Crystal Rogers, a mother of five went missing over the July 4 weekend in 2015, authorities found her empty car with a flat tire on the shoulder of the Bluegrass Parkway. Going over to mamaw Martins and playing phase 10 and aggravation over and over while eating snacks. pic.twitter.com/fg7nhk25jc, Fallon Glick (@FallonGlick) August 2, 2018. To watch the 2018 series, visitOxygen's site. Brooks Houck was named as a suspect in the 2015 disappearance of his ex-girlfriend Crystal Rogers, who is presumed dead. Just a short time after that interview, Brooks Houck was arrested for stealing more than 200 bundles of shingles from Lowe's during four separate visits during an 11-day period. 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. ", "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 mayor of Bardstown said Nick Houck phoned his brotherwhen he knew Brooks was being interviewed by detectives, warning that his brother "should protect himself," and that investigators "might be trying to trip him up," theKentucky Standard reported in 2015. He was fired from the department after Rogers disappearance, WDRB reported. This item is being further evaluated and we will release additional information as it becomes available, the agency tweeted. Brooks Houck was named as a suspect in the 2015 disappearance of his ex-girlfriend Crystal Rogers, who is presumed dead. That August, Whitesides home was searched, as were the homes of Nick Houck and his mother Rosemary Houck, where several pieces of farm equipment were seized, according to WLKY. In July of 2017, Brooks Houcks current girlfriend, Crystal Maupin. The 35-year-old went missing on July 3, 2015. No one has been charged,but Houck was named a suspect in 2015. He later confessed to lying in the case and spent seven months in jail. Copyright 2017 WAVE 3 News. He was a 1958 graduate of Andover Central School. Until the body is found, Nick and Brooks Houck will likely never be charged with her murder, or any others they've committed. Brooks Houck main suspect in Crystal Rogers case | BARDSTOWN, Four years after Crystal Rogerss disappearance, the investigation still focuses on one person: Brooks Houck. When he answered it, it was his brother, Nick Houck, telling him not to talk to investigators. You hope it gets solved, Bardstown resident Paul Monin told the station of the six-year missing-person probe. Rogers family, however, was immediately concerned. Over the years, family raised money for information leading to an arrest in Rogers' and Tommy Ballard's cases. the arrest of Danny Singleton on 38 counts of false swearing after he allegedly lied under oath to a grand jury in relation to the investigation of Crystal Rogers disappearance. The driveway was reportedly dug up, as agents appeared to be zeroed in on the location. Rogers was at the party with Brooks Houck, her boyfriend. Nick was accused of warning his brother that detectives planned to interview him and advised him not to speak with them. Crystal's mother, Sherry Ballard, filed a missing person's report with law enforcement on July 5. "That's what I've done, and it's worked out great this far.". More than a year after Rogers disappeared, her father, 54-year-old Tommy Ballard, was fatally shot in November 2016 while huntingon family property in a rural area outside Bardstown. Federal agents, with help from Nelson County highway department vehicles, were continuing to zero in on a driveway and truck away pieces of concrete and materials from outside a home. He is the only suspect who has been named in the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, his ex-girlfriend and a mother of five. Sherry believes Tommy was getting close to finding out what happened to Rogers before he was killed. A few reports revealed that a suspicious man had been watching Molly. Until justice is served, they have one simple request. Federal authorities said they're searching Brooks Houck's home . Nick then failed a polygraph test conducted by an examiner from the FBI when questioned about the case. 5 years later, nobody knows. BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WTVQ/WHAS) -The FBI is searching a Bardstown neighborhood for evidence in connection to the disappearance of Crystal Rogers. 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. This arraignment has to do with felony theft charges. Their mother lived there at the time of Ellis' death but they sold the place shortly after Ellis died and she moved to the family farm which is off of Highway 49 between Bardstown and Holy Cross. Its especially hard during life's milestones. 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. Until the body is found, Nick and Brooks Houck will likely never be charged with her murder, or any others they've committed. No arrests have been made in connection withRogers' disappearance. The boyfriend of a missing Kentucky woman owns multiple rental properties at a subdivision that is the site of an FBI search Tuesday. The sheriff's office has been the lead investigating agency in Rogers' disappearance. "That's my scary day," she said. He is also the father of Rogers youngest child. Ajudge ruled in February of 2019 that Rogers 6-year-old son could not sit with Ballard until the custody case was complete, WDRB reported. City officials held an administrative hearing on Nick Houck's actions and fired him a day later. "We will definitely send something out when that changes," Anderson said. Rogers disappeared in July 2015. 