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

[Emi]

Court adjourned | Attorneys wrap closing arguments for 2nd trial in Crystal Rogers case

"If Crystal Rogers did not come home, this man is guilty of murder," Prosecutor Shane Young argued. "I don't know who killed her, but I can tell you who's involved."

www.whas11.com

Crystal Rogers case: Trial updates​

6 p.m.
Court has adjourned for the day. The jury will return at 8:30 a.m. CT, or 9:30 a.m. ET.
Three jurors will be randomly chosen as alternates and dismissed prior to deliberations.
Prior to court being concluded for the day, Young continued walking the jury through the prosecution's case.
He talked about the strange behavior the Houck family demonstrated after Rogers' disappearance and how Rosemary and Nick could be seen moving items from the trunks of their cars. A neighbor also testified that Rosemary dug up flowers Rogers' had planted.
"She knows [Rogers] isn't coming back," Young said.
He went on to say the Houck family wasn't paranoid when they recorded their grand jury testimony, as Houck's sister Rhonda McIlvoy testified last week. "They're trying to keep their story straight," Young said.
"It's not even being questioned: If Crystal Rogers did not go home that night on Glenview, then this man is guilty of murder," Young said, concluding the prosecution's closing argument.

 

[Gigiky]

I just finished watching the documentary, The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers (AGAIN). And after watching all the commentary about the trial the past coupe of weeks it would appear that the P and D (and It's jmo) but i think neither side has put much effort in to this trial at all. And I feel so bad for the Ballard family. I don't think enough questions were asked or answered on either side. And I have an aweful gut feeling that justice will not be served. SMH. JMO.

 

[Niner]

Tuesday, July 8th:
*Trial continues (Day 9)-VERDICT WATCH! [for both] (@ 9:30am ET) - KY – Crystal Maria Rogers (35) (reported missing July 3, 2015; car (with flat tire) was found July 5, 2015 on Bluegrass Parkway near mile marker 14 with keys in ignition & her belongings (phone & purse) in car, Bardstown). – *Brooks William Houck (33 @ time of crime/41/now 43) arrested, charged & indicted (9/27/23) & arraigned (10/5/23) with felony murder & tampering with physical evidence. Plead not guilty. Bond $10M Cash Only! Reduction of bond (to $500K) denied (10/9/23). KY Supreme Court denied (3/12/24) review of bond reduction. Was transferred (9/27/23) from Nelson County jail to Hardin County Detention Center. Was transferred (12/13/23) to Oldham County Detention Center. Transferred on 6/18/25 to Warren County Regional Jail. Nelson County
*Joseph Stephen Lee Allen Lawson (24 @ time of crime/32/now 34) arrested, indicted & charged (7/24/23) with criminal conspiracy to commit murder & charged (6/21/23) with complicity in tampering with physical evidence. Bond $50K unsecured bond (tampering) & $550K Cash bond (conspiracy). Bond reduced (2/12/24) to $250K Cash bond. Plead not guilty. Held in Grayson County Kentucky Detention Center. Transferred on 6/18/25 to Warren County Regional Jail. Nelson County
Jury selection began on 6/24/25 & ended on same day. Jury: 12 jurors & 3 alternates.
Trial held in Warren County.
Trial began on 6/25/25 & prosecutors rested their case on 7/1/25. Defense started their case on 7/2/25 & ended 7/3/25. Closing arguments done on 7/7/25. Jury gets case on 7/8/25.
Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III presiding. Special prosecutor Shane Young. Assistant Prosecutor Jim Lesousky. Houck’s defense attorneys Steven Schroering, Brian Butler, Michael Denbow & Jennifer Henry Jackson & J. Lawson’s defense attorney Kevin Coleman & Robert Boyd.
Case & Court info from 7/23/20 thru 6/18/25 & Jury Selection (6/24/25) & Trial Day 1-7 (6/25 to 7/3/25) reference post #916 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...y-3-july-2015-4-arrest-in-2023.690447/page-46
7/7/25 Monday, Trial Day 8: *Attorneys for both men received jury instructions over the Fourth of July weekend. Both sides raised objections to the instructions on Monday. The State said it was fine with the instructions. However, Houck’s attorney objected to all the instructions because he still wants a directed verdict. Jury instructions read to the jurors.
*Closing arguments by Joseph Lawson's attorney Robert Boyd [posts #916 & 918, page 46]. Defense attorney Brian Butler gave his closing argument for Houck [see posts #918 & 920, page 46]. Prosecutor Shange Young gave their closing arguments [post #919, page 46 & #921, page 47].
Trial continues on Tuesday, 7/8/25 with jury deliberations.
*Steven Eugene Lawson (48 @ time of crime/53/now 54) – Trial began on 5/27/25 & ended on 5/30/25. Found GUILTY of conspiracy to commit murder & tampering with physical evidence charges. Sentencing hearing on 8/6/25.

 

[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

Crystal Rogers case: Trial updates​

9:36 a.m.
Outside the courthouse, Rogers' family could be seen hugging one another.
Rogers' mom, Sherry Ballard, is wearing pink for her daughter and green for her husband, Tommy Ballard. She could be seen hugging Tommy's parents, Till and Betty Ballard.
Through tears, she could be heard saying, "we're crying happy tears today."


