GUILTY KY - Crystal Rogers, 35, Bluegrass Parkway, 3 July 2015 #4 *arrest in 2023* Brooks Houck on Trial

[Gigiky]

I'm still waiting to hear about the ballistic from the gun NH sold too under cover LE while using a fake name.

 

[mom2chloe]

I never cry at verdicts but I just saw this and I'm crying now. Justice for Crystal. Vindication for Tommy and maybe justice down the road.

The local news in Lexington just released the news and I too am crying. The jury has already returned to deliberate the penalty phase. Brooks is looking at 20-50 and Joseph is looking at 10-20. Sounds like the jury will be finishing the penalty phase any minute. Not sure if victims impact statements will be today or later this week.

 

[Emi]

3:30 p.m.
The jury recommended Brooks Houck serve the maximum sentence of life in prison.
Jurors recommended Joseph Lawson serve 20 years in prison for the conspiracy to murder charge and five years for tampering with physical evidence, which they recommend be served consecutively.
It took jurors less than 20 minutes to deliver the maximum sentence. Final sentencing will come on Aug. 21 at 1 p.m.
3:09 p.m.
Jurors are currently deliberating the recommended sentence for both men.
3 p.m.
We're still waiting to hear the jury's recommended prison sentence for Houck and Lawson.
Houck is facing 20 to 50 years or life in prison for the murder of Rogers.
Meanwhile, Lawson is facing 10 to 20 years in prison for his role.
2:20 p.m.
Members of Team Crystal and the Ballard family left the courtroom in tears after hearing the guilty verdict against Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson.
Former Nelson County Det. Jon Snow, who led the police investigation for many years after Rogers' disappearance, was also seen in tears.

 

[Gigiky]

I hope they both get the max! .JMO

 

[Megnut]

3 p.m.
We're still waiting to hear the jury's recommended prison sentence for Houck and Lawson.
Houck is facing 20 to 50 years or life in prison for the murder of Rogers.
Meanwhile, Lawson is facing 10 to 20 years in prison for his role.
2:20 p.m.
Members of Team Crystal and the Ballard family left the courtroom in tears after hearing the guilty verdict against Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson.
Former Nelson County Det. Jon Snow, who led the police investigation for many years after Rogers' disappearance, was also seen in tears.

Wait. What? I thought conspiracy to murder was the equivalent of murder. 10 to 20 years? Forget that. LWOP for both of them.

JMO

 

[fred&edna]

great verdict and i hope for max sentences. long time coming but finally... justice.

i'm sure the future will bring nonstop appeals... i hope all will be rejected.

jmo

eta; i know it won't happen but i can't help but wish one of these evil people would tell where and/or what happened to crystal's body.

 

[Shade13]

Was the deliberation that quick or am I confused? I figured it would take them days and I was actually nervous they came back with a hung jury; but if they came back that quick I'm shocked.

 

[Emi]

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[pittsburghgirl]

I'm still waiting to hear about the ballistic from the gun NH sold too under cover LE while using a fake name.

Me too. I've always thought that the MO of Tommy Ballard's murder was the same as Jason Ellis's--someone who could predict where the victim would be or set a trap and who could kill from a distance. That's a very unusual method of deliberately murdering someone.

 

[karenky]

The jury sentenced Brooks to life and Joey got 20 years.

 

[mom2chloe]

Was the deliberation that quick or am I confused? I figured it would take them days and I was actually nervous they came back with a hung jury; but if they came back that quick I'm shocked.

The only deliberated 20 minutes for the penalty phase. He got life and has to serve 85 per cent. Havent seen exactly how many years they gave him.

 

[mom2chloe]

Me too. I've always thought that the MO of Tommy Ballard's murder was the same as Jason Ellis's--someone who could predict where the victim would be or set a trap and who could kill from a distance. That's a very unusual method of deliberately murdering someone.

If there truly is nothing left of Crystal’s body, Tommy death was never necessary. There was no reason to kill a man if they knew he could never find her. Cold blooded and heartless.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

The only deliberated 20 minutes for the penalty phase. He got life and has to serve 85 per cent. Havent seen exactly how many years they gave him.

The legal expert on the local coverage said that with the speed of the verdict and the penalty phase, the jury "had no doubt."

 

[Emi]

BLOG: Jury recommends life sentence for Brooks Houck in Crystal Rogers' murder

Electronics aren't allowed in the courtroom, but our crews are taking handwritten notes to provide updates throughout the day.

www.whas11.com

3:39 p.m.
Prior to sentencing deliberations for each suspect, the last person jurors heard from was Prosecutor Shane Young.
"He let those kids believe their mom left them -- she didn't," Young told the jury. "Normally, someone will step up for the defendant and beg for mercy, No one did in that in this case."
Young asked the jury for a life sentence against Houck.
"I'm asking you to render some justice -- justice for the Ballard family. They've been waiting a long time."

 

[fred&edna]

i completely agree with the jury's verdict. however, i will admit it is a little surprising how quickly they found the evidence so convincing.... simply considering it was all circumstantial. but, yet it does seem completely obvious that all the evidence lead to only one conclusion... guilt.

jmo

 

[otherwisecrime]

"Prior to sentencing deliberations for each suspect, the last person jurors heard from was Prosecutor Shane Young.
'He let those kids believe their mom left them -- she didn't,' Young told the jury. 'Normally, someone will step up for the defendant and beg for mercy, No one did in that in this case.'"

That is heartbreaking. I'm so glad the jury saw through Brooks.

 

[mom2chloe]

Watching Shay now and she reveals one new detail we didn’t know before. Crystal managed all of Brooks rental properties. Exactly one week before she disappeared Brooks went to his accountant and asked the accountant if they would take over the rental properties management. Premeditation much?

 

[Shade13]

i completely agree with the jury's verdict. however, i will admit it is a little surprising how quickly they found the evidence so convincing.... simply considering it was all circumstantial. but, yet it does seem completely obvious that all the evidence lead to only one conclusion... guilt.

jmo

That's what I was thinking. This is one of the only cases I've seen were in spite of it being circumstantial; it's abundantly clear he is responsible. Who knows who really pulled the trigger, but my guess is it wasn't just these 2 involved in the cover up. Mom and brother need to be put up on the stand next.

Then get Ellis' killer.

 

[fred&edna]

can't help but really like this possibility

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[karenky]

The streets of Bardstown are lined with people holding signs and waiting on the Ballards to arrive back home. Cars are honking and people are so happy. WHAS11 will likely have this on video.