guilty to a handful of felony theft charges. [] I can't even go on the side of the road without looking like a murderer. SMH Ironically enough, she is also a blonde named Crystal. I was mistaken for someone else, who he had threatened, and if he had decided to kill that person, he could have easily mistaken me for them and killed me instead, hence the throwaway account. As part of the agreement she must write a letter of apology to Crystal Roger's mother, Sherry Ballard. Do they think people are THAT dumb?? (WDRB Photo). Houck and Rogers had previously dated and had a child together. I cant say for sure though. Then in August, Tommy and Sherry Ballard started on the path of trying to get custody of the 2-year-old son Rogers had with Brooks Houck. Brooks Houck was named as a suspect in the 2015 disappearance of his ex-girlfriend Crystal Rogers, who is presumed dead. Crystal Rogers. In June, Whitesides was served with a subpoena to testify before a Nelson County Grand Jury, but she invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to talk. var field59 = field59 || {}; "The stories just don't add up. 22102015Brooks A POLICE officer has been fired after he allegedly tampered with a case involving the missing girlfriend of his brother who is suspected in her disappearance. FBI agents were searching a farm Monday morning connected to the man Rogers was in a relationship with at the time of her disappearance. On October 16, 2015, Brooks' brother Nick Houck was fired from the Bardstown Police Department for allegedly interfering with the investigation of Crystal Rogers disappearance.