Credit: Jessica Farley, WHAS11 News
Sherry Ballard, Rogers' mom, hugs her husband Tommy Ballard's parents, Till and Betty Ballard. | July 8, 2025

9:30 a.m.
Jury deliberations begin soon.
Fifteen jurors have listened to the last eight days of witness testimony and arguments, but only 12 will serve on the final jury to deliberate the verdict.
Prior to deliberations, three jurors will randomly be drawn as alternates and dismissed.

 

[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

Crystal Rogers case: Trial updates​

10:40 a.m.
What's the jury considering as they make their final verdict?
Jurors are considering all the testimony they've heard over the last eight days and using the jury instructions provided to them on Monday as a guide during deliberations. The jury instructions provide all the applicable law for each defendant.

9:46 a.m.
Jury deliberations are underway.
Judge Charles Simms collected jurors phones and provided their family with an emergency number if they need to reach them during deliberations. Jurors can also order lunch, dinner or snacks.
Three jurors were dismissed as alternates, so only 12 people will make a final verdict.
Simms told those in the gallery to be quiet and respectful in the courtroom, meaning no cheering, booing or outbursts of any kind are allowed.
"I know there's a lot of tension in this case," he said. "We're just trying to keep everyone safe."

 

[Megnut]

VERDICT WATCH

Crystal Rogers case: Trial updates
11:20 a.m.

Jurors began deliberating at 9:06 a.m. ET.

They've already asked their first question of deliberations, requesting a white board and something watch videos on.

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

 

[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

Crystal Rogers case: Trial updates​

12:39 p.m.
The jury is having lunch delivered to the deliberation room.
11:56 a.m.
Jurors watched around 10 minutes of the Girdley video and let the judge know they saw what they needed to see before returning to deliberations.

11:37 a.m.​

Jurors have asked to rewatch Charlie Girdley's testimony.
Girdley, a former Houck employee, testified that Steve Lawson told him Brooks Houck wanted to "get rid" of Rogers.
He also testified that Joseph Lawson made multiple gruesome statements about Rogers, including that he would "bury her with a skid steer and nobody would ever find her."


Credit: Sydney Young
Charlie Girdley

Girdley said on July 3, 2015, he was with Joseph Lawson when they went to meet Brooks. Girdley picked up his pay for that week and saw Houck give Lawson Rogers' keys. He said Lawson told him he was going to do some work on it.
"Did you talk to Joseph Lawson about Crystal that night?" Prosecutor Shane Young asked.
"He said he would pull her teeth and the hogs would do the rest," Girdley responded.
Girdley said a few weeks later he was on the Houck family farm helping Houck pour concrete at a barn.
The defense argued investigators used coercive tactics during Girdley's police interview, and that his story changed at least five times.


Credit: Sydney Young
Charlie Girdley's KSP interview is played in court during second murder trial in Crystal Rogers case. | July 3, 2025

11:20 a.m.
Jurors began deliberating at 9:06 a.m. ET.
They've already asked their first question of deliberations, requesting a white board and something watch videos on.

 

[karenky]

Verdict is in!

 

[karenky]

1:44 p.m.
Houck has been found guilty of murder - principle or accomplice and tampering with physical evidence.
Lawson was found guilty of conspiracy to murder and tampering with physical evidence.

 

[Badgerette]

Now...get Rosemary & Nick.

 

[Niner]

Verdict is in!

WHAT??

 

[mom2chloe]

Thank you Lord. God bless the Ballards and which Houck is next in line?

 

[Niner]

found an article

Houck, Lawson found guilty in Crystal Rogers murder trial

The jury reached its verdict following 10 days of proceedings in the high-profile murder trial.

eu.courier-journal.com

 

[Emi]

Crystal Rogers case: Trial updates​

1:44 p.m.
Houck has been found guilty of murder - principle or accomplice and tampering with physical evidence.
Lawson was found guilty of conspiracy to murder and tampering with physical evidence.
1:42 p.m.
WHAS11 will be providing live coverage here in this story. Refresh for updates.
1:36 p.m.
The jury has reached a verdict.

 

[Emi]

 

[Niner]

and another one

Jurors return in five minutes with life sentence recommendation for Brooks Houck, 25 years for Joseph Lawson

The jury returned a sentencing recommendation in less than five minutes.

www.wave3.com

all I need is the sentencing date! TIA!

 

[mom2chloe]

and another one

Jurors return in five minutes with life sentence recommendation for Brooks Houck, 25 years for Joseph Lawson

The jury returned a sentencing recommendation in less than five minutes.

www.wave3.com

all I need is the sentencing date! TIA!

I believe I read 7/23.

 

[Ssschu]

1:44 p.m.
Houck has been found guilty of murder - principle or accomplice and tampering with physical evidence.
Lawson was found guilty of conspiracy to murder and tampering with physical evidence.

I am so happy and relieved for Crystal's family finally getting justice!! Lock him up and throw away the key. Rosemary and Nick should be next!

 

[pittsburghgirl]

1:44 p.m.
Houck has been found guilty of murder - principle or accomplice and tampering with physical evidence.
Lawson was found guilty of conspiracy to murder and tampering with physical evidence.

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.

 

[Gigiky]

Thank you sweet Jesus!!!
And yes, now it's time for RH and NH to face Judge and Jury!