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Post by Joanna on Feb 10, 2019 1:22:09 GMT -5
Dr. Phil Show Generates New Tips in Crystal Rogers Case
The Nelson County sheriff has advised detectives are investigating several new tips that were called in after The Dr. Phil Show aired a special segment Wednesday on the disappearance of Crystal Rogers and death of Tommy Ballard.
Rogers, a Bardstown mother of five, went missing in July 2015. The only person to be named as a suspect was her then-boyfriend, Brooks Houck, but he has never been charged. Sixteen months after Rogers disappeared, Tommy Ballard, her father, was shot and killed while hunting on family land. His death is being investigated by the Kentucky State Police. The Nelson County Sheriff is in charge of the Rogers case.
Sheriff Ramon Pineiroa said people called in tips during and after the segment. He could not provide an exact number, but indicated the lead detective is investigating several new tips. “We’ve gotten tips from Texas all the way to California, from the east coast to the west coast,” he confirmed. “We know we’re on the right track. We’ve been on the right path. It’s just a matter of time and evidence – that one piece that we need to point the finger and say, ‘You’re under arrest.’” He said his officers are searching for physical evidence, but so as not to jeopardize the investigation, he could not provide additional details. “I think we’re very close. I can’t say a timeline, but we’re getting there.”
The lead detective on the Rogers case is planning to retire soon and Pineiroa is in the process of hiring someone who will be dedicated to the case. He said there are two experienced detectives who are interested in the position and he will soon be meeting with one of them to discuss the job.
If you have any information that could help detectives in their search for Crystal Rogers, or know anything about the shooting death of Tommy Ballard, call the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office at (502)-348-1840, or the Kentucky State Police at (270) 766-5078.
Source: Katrina Helmer, WDRB. February 8, 2019.
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Post by jason on Feb 10, 2019 12:56:41 GMT -5
Not much of an update, Joanna.
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Post by Kate on Jun 14, 2019 10:18:14 GMT -5
I'm beginning to think this disappearance and the murders will never be solved. There have been one or two TV shows about it and they always say they receive new tips, but nothing ever comes of them.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Oct 30, 2019 14:26:28 GMT -5
Arrests in Unseld Murder, Brooks Houck ‘Not Guilty’In August, police arrested two men in the June 2016 shooting of Wayne Unseld, 61. Twenty-six-year-old Robert Tate was arrested August 16 on a charge of first-degree murder, and four days later, on August 20, Evan Lyons, 25, was taken into custody. Tate admitted killing Unseld and Lyons was charged with conspiracy to commit murder as well as a probation violation on drug charges.
On the night of June 3, 2016, Unseld was shot inside the apartment he shared with Joseph Cahoe. He was still breathing when paramedics arrived and was transported to the hospital where he died. It is unclear if Unseld knew Tate or Lyons, or what there motive was for killing him.
Wayne Unseld’s son and daughter, Michael Unseld and Heather Hill, said the phone call from Bardstown police indicating there had been an arrest in their father’s case was a call they thought would never come. “I wanted to literally fall on the ground, I started crying immediately,” Hill admitted. “Every time I would go out, I would worry who it was, if they knew us personally, if they would come after us. I don’t know which one was worst: not knowing who it was or having suspects and not knowing why or any other answers. That’s what’s hard.”
“When you get information like this, it's like ripping a Band-Aid off and opening the wound back up,” Michael Unseld said in an interview with WLKY. “It’s mind-blowing. I hope it gives hope to everybody else that’s got to deal with what we’re going through. We’ve been waiting forever to get a glimpse of information. Nobody deserves to be shot in the face.”
