It’s been over 12 years now. Hard to believe that this murder has not been solved. Maybe LE has a good idea who might’ve been behind it, but don’t have enough evidence to make an arrest.
The rumor about JE being murdered because he was investigating a string of storage unit and other bldg burglaries involving antiques and drugs is certainly one possibility. I wonder if the burglaries were ever solved?
If (IF) JE’s murder was related to the burglaries, it seems he had to be getting close to solving the crimes, and may have had some poi’s or suspects. If that was the case though, it seems a review of his records and compiled evidence (prints? phone location data? cctv? any tips?) of active investigations might point to individuals would could’ve been involved in JE’s murder. But no arrests (or named poi’s) so far.
The non-indigenous tree is quite a clue. I doubt a murderer would intentionally drive to an area where that type of tree was more common and bring it to the crime scene to somehow throw off an investigation, but what other reason could there be for somebody having it (I guess) in the back of (I presume) a truck? I wonder how far away, and at what locations, was LE able to find a natural habitat for the tree?
The biggest thing that sticks out to me in this case though is that I think the perp(s) had to know JE’s route home from where he had been working. The route he took that day may have been his most often utilized route home, but how would perp(s) know for sure where JE would be coming from that specific day, and at what time?
Did somebody know JE’s route, and the approximate time he would be arriving at the exit location? I suppose if there were two perps (or more), one of them could’ve been following JE in a vehicle and communicating JE’s location and eta to the ambush / shooter perp.
If it wasn’t something like that, the ambush shooter would not have known when to drag the tree (or shrub?) limb(s) out into the bend in the exit ramp. He might’ve had to do it and remove it many times (depending on traffic) before JE exited. And if that was the case, there would almost surely be witnesses
But if there wasn’t more than one perp (no second perp following JE in a vehicle and communicating to the shooter at the ramp), how else would the shooter have known when JE was approaching? I’m speculating that JE’s dispatch and possibly other LE officers (maybe within radio network?) or even his supervisor might have known..
Some have speculated that there might be a connection between Officer Ellis’ murder in May 2013, the disappearance / murder of Crystal Rogers in July 2015, and the murder if Crystal’s father Tommy Ballard in Nov. 2016. This past Friday (6/2/25) Steve Lawson was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in the case of Crystal Rogers. Two other individuals, Crystal’s boyfriend Brooks Houck, and Steve Lawson’s son Joseph Lawson are scheduled to go to trial together starting June 24, 2025 (I think that is correct date).
I read one source that quoted LE suggesting that Nick Houck (Brooks Houck’s brother) is considered to be an un-indicted co-conspirator in the Crystal Rogers disappearance / murder. Nick Houck was a former LE officer in the Bardstown area who was fired over possible interference/involvement in the investigation of Brooks’ possible involvement in Crystal’s disappearance.
I have always assumed that the motive behind BH wanting to “disappear” CR (if indeed he is found guilty) was to avoid a child custody dispute, but who knows, maybe Crystal knew something that put her life in danger?
If (IF) there is a connection between the murder of Officer Ellis and the disappearance murder of Crystal Rogers, maybe LE will be able to obtain new information in the Ellis murder during the course of the BH and JL trial.
There needs to be Justice for Officer Ellis. Hopefully the case is active and substantial progress will be made soon in identifying and arresting the murderer(s)
All jmo
