Latest news with #CrystalRogers
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cell phone analyst experts testify at second day of Steven Lawson trial
Cell phone records show a defendant on trial in the Crystal Rogers investigation deleted several calls around the time Rogers disappeared, including at least one call with the main suspect, according to testimony from the second day of his trial. Steven Lawson, 54, of Chaplin, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence for the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, a mother of five from Bardstown. Rogers, 35, was last seen on July 3, 2015, and was reported missing two days later. Her body has never been found, though she is presumed dead. Her car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkway shortly after she was reported missing. Wednesday was the second day of Lawson's trial at the Warren County Justice Center in Bowling Green, and it featured testimony from cell phone analytics experts and former employees of Brooks Houck, Rogers' former boyfriend and the main suspect in the case. Nelson County Circuit Judge Charles Simms III previously decided to sever Lawson's trial from the other two suspects charged with Rogers' disappearance, Houck and Joseph Lawson, Steven Lawson's son. Houck is charged with murder and tampering with evidence while Joseph Lawson is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and complicity to tampering with evidence. Their joint jury trial is scheduled for late June. Steven Lawson's trial began Tuesday with opening statements and testimony from Rogers' mother, Sherry Ballard, and Nelson County Sheriff's Office Detective Jon Snow. Two cell phone analytics experts testified Wednesday about the activity of Lawson's phone around the time Rogers disappeared. Melissa Dover, a crime and intelligence analyst with the Elizabethtown Police Department, said there were many calls deleted from Steven Lawson's phone between July 3 and July 9, 2015. More than one of the deleted calls involved Houck, including a two-minute call on July 8, according to Dover. Steven Lawson's phone was also very active the night Rogers was last seen alive. Dover testified he missed two calls from his son at 11:06 p.m. and 11:54 p.m. Joseph Lawson called his son again at 12:03 a.m. on July 4 and the two talked for nearly three minutes, according to Dover. At 12:07 a.m. Steven Lawson called Houck and the conversation lasted 15 seconds. Steven Lawson spoke with his son over the phone one more time that evening at 1:08 a.m. for nearly four minutes, according to Dover. The following evening around 7:15 p.m. Joseph Lawson texted Steven Lawson asking what he's doing, and Steven Lawson responded with, 'same as you, sitting around having a bad day.' On July 17 Steven Lawson told his son over text to only communicate in person and avoid phone calls or text messages, according to Dover. The jury also heard from Tim O'Daniel a digital forensics analyst with the Louisville Metro Police Department. He shared his analysis of Steven Lawson's phone records, which showed his phone traveling around the area of the Bluegrass Parkway, including the area where Rogers' car was discovered, the night of her disappearance. A few of Houck's former employees were called to the witness stand Wednesday. One of them, Stacie Cramer, testified that one day she spotted Houck and Steven Lawson having a conversation in Houck's truck. The two drove around the neighborhood talking for a while, and Cramer said that wasn't typical behavior. Cramer used to build decks and install insulation for Houck's construction projects. At this particular job site, she was repairing a crack in a ceiling. When Steven Lawson was walking back to his truck after the conversation with Houck, Cramer asked him if she was in trouble for the ceiling crack. Cramer testified that Lawson said no and that he's got to go take care of something, referencing a girl with five children. Rogers has five children. Cramer said she never saw Steven Lawson at a job site after July 5, the date Rogers was reported missing. Cramer shared her account with Nelson County Sheriff's Office the following October 2015. Another former employee, Charlie Girdley, said he was hanging out with Joseph Lawson when he mentioned burying a girl and that they'd never find her. Girdley and Joseph Lawson later went to pick up Steven Lawson at a property on Thompson Hill Road and saw Rogers' car at the property. Girdley said he remembered seeing Houck give Joseph Lawson the keys to Rogers' car, saying it needed repairs, he testified.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crystal Rogers case: Steve Lawson's stepchildren, former coworkers testify on day 2 of trial