“I kind of thought at some point in time, maybe people had forgotten and maybe we were the only ones still out there wanting answers,” Hill added. “Then we got the unexpected call that they had arrested someone. And it kind of gave us hope that okay, they hadn’t forgotten and we’re heading in the right direction now. I wasn’t going to give up because I just had to question them why, and I was going to find out one way or another,” she continued. “This man was a human being, he was a father, he was a grandfather. What you did was unacceptable. I just want to know, did he hold him at gunpoint? Did he just shoot him? Did he make him beg for his life? What was the reasoning behind why he did what he did?”
Hill and Unseld also confirmed they had never heard of either of the men charged with their father’s murder.
Brooks Houck ‘Not Guilty.’ In April 2019, Brooks Houck was found not guilty of the theft of 200 bundles of roofing shingles. The trial was held in Warren County because there was a concern that with all the negative publicity concerning his possible involvement in the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, the mother of his child, he wouldn’t get a fair trial in Bardstown.
Houck was charged with stealing the shingles from a Lowe’s in Nelson County and facing 20 years in prison if convicted. During trial, prosecutor Joe Ballard said that despite Houck’s owning 129 properties and 11 houses, he still felt the need to steal from Lowe’s four times during an 11-day period of time. He compared Houck to celebrity parents recently caught up in the so-called “Varsity Blues” college bribery scandal, insisting, “Rich people steal too.”
The defense blamed Lowe’s, citing the fact the store had inattentive and ill-trained employees and that Houck, who, as a contractor, routinely shopped at the store, but never loaded the shingles onto his own truck.
Following Houck’s acquittal, Peyton Gentry, a member of the jury, said: “It was his mistake and their mistake, but 80 percent theirs, because the workers, every one of them, has only been there one or two months, and that one girl that came up said she lied so she wouldn’t have to be a witness on the case. Plus, we had a contractor on the jury with us and he said when they get it [building materials], they load it and take it to a site. They have other people work for them, so they may never look at it.”
Sherry Ballard, mother of Crystal Rogers, and other family members were in the courtroom for the entire trial. Ballard admitted she was heartbroken by the verdict. “It had guilty written all over it to me,” she told reporters. “He just got away with something else again. I just can’t believe it.”
Sources: Taylor Durden, WAVE, August 22, 2019; Kristopher White, WLKY, August 17, 2019; and Gilbert Corsey and Stephan Johnson, WDRB, April 25, 2019.
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Post by steve on Jun 27, 2020 23:41:05 GMT -5
There was something about this woman's disappearance on TV recently, but there wasn't any new information. Basically, it seems that nobody knows anymore today than when it happened.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Jul 26, 2020 21:19:48 GMT -5
Human Remains May Be Those of Crystal Rogers
Human remains discovered in Nelson County may be those of Crystal Rogers, who went missing in July 2015. The remains were discovered Thursday near the Washington County line.
According to a spokesperson with the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, because of the “difficult to reach location,” the FBI’s Evidence Response Team was called in and the remains are now at the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, where they are undergoing testing. The spokesperson added that additional details are being temporarily withheld “out of respect for family members of multiple missing persons in these areas.”
Ms. Rogers is believed to have been at the home of Brooks Houck, the father of her youngest child, when she vanished, and her family has always blamed him for her disappearance.
Sources: Steve Rogers, WTVQ, July 26, 2020, and Shay McAlister and CJ Daniels, WHAS, July 26, 2020.
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Post by catherine on Jul 27, 2020 8:58:09 GMT -5
If the remains were found accidentally, then the bones must have been just lying there, and if she wasn't buried, why didn't Tommy Ballard, who "searched the entire county," find her? Also, if Brooks Houck killed her and he and his brother, who was a police officer, got rid of the body, why would they just leave it lying on the ground where it could be found? If the body turns out to be that of Crystal Rogers, I don't think the Houck boys had anything to do with her disappearance because a police officer would know to bury the body to make sure someone didn't just stumble across the bones one day.
