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

[mom2chloe]

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.

Thanks for sharing. Today was a good day for justice!

 

[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.

It gives me the chills.

 

[Shade13]

Isn't there a crazy statistic that once the FBI gets involved, the prosecution rate is like 99 percent? I think thats what really solved this case.

 

[Emi]

 

[Kudzuu]

IMO

Jason Ellis was onto something (2013 assassinated). Crystal knew too much about something (2015 disappeared). Tommy Ballard (2016 assassinated) knew too much about something and was not giving up getting Crystal's killer.

Nick Houke was LE until after it was probable he was interfering in the investigation. Not sure when.

Hogs will eat anything so there's that.
The FBI in my opinion is THE reason this went to trial. And it is fairly obvious to me the jury disliked the Houkes with good reason and the circumstantial evidence was overwhelming.

My question is why didn't one of the Lawsons not squeal for a lesser sentence if they didn't kill Crystal? I'm guessing one of them did it. They also knew something.

All my opinions. I have a lot of respect for the Ballard family. I recently lost a friend from Bardstown that knew and worked with Tommy. He was an honest hard working man from humble beginnings like the Ballards.

I hope the family gets some closure.

 

[fred&edna]

Isn't there a crazy statistic that once the FBI gets involved, the prosecution rate is like 99 percent? I think thats what really solved this case.

i don't know about that statistic but it wouldn't surprise me. i believe there are too many small towns in kentucky - and other states- where corruption reigns and too many people in positions of power who have spent years looking the other way... leaving far too many victims in their path.

i'm just glad the fbi and more came along and did the hard work lighting a real fire for justice.

jmo

 

[INfisherman]

Rest easy, at long last, Crystal, though I hope this isn’t the end for your justice.

 

[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​

5:54 p.m.
Crystal Rogers' oldest daughter told WHAS11 the latest conviction is a breath of relief for her family.
“It’s not fair, it’s not fair what they did. Not at all,” she said. “I might not have been as close to mom as my brothers and sisters were, but there’s been days of my life where I’ve just sat down and cried because I wanted my mom there. Like having my babies. She would have loved my kids. She was a great mom and she did not deserve what happened to her.”
5:10 p.m.

Large crowds have gathered in Bardstown to show their support for the Ballard family when they arrive back from Bowling Green.
Many are seen carrying signs and wearing pink in honor of Crystal Rogers and green for Tommy Ballard, Rogers' father.
One woman held up a sign that reads: "It's not over yet."
"This is something that our community has waited for for ten years," she said. "This is something that we've been standing beside the Ballards through every step of the way."
4:43 p.m.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman praised the work of Prosecutor Shane Young and law enforcement following Tuesday's conviction.
“Today, justice was delivered in a Bowling Green courtroom," he said. "Our Commonwealth never forgot Crystal Rogers, her children, and loved ones."

 

[karenky]

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15pWswvkYB/

From WLKY News. Detective John Snow short interview. "We have a little more to go."

 

[Little Jack]

Holy wow. Ive never seen something quite like this. It shows the impact this has had on the whole community which I think was portrayed well in the oxygen documentary.

12 minutes is when the police escort and Ballard family arrive.

It gives me the chills.

 

[fred&edna]

Holy wow. Ive never seen something quite like this. It shows the impact this has had on the whole community which I think was portrayed well in the oxygen documentary.

12 minutes is when the police escort and Ballard family arrive.

ms sorrell was a very good spokesperson for that crowd.

so many truly good people in nelson county.

jmo

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Holy wow. Ive never seen something quite like this. It shows the impact this has had on the whole community which I think was portrayed well in the oxygen documentary.

12 minutes is when the police escort and Ballard family arrive.

I saw the people lined up but I hadn't see th reaction when the family arrives. Wow. It's so clear that the unsolved murders and Crystal's disappearance and murder have impacted a whole community. Thanks for posting this.

 

[Ssschu]

Holy wow. Ive never seen something quite like this. It shows the impact this has had on the whole community which I think was portrayed well in the oxygen documentary.

12 minutes is when the police escort and Ballard family arrive.

I think this whole community has lived in fear of the Houck family for a long time because they seemed untouchable.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Oh Happy Day - Guilty to the Max!
I just now clicked on this thread first and was so relieved to see a GUILTY verdict.

I must admit I was worried as these lying, liars who lie have evaded justice for far too long. I didn't have my usual gut feeling like I do with most cases. Not that I doubted their guilt, I was just worried about the jury unanimously agreeing.

It seems like I was completely wrong, which I am happy and thankful to admit. Finally, Justice for Crystal. I think the H's thought she was a disposable throw away and that nothing would come of it. It does my soul good to see the smug wiped off of their faces and them face the fact that Crystal did matter.

She mattered to her family, her precious children, the community. She was important no matter how hard they tried to make her appear not so.

Thanks to all that continued the fight for Crystal, especially her dear Mother. I know this doesn't bring Crystal back, but at least the scum that conspired and murdered her without a care in the world will be serving a looooong time in a prison cell. Justice after so very long. I'm thankful.

JMO

 

[Jezel]

Yesterday was a great day for justice.

IMO the problem for the defense was that they didn't have an alternate story. If the Houcks didn't murder Crystal, then what happened to her? Usually the cases that go unprosecuted have multiple logical possibilities. Jennifer Kesse (either a condo complex worker or someone she worked with) and Lauren Spierer (either the boyfriend, the group she was hanging out with, or a random predator - conveniently for the first two, Israel Keyes just happened to be in Indiana that night) come to mind.

Plus the prosecution had something like 40 witnesses who all had something damning to say about the Houcks. Brooks himself lied and put himself at locations that day that he was nowhere near according to his phone data.

I am interested to see whether they will charge Nick or Rosemary next.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

If they have the gun that killed Tommy, and it belongs to Nick, then that's the case I would bring. Now that there's a conviction in the Crystal case, and Nick is an unindicted co-conspirator, you would have motive (Tommy is investigating and talking about Crystal's murder) and means.

 

[Kudzuu]

I suspect that they don't have the gun that killed Tommy. I'll dig a little to check but IIRC it was a rifle.

 

[Kudzuu]

Tommy Ballard murder weapoon

Excuse the typo plz.
Link doesn't say what type of rifle

EBM

 

[Kudzuu]

Tommy Ballard murder details

 

[Oakie]

Tommy Ballard murder weapoon

Excuse the typo plz.
Link doesn't say what type of rifle

EBM

It most likely was a rifle, given how far away the shooter is supposed to have been.