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (FOX 56) — Day two of Steve Lawson's trial in connection with the disappearance of Crystal Rogers is underway in Bowling Green. Lawson is charged with conspiracy to murder and tampering with physical evidence, and he's one of three people accused in the Bardstown mother's presumed death. Rogers was last seen on July 3, 2015, and her mother reported her missing two days later after her vehicle was found, still running, at mile marker 14 on the Bluegrass Parkway. She has since been presumed dead, but her body has yet to be found. Lawson's trial was moved from Nelson County to Bowling Green due to significant publicity surrounding Rogers' disappearance. DAY 1 | Crystal Rogers trial begins: The judge's final orders and first witnesses Cameras and recording devices are not allowed in the courtroom, per the judge's orders. On May 28, we heard five new witness testimonies and the defense's first cross-examination of Jonathan Snow so far, with proceedings resuming after recess. Judge Charles Simms said the trial is ahead of schedule and things are moving more quickly than expected. Crystal Rogers case: Steve Lawson's stepchildren, former coworkers testify on day 2 of trial Crystal Rogers trial begins: The judge's final orders and first witnesses Nearly 10 years after Crystal Rogers vanished in Bardstown, one of the men accused will stand trial: What to expect Here's a live look at what's occurred so far: Cross-examination of former lead detective Jonathan Snow Called Jamie Brooks to the stand, another detective who assisted in phone examination and and collection; no cross-examination. Called Lauren Hardin to the stand. She is Lawson's stepdaughter to his late wife, Tammy Lawson. She testified she was not looking for a rental property in July 2015, despite Lawson claiming that's what he called Brooks about at midnight on July 3. Further, Hardin said she was renting a property from Rogers and Houck already and was in the process of being evicted. Called Elizabeth Chesser to the stand. She shares a child with Lawson's son, Joseph, who's set to face a jury in June. Defense called her testimony a 'bombshell' after claiming Lawson wanted to leave his late wife, Tammy, because she 'had murder on him' and was going to tell. Also an alleged comment from Lawson, 'No evidence, no case.' Chesser believed that this was about Crystal Rogers. When she was watching a 2017 Oxygen docuseries and heard Steve's voice on a recording for the first time, from a 2015 interview with Houck, who called Steven mid-interview to inquire why he called him late at night on July 3. She said she believed testifying was the right thing to do and hoped it brought Sherry Ballard, Rogers' mom, peace. Defense questioned her loyalty to Sherry. Lawson shakes his head at Chesser, who's still on the witness stand. Chesser's testimony is the first time jurors submitted any questions surrounding Chesser's relationship with her mother at the time of Lawson's statements. In each defense cross-examination, it typically focuses on the following points: history of drug use, watching docuseries about the case, their preparations with the prosecution, and places emphasis on the length of time between 2015 and the trial. Called Stacie Cramer to the stand. She's a former employee of Houck. She allegedly witnessed Lawson riding around with Houck, talking about how he had to take care of a girl with 5 kids. Although her written statement said it was about a girl 'on meth' with kids involved. It's unknown if Crystal was a drug user. Called Charlie Girdly to the stand. He's a former employee of Houck. He claimed that in 2015, Lawson told Girdly that 'Brooks asked him to get rid of his old lady,' but that he had the wrong guy. Further, he testified that Houck gave Joseph Lawson the keys to Roger's car around the time of her disappearance to 'work on it.' Proceedings are expected to resume around 1 p.m. CST. This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 56 News for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Crystal Rogers trial begins: The judge's final orders before the jury is seated