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Post by Sam on Aug 4, 2020 18:36:08 GMT -5
If the remains were found accidentally, then the bones must have been just lying there, and if she wasn't buried, why didn't Tommy Ballard, who "searched the entire county," find her? Also, if Brooks Houck killed her and he and his brother, who was a police officer, got rid of the body, why would they just leave it lying on the ground where it could be found? If the body turns out to be that of Crystal Rogers, I don't think the Houck boys had anything to do with her disappearance because a police officer would know to bury the body to make sure someone didn't just stumble across the bones one day. The skeleton wasn't on top of the ground, it was actually buried in the bank of a creek called Beech Fork. It was buried pretty deep, but it's been raining a lot and as the water level rose and the current increased, it washed away some of the bank and uncovered the bones. |
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Post by Graveyardbride on Aug 6, 2020 10:44:06 GMT -5
FBI, 150 Law Enforcement Personnel Descend on Bardstown
The FBI has announced the agency is taking over the Crystal Rogers investigation, an indication the remains found July 23 are those of the missing woman.
This morning, in excess of 150 federal and state law enforcement personnel descended on Bardstown, executing nine federal search warrants. At present, officers are searching the home of Brooks Houck, the home of his brother, Nick Houck, and the Houck family farm at 345 Paschal Ballard Road, all of which have been searched in the past.
“I have committed publicly and privately that delivering long-sought justice in Nelson County is the highest priority case of the United States Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman in a news release. “Today’s efforts by our stalwart FBI, Internal Revenue Service and Kentucky State Police partners is a major step in honoring that promise.”
Sources: WLKY and WKYT, August 6, 2020.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Aug 6, 2020 19:40:15 GMT -5
No Arrests in Crystal Rogers CaseInvestigators executed nine search warrants in and around Bardstown today, including one at 113 Glenview Drive (above), the home of Brooks Houck, the only named suspect in the disappearance of Crystal Rogers. According to witnesses, FBI and IRS agents spent almost 10 hours at the house, removing boxes of documents, guns and computers.
After agents departed, Houck was observed repairing his door, which was apparently damaged during the search, and mowing his lawn.
As Houck’s home was being searched, approximately 3½ miles away at 730 Pulliam Avenue, neighbors saw police dogs sniffing around a truck belonging to Houck’s brother, Nick, a former Bardstown police officer.
The two brothers were administered polygraph examinations in October 2015 and according to reports, both failed. Not long thereafter, the police department fired Nick Houck for interfering in the investigation.
Thus far, no one has been arrested in the case.Sources: Heather Fountaine, WHAS, and The Louisville Courier-Journal, August 6, 2020.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Aug 8, 2020 9:19:20 GMT -5
FBI May Be Looking at Other Unsolved Bardstown Cases
While the primary target of the FBI investigation centers around Crystal Rogers, based on information on the Crystal Rogers Task Force website, it is believed the agency may be focusing on other high profile cases as well:
“As a result of the overwhelming number of tips received relating to not just Crystal’s disappearance, but also the unsolved murders of Tommy Ballard (Crystal’s father killed by a shotgun blast in 2016), Jason Ellis (a Bardstown police officer ambushed and killed in 2013), and Kathy and Samantha Netherland (a mother and daughter brutally murdered in 2014), it is necessary to include their cases on this page as well,” the site reads. “As a small community we remain vigilant in seeking justice for all of the families who deserve answers.”
At present, there has been no official announcement concerning the identity of the remains discovered July 23, however, based on FBI activities during the past two days, it is generally assumed they are those of Crystal Rogers.
Special Agent Robert Brown of the FBI office in Louisville has appealed to the public for any information concerning the Crystal Rogers case. “I ask that members of the community think back to July 3rd and 4th of 2015,” he said. “For those individuals who have information about this incident but who have not yet spoken to law enforcement for whatever reason, please contact us.”
According to Commissioner Rodney Brewer of the Kentucky State Police, “We have followed up on hundreds of tips from the public and logged thousands of investigative hours towards this endeavor. We will continue our efforts until justice is served and welcome the assistance of our federal partners.”
