- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Over 150 members of the FBI and law enforcement in Bardstown for Crystal Rogers case
Posted on 8/6/20 at 9:12 am
Posted on 8/6/20 at 9:12 am
For some non-COVID news (that will definitely lead you down a rabbit hole):
Nine federal search warrants were issued this AM for properties in the Bardstown area related to the Crystal Rogers case. Three of which have been identified as her boyfriend's home (Brooks Houck), his brother's home (former Bardstown PD Office Nick Houck), and his Grandmother's home (on the Houck Family Farm).
WLKY's link to today's movement on the case
It's suspected (since the identity of the remains haven't been annouced) that remains found in Nelson County a week and a half ago (July 23rd) were Crystal Rogers. Upon the discovery of the remains in a wooded area on the Nelson County/Washington County state line the FBI was called in and the remains were sent to Virginia for identification.
Lexington Herald Leader story on Nelson County remains found
Photo from Nick Houck's home this morning:
For those who don't know, her case is a missing person's case that has been featured on several TV networks most notably on NBC's The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers program two years ago.
The Wiki covers some of the case for a quick read. Long story short, she went missing on July 3rd, 2015. Her car was found on the side of the Bluegrass Parkway with keys and purse still inside. Local law enforcement suspects her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, and his brother, Nick Houck (who was a Bardstown officer at the time) were involved in her disappearance but never had enough evidence to charge either one.
Crystal's father, Tommy Ballard, was also killed in 2016 on his hunting land early in the morning while hunting with his grandson son. Her mother, Sherry Ballard, suspected he was killed because he was getting "too close" as he had never stopped investigating the case himself.
Nine federal search warrants were issued this AM for properties in the Bardstown area related to the Crystal Rogers case. Three of which have been identified as her boyfriend's home (Brooks Houck), his brother's home (former Bardstown PD Office Nick Houck), and his Grandmother's home (on the Houck Family Farm).
WLKY's link to today's movement on the case
It's suspected (since the identity of the remains haven't been annouced) that remains found in Nelson County a week and a half ago (July 23rd) were Crystal Rogers. Upon the discovery of the remains in a wooded area on the Nelson County/Washington County state line the FBI was called in and the remains were sent to Virginia for identification.
Lexington Herald Leader story on Nelson County remains found
Photo from Nick Houck's home this morning:
For those who don't know, her case is a missing person's case that has been featured on several TV networks most notably on NBC's The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers program two years ago.
The Wiki covers some of the case for a quick read. Long story short, she went missing on July 3rd, 2015. Her car was found on the side of the Bluegrass Parkway with keys and purse still inside. Local law enforcement suspects her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, and his brother, Nick Houck (who was a Bardstown officer at the time) were involved in her disappearance but never had enough evidence to charge either one.
Crystal's father, Tommy Ballard, was also killed in 2016 on his hunting land early in the morning while hunting with his grandson son. Her mother, Sherry Ballard, suspected he was killed because he was getting "too close" as he had never stopped investigating the case himself.
16
Posted on 8/6/20 at 9:15 am to BluegrassBelle
quote:
Rogers disappeared in July 2015. Her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, was named a suspect in her disappearance by the Nelson County sheriff’s office. Houck’s home was destroyed in a 2019 fire, according to the Bardstown Fire Department. Authorities had previously searched a large farm belonging to Houck’s mother in August 2015.
Houck’s brother, Nick, was fired from the Bardstown Police Department after allegedly interfering with the investigation into Rogers’ disappearance.
More than a year later, Rogers’ father died of a gunshot wound while hunting, police said. He had been looking into his daughter’s disappearance.
"Something's fricky"
Posted on 8/6/20 at 9:18 am to nerd guy
quote:
Houck’s home was destroyed in a 2019 fire, according to the Bardstown Fire Department.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 9:19 am to BluegrassBelle
send in the pharmacist!
Posted on 8/6/20 at 9:35 am to BluegrassBelle
quote:
Crystal Roger’s father, Tommy Ballard, went hunting on Ballard’s private property with his 12-year-old grandson on the morning of November 19, 2016. At some point the 54-year-old remained alone in the field, while his grandson walked back to the car to retrieve something they had forgotten. It was at this time that Tommy was shot and killed by a single gunshot to the chest. Police ruled out a possible suicide, as Tommy’s gun was never fired.[11]
That family was being targeted it appears.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 10:10 am to nerd guy
quote:
"Something's fricky"
That's an understatement.
quote:
Early on, 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.
At one point, investigators zeroed in on Houck's grandmother, Anna Whitesides.