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. Brooks Houck, an initial suspect and Crystal Rogers' then-boyfriend, has denied involvement in her disappearance. 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. And that's the day that if I ever have too much on my shoulders, that might be the day. 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. She appealed the decision. After a day like that, and almost every day, Kyleigh writes to her mom in a journal. It never gets easier, she said. According to FBI Louisville, based on information collected during the last year by the federal investigation into the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, FBI Louisville is now conducting several searches in the Woodlawn Springs subdivision in Bardstown. Large chunks of the driveway were hauled outof the neighborhood inconstruction trucks. "I don't think my husband's death was an accident," she said. Agentsreportedlywere using a cadaver dog to search the subdivision and a Courier Journal photographer saw investigatorsusing a jackhammer on the driveway of a home. Sheriff Ed Mattingly said at that time that Houck was fully cooperating with the investigation. Like she's just right over my shoulder talking back and reading what I'm writing.. I just watched the Disappearance of Crystal Rogers and a lot of this was theorized in the show. Rogers wasnot known to go anywhere without her kids, according to the FBI. In July of 2017, Brooks Houcks current girlfriend, Crystal Maupin, was arrested after she was allegedly caught on camera ripping up signs connected to the investigation. submission: { Bardstown Police Chief Kim Kraeszig told WDRB that they conducted a search warrant at Houcks house, looking for financial records related to the theft allegations. Its been a very hard week, Rogers mother, Sherry Ballard, told the paper Thursday. Houck has denied involvement with Rogers' disappearance and has never been charged. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Download the ABC 36 News App on your smart phone or tablet device to receive breaking news and weather push notifications the minute it happens. Detectives believe she was murdered. She lived with her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, which was the last time she would be seen alive. The mother and daughter were found dead in their home on Springfield Road near Bardstown. [] I can't even go on the side of the road without looking like a murderer. "I think we're moving in the right direction. News outlets report the home owned by Brooks Houck burned down in Bardstown on Sunday night. Would love your thoughts, please comment. He is the father of Crystal Rogers' youngest child. When nothing is being done and there is so much attention drawn to a case the FBI gets involved they dont always need authorization. Whitesides home was again searched in July 2017, following the death of Rogers father, Tommy Ballard. Disappearance of Crystal Rogers 105: The Inmate Letter, Disappearance of Crystal Rogers 105: Nobody Has a Clue, Disappearance of Crystal Rogers Bonus 105: Detective Jon Snow. All Rights Reserved. Days earlier, FBI Louisville announced that investigators were led to the subdivision based on information gathered in the past year. Among the other past shows on the missing mother is"The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers," which premiered in 2018 onOxygen. 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. In 1979, Crystal Rogers Aunt, Freda Sharene Sherry Ballard, went missing from Bardstown, according to The Kentucky Standard. He was shot from in front, by someone he knew; a fellow police officer, Nick Houck. Then in August came the most intensive search of the Houck family farm. I remember later on them telling me it could be a year before we find any answers. To date, no one has been arrested for the disappearance of Crystal Rogers and the shooting death of Tommy Ballard. 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. I was calling and texting and she wasn't answering, she said. Rogers, a 35-year-old mother of five children, was reported missing on July 3, 2015, from Bardstown. Rogers, who was reported missing by her mother on July 5, 2015, was last seen two days earlier. "We love her and we're trying to find her and we just want her to come home," Sherry Ballard said through tear-filled eyes. I knew my mom was proud, but like just wanting her to be there physically, it was very hard to see other moms there, Fenwick said. "He has not offered once to search or help or do anything for the family," she said. The maroon Chevy Impala had a flat tire with her keys, purse and cellphone still inside. The body of Rogers has never been found. According to WDRB, he owns 129 properties and 11 houses.. . In the beginning of the episode when one of the officers or detectives said that they dont believe any of the murders are connected. "I'll never think it was.". I'm innocent. The motive and person behind his murder remain a mystery to this day. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. I'm sorry for my actions,'" Sherry Ballard said of the letter. Thank you! 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. 