Sources: Crystal Rogers Task Force; Andrea Cavallier, NBC News, August 7, 2020; WHAS; and Forrest Berkshire, The Kentucky Standard, August 7, 2020.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Aug 10, 2020 11:49:56 GMT -5
FBI Seeks Information Concerning Vehicles in Two PhotosThe FBI is seeking information regarding vehicles (above) recorded by a camera at the intersection of Balltown and Paschal Ballard roads, the exact location being 1064 Loretto Road, near “My Old Kentucky Home Campground.” The time the photo was taken hasn’t been released at this time. The photo shows two SUVs, one red and the other white, and it is believed the red vehicle is the one in which the FBI is interested.
A second photo from another location taken at night shows nothing more than headlights.
In addition to boxes of documents and other items removed from the home of Brooks Houck on Thursday (April 6), the FBI also has taken possession of the maroon Chevrolet Impala belonging to Crystal Rogers which was discovered abandoned on the Bluegrass Highway.
Sherry Ballard, mother of the missing woman, has wanted the FBI to become involved in the investigation since the beginning.
Sources: Crystal Rogers Task Force; WHAS, August 9, 2020; and Eleanor Buckley, WLEX, August 9, 2020.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Aug 10, 2020 19:12:09 GMT -5
FBI Agents Canvass Neighborhood Near Houck Farm
After receiving multiple tips on the task force website, today (August 10), the FBI canvassed the Valley View Estates neighborhood, interviewing numerous residents. The canvass came less than 24 hours after the agency announced agents had completed judicially-authorized search activities in Bardstown. Valley View Estates is in the general vicinity where human remains were discovered near Beech Fork, not far from the Houck family farm on Paschal Ballard Road.
During the initial search on Thursday (August 6), witnesses reported seeing agents remove at least four huge guns from the home of Nick Houck at 730 Pulliam Avenue.
There is still no confirmation the skeletal remains discovered July 23 are those of Crystal Rogers.
Sources: The Crystal Rogers Task Force website, and WDRB, August 10, 2020.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Aug 12, 2020 23:31:14 GMT -5
FBI Agents Question Nick Houck’s Neighbors
The FBI was back in Bardstown Wednesday searching for clues in the Crystal Rogers Case. This time, three pairs of agents went door-to-door on Pulliam Avenue, the street on which Nick Houck lives, interviewing residents for approximately 10-15 minues.
According to Betty Foster, who has lived on Pulliam Avenue for 30 years, agents asked her if she recognized the red or white SUVs in a photograph released Monday. “They just came in and had some photos that they were showing me, that did I recognize from five years ago, she said. “I can’t remember five years ago, so I wasn’t much help,” she admitted, but added, “I’m glad that the FBI are investigating because I hope it brings closure to the Ballards.”
Sources: The Crystal Rogers Task Force, and Sara Sidery, WDRB, August 12, 2020.
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Post by Graveyardbride on Aug 15, 2020 15:00:57 GMT -5
FBI Announces New Area of Interest in Crystal Rogers Case
A new area of interest, this one east of Bardstown, has been revealed by law enforcement in the Crystal Rogers Case. The FBI is now asking for anyone near Poplar Flat Road and Farmaway Drive on July 4, 2015, to come forward.
“Based on some information received from the community, we are asking the public to take a moment and remember where they may have been in the early morning hours of July 4th. Were you in the vicinity of Poplar Flats Road and Farmaway Drive?” the FBI update asks. “Can you remember what you saw, or what you may have heard? Do you recall anything unusual or out of place that morning near that location? Do you have surveillance cameras that capture this area? The FBI and the community is asking you to share such information if you were in that area at that time. Even if you do not believe your information is relevant, we still ask you contact us with any information from this time period and location.”
Sources: The Crystal Rogers Taskforce, and Karla Ward, The Lexington Herald-Leader, August 15, 2020.
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