The state believed her car may have been used to dispose of Rogers' body. Whitesides, who had previously talked to investigators, later invoked her Fifth Amendment right, refusing to testify when called to court. Both her car and home were analyzed.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 10:28 am to BluegrassBelle
A lot of people think Crystal knew too much about what happened to Officer Jason Ellis. Way too many mysterious killings for a town like Bardstown. Here's hoping justice is served.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 10:31 am to BluegrassBelle
Sad story all the way around.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 10:31 am to Lynxrufus2012
I was watching WLKY earlier and they reported the IRS also at Brooks Houck’s residence. Thought that was interesting in itself.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 10:45 am to BluegrassBelle
Thanks for the update. I always wondered if a sniper took Ballard out. I hope they get to the bottom of this.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 10:53 am to BluegrassBelle
quote:
Bardstown
Sounds like my kind of place!
Posted on 8/6/20 at 10:54 am to BluegrassBelle
Looking for drug money trail I bet.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 11:07 am to BluegrassBelle
So what's the supposition as to why Brooks killed her?
Posted on 8/6/20 at 11:23 am to Bard
quote:
So what's the supposition as to why Brooks killed her?
I think a lot of people believe he and his family was into some shady dealings. Possibly drugs (especially given the frequency cartels are moving up and down I-65 in this area). There's been some other deaths in the area that point to something bigger than Rogers.
quote:
“I think Brooks murdered my daughter. I've never made that a secret,” Ballard said. “I think my husband's is related. I won't accuse anybody of his death, but I think it is related. Someone wanted my husband out of the way. They knew he was never going to give up searching for my daughter and I think they just want him out of the way.”
Ballard said she tries to keep pushing for answers, but admitted it was hard after her husband was killed. Still, family and friends continue to fight for justice in Crystal and Tommy’s cases—as well as the deaths of Jason Ellis and Kathy and Samantha Netherland.
Details on the Officer Jason Ellis case that happened in about 2 1/2 years before Rogers.
WHAS11 follow up on 2014 Netherlands double murder case
Local investigators have said they know who did it and how but they just needed the evidence. My guess is that came with the body they found a week and a half ago.
quote:
Pineiroa did not comment on much of the case as the investigation is still active, but said that it has been the most challenging case the sheriff’s office has taken on in his 13 years. He said the office has been working on getting all “your ducks in a row” to ensure that they can move forward with the case.
“What people don't understand, or the misconception is, yes, we can go make an arrest today, but if we don't have what we need, we go to trial and he walks out that same day and says, ‘Yep I did it,’ you can't charge him,” Pineiroa said. “It's double jeopardy.”
Ballard said that while it is frustrating waiting for answers in both her daughter and her husband’s cases, she does feel better with Pineiroa’s team.
“They're very good, I mean they don't treat me like I'm the plague when I go up there,” Ballard said. “They're very cooperative with me. Before, when the old sheriff was here, it was hard.”
When asked by the UNSOLVED team if the sheriff’s office knew who did it, and possibly how they did it, but was just trying to put together the evidence to prove it, Pineiroa said yes.
“The main part is you got to get your evidence…[then] you'll move forward with the case,” Pineiroa said.
WHAS11 Article from November 2019 on the case
Posted on 8/6/20 at 11:37 am to Bard
Belle has given the links but in summary Jason Ellis was investigating the Houcks for drug dealing. He was ambushed and murdered. Crystal may have known too much about both and her father was getting too close to figuring things out.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 11:49 am to Lynxrufus2012
quote:
Belle has given the links but in summary Jason Ellis was investigating the Houcks for drug dealing.
I've always felt like it was an inside job too. Someone likely knew he didn't have his K-9 with him, nor his regular car that had a dash cam (the pool car he used did not). It also happened after he had dropped off a late arrest and was on his regular route home from working his regular (second) shift.
They also found the branches from the tree he was moving was not indigenous to the area. It was absolutely premeditated and planned.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 11:52 am to BluegrassBelle
is the OT about to solve another crime?
Posted on 8/6/20 at 12:02 pm to BluegrassBelle
Absolutely an inside job. Someone who knew exactly where he was going and at what time. Someone inside local law enforcement that could monitor police radio. Everybody knows who did or at least who caused it to happen. Now hopefully it can be proven or if we are wrong, disproven. Justice for the Ellis family!
I remember the people in Versailles making up the luminaries to line the road to honor Officer Ellis.
I remember the people in Versailles making up the luminaries to line the road to honor Officer Ellis.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 12:15 pm to BluegrassBelle
Someone of significance has gotten involved.
No way in hell the FBI or this much expenditure of resources would be put into an everyday person's disappearance.
No way in hell the FBI or this much expenditure of resources would be put into an everyday person's disappearance.
Posted on 8/6/20 at 12:18 pm to BluegrassBelle
It was marty jannety
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News