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. Singleton later pleaded guilty and was released from jail after being in custody for six months. They were discovered on a farm close to where Rogers car was found. During the summer of 2020, the FBI took over from Kentucky State Police and the Nelson County Sheriff's Office as the lead investigator inthe case, with over 150 federal agentsservingsearch warrants in August 2020 atthree sites owned by Houck and his family members. It's been a long road, and it may be even longer, but I think we're getting close.". However, he described his business as thriving and reportedly planned to replace his older property with new properties. As part of the agreement she must write a letter of apology to Crystal Roger's mother, Sherry Ballard. category_id: null, 25 Feb/23. I don't know if or who else was/is involved, but former Bardstown police officer, Nick Houck is bringing drugs into Bardstown and the surrounding area for a major drug organization. BARDSTOWN on WHAS11: bit.ly/35hUbnH Listen to the BARDSTOWN podcast: whas11.com/article/news/local/bardstownpodcast/417-5362a934-5231-4a40-ad27-3b91c21cb8cb Follow WHAS11 Facebook: bit.ly/2qrsERY Twitter: bit.ly/35iHicO Instagram: bit.ly/35gV0wU, Rogers family in courtroom with Brooks Houck, Brooks Houck spent Thursday morning in a courtroom, but not for anything connected to his former girlfriend, Crystal Rogers of Nelson County. that detectives planned to interview him and advised him not to speak with them. Houck runs Houck Rentals, a business involving real estate holdings of more than 130 parcels in 2018, the Kentucky Standard reported. On August 6, FBI agents raided his home and witnesses told the Kentucky Standard that they saw agents searching the property as well as other agents bringing a handcuffed Nick Houck out of the house Thursday morning., Brooks Houck entering the courtroom followed by family of Crystal Rogers. That poor, poor town. All Rights Reserved. Are there or were there pigs on the Houck family farm?? On Monday, a search was being conducted at a farm at 345 Paschal Ballard Lane. I hope the FBI truly is investigating this. It's very hard. SOLVE THESE MURDERS. Theres a pretty good chance whoever killed him wasnt actually standing on the ramp. She was a very good daughter," Ballard told The Courier Journal. He was about to go hunting with his grandson, one of Rogers' five kids. But his own investigation was cut short when he was shot and killed in November of 2016. Crystal Rogers, 35, has been missing since July 3. All Rights Reserved. During the first two weeks of these searches, Houck was questioned by Nelson County Sheriff's Office Lead Detective Jon Snow. I don't know who. A memorial service for Crystal will be held Wednesday outside St. Thomas Catholic Church in Bardstown at 7:30 p.m. You dont know what kind of monsters live there.. , Brooks did not report her missing for two days, and ultimately it was her own family that went to police. that he only contacted his brother to tell him that "they might be trying to trip him up" and "he should protect himself.". Houck, who started mowing the lawn after agents left his home, has raised some eyebrows. More than a year after their last search, FBI agents descended on a Kentucky farm before sunrise Monday as part of their long-running investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Crystal. 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. 2 weather-related deaths reported from strong Ky. storms, Southern Middle School to move to remote learning March 6-10 after fire, Thousands of Kentuckians without power as storms head east, Lexington tax preparation service owner indicted on tax fraud. Singleton. 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. On Monday, a search was being conducted at a farm at 345 Paschal Ballard Lane. In 2019, ahome being builtby Brooks Houckwas burned down inwhat city officials said was anarson case. publisher_id: "7544", 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. You have permission to edit this article. On November 19, 2016, Crystal Rogers' 54-year-old father. Shortly after that, another family member found Rogers' car abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkway at mile marker 14. He was the last one to see her alive, and is also the only person ever named as a suspect. Investigators received a flood of tips after announcing several searches at the subdivision last week. Houck and Rogers have a son together. "I don't give a *bleep* what your *bleeping* computers said, OK?" Brooks Houck, Rogers' [] Maupin is the girlfriend of Brooks Houck. From the day the case started over a Fourth of July weekend to the FBI taking the case this week, we take a look back at all the major moments. 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. He said that Rogers was on her phone when he went to sleep and gone when he woke up. A few months later, in November, a new sheriff, Ramon Pineiroa, was elected in Nelson County after former Sheriff Ed Mattingly stepped down at the start of the year. 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.". Kyleigh Fenwick was 14 the last time she saw her mom. Rogers disappeared on July 3, 2015. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Do they think people are THAT dumb?? I can tell you if I was not happy with where my daughter's case was going, I would not be quiet like I am now. According to WDRB, Rogers' family dont know who is responsible for the signs.. Brooks Houck is a businessman who is also the former boyfriend and main suspect in the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, a 35-year-old mother of five who went missing under suspicious circumstances on July 3, 2015. It was also announced that Nick Houck was fired from the Bardstown Police Department for interfering with the investigation. I hope you called the FBI with your information and that they are investigating this drug ring. When Crystals car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkway with her belongs still inside, it didn't offer any clues. In October, three months after Rogers disappeared, she was presumed dead by law enforcement. Your email address will not be published. orientation: "portrait", The mother's case has spawned documentaries and podcasts and plenty of news coverage. Ever since her disappearance, Rogers' family has plastered signs around Bardstown and its neighboring communities asking for any information on Rogers. Crystal Maria Rogers is an American woman from Bardstown, Kentucky who went . According to WKLY, one of Houcks employees, Danny Singleton, pleaded guilty to false swearing after he initially faced 38 counts of perjury for lying to detectives. element: "#evvnt-calendar-widget", Brooks' friend was arrested for lying to police. FBI said they arent doing any on camera things just yet. Brooks Houck is the father of the child and primary guardian - he is also the main suspect in Rogers' disappearance though no charges have been filed against him. The FBI said it is "offering up to a$25,000 rewardfor informationleading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible" for Rogers' disappearance. Houck has denied involvement with Rogers'disappearance and has never been charged. Houck told Rogers's. #Bardstown #CrystalRogers https://t.co/dguQlsLZxp pic.twitter.com/NJz6DIetlQ, Hayley Minogue (@HayleyMinogueTV) August 6, 2020. 3rdGenUKGrad. from Lowes. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. At the VERY LEAST -crystal and her fathers murder isnt connected. "Crystal was a very good girl. Investigators had conducted numerous searches on Houck family property, including the home of Anna Whitesides, the grandmother of Brooks Houck. Kentucky State Police officially named Brooks Houck a suspect in Crystal Rogers' disappearance in October 2015, according to NBC News. I was just like, there's no way Im waiting a year to find my daughter, Ballard said, holding back tears. Nelson County Sheriff Ramon Pineiroa told WHAS-11 that Houck is the main suspect in the case of Rogers disappearance, even though he was never charged. The FBI homed in on one property being built by Crystal Rogers' boyfriend -- Brooks Houck, the only suspect named in the case -- at the time of her disappearance in 2015. . Last year a new detective, Joedy Gilliland, took over Crystal's case after Detective John Snow retired. An item of interest was discovered while investigators scoured for clues about the disappearance of Crystal Rogers. Maupin stole some of those signs and was court ordered to write an apology to Sherry Ballard. The bones were reportedly located four miles from a Bardstown farm owned by Crystal Rogers' ex-boyfriend's family where the 35-year-old is believed to have last been seen alive. Features. Just a few days before the fifth anniversary of Rogers' disappearance, one of her daughters spoke publicly for the first time with WDRB News. Everybody keep praying and don't lose the hope, Fenwick said. He was in jail for a short time before he posted bail. Though still considered a missing person case, police are working under the assumption Rogers is dead. WDRB reported that Houck was indicted on four felony counts and four misdemeanor counts of theft after he was accused of taking more than 200 bundles of roofing shingles from Lowes in Nelson County over a period of multiple days. Brooks acts very entitled and arrogant and his explanations/excuses for the last time he saw Crystal are complete BS. But when you really get to know him? For two days, family and friends called and texted her but were unable to reach her. This is starting to get silly. In 2015, Crystal Rogers was last seen at her then boyfriend, Brooks. With the case garnering national attention, so many in Bardstown and across the country have been left wondering what happened to the mother of five. In July, the lead detective in Rogers' case, Snow, retired. According to her boyfriend Brooks Houck, Crystal Rogers was last seen on the night of July 3, 2015. , he said she stayed up late playing games on her phone and was gone the next morning from the house where they lived with their 2-year-old son, Eli, and other children. He is the father of Crystal Rogers' youngest child. On Sept. 7, 2021, the FBI announced that search in Bardstown had ended, with several "items of interest" sent to a lab in Virginia for testing. 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. As a result, a three-judge panel said that there was a detrimental aspect to the boys visits with his grandmother. She confided in a friend that if she were to ever go missing, or turn up dead, that she had a manilla envelope with evidence against Brooks. In December 2015, Louisvilles WDRB reported the arrest of Danny Singleton on 38 counts of false swearing after he allegedly lied under oath to a grand jury in relation to the investigation of Crystal Rogers disappearance. There are other unsolved murders haunting Bardstown. HLN Investigations is a news team that produces breaking news specials and HLN Original Series within the crime and justice genre.