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (FOX 56) — 'Where is Crystal Rogers?' has plagued Nelson County for nearly a decade. Now, her family and friends sit in a Warren County courtroom, hopeful for answers. A judge is set to hear the case against 54-year-old Steven Lawson, one of the men charged in connection with the Bardstown mother's disappearance. It's the first of two trials related to the case. Nearly 10 years after Crystal Rogers vanished in Bardstown, one of the men accused will stand trial: What to expect On Tuesday morning, Lawson's attorney, Darren Wolff, made one last effort to postpone the trial. He argued that the defense team hadn't had enough time to review the discovery, after only receiving the case in August 2024, when Lawson fired his previous attorney during a hearing. Wolff said the defense has received around 400,000 pages of written material and called reviewing evidence in an investigation that spanned 10 years in only eight months impossible. 'We are simply not prepared,' Wolff pleaded. Further, Wolff hinted that the death of Bardstown police officer Jason Ellis is expected to be mentioned throughout the trial, and his team has yet to review the discovery concerning the Ellis case. Crystal Rogers trial begins: The judge's final orders before the jury is seated Bourbon County horse rescue offering shelter to tornado victims Lexington non-profit's Memorial Day picnic celebrates recovery and resilience Judge Charles Simms said the argument was irrelevant to the overall nature of the Lawson case. 'Nobody is solving the Jason Ellis case during this trial,' Simms said. On Friday, May 23, Kentucky media outlets filed an emergency intervention requesting that the judge consider allowing one camera in the courtroom after filing an order prohibiting the use of all electronic devices throughout the trial. The motion was also heard on Tuesday morning. Special prosecutor Shane Young argued that the media had no right to intervene. Simms affirmed that he's seen thousands of cases throughout his career, and nothing amounts to the attention the Rogers case has received, describing it as 'circus-like.' 'I'm exhausted, and the trial hasn't even started,' Simms said. Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news He ultimately denied the media's emergency intervention. Jury selection is ongoing, and officials announced that they plan to be ready for deliberation by Friday, May 30. This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 56 News for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nearly 10 years after Crystal Rogers vanished in Bardstown, one of the men accused will stand trial: What to expect
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (FOX 56) — For nearly 10 years, the question 'Where is Crystal Rogers?' has plagued the Nelson County community, and on Tuesday, May 27, a jury will be seated to begin to unravel the answer for the first time. In a Warren County courtroom, a little over 100 miles from Bardstown, 54-year-old Steven Lawson will face a jury of his peers. In 2023, Lawson was charged with tampering with physical evidence and conspiracy to murder in connection with the disappearance of Crystal Rogers. 8 years of no answers: Where is Crystal Rogers? Crystal Rogers, a Bardstown mother, was 35 when she was last seen by her then-boyfriend, Brooks Houck, on July 3, 2015. According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Hock said he went to bed alone, and Rogers allegedly stayed up on her phone. That was the last time Rogers was reportedly seen alive. She was reported missing by her mother on July 5. That same day, her father, Tommy Ballard, discovered her car abandoned with a flat tire at mile marker 14 on the Bluegrass Parkway. Her phone, keys, and purse were still inside the red Chevrolet Impala. According to the FBI's Most Wanted Missing Persons database, Rogers was a mother to five children and is not known to go anywhere without them. Nearly 10 years after Crystal Rogers vanished in Bardstown, one of the men accused will stand trial: What to expect Country star gives back to Kentucky tornado victims Jessamine County Memorial Day service brings in hundreds to honor the fallen In 2023, the seemingly cold case gained momentum, and police would make a string of three arrests in connection with the investigation. Two years later, Brooks Houck, Steven Lawson, and Joseph Lawson are slated for trial by jury in connection with Rogers' disappearance. After a lengthy court battle, a judge ruled that Houck and Joseph would be tried together. Steven will be tried alone. The ruling stems from what the judge called Steven's 'wildly inconsistent' and 'ever-evolving' testimonies of what occurred leading to Rogers' disappearance. The court believed that Houck and Joseph wouldn't receive a fair trial if all three men were tried together. His trial will be the first of the two, beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The list of court filings made since Steven's 2023 arrest is lengthy, but its contents offer a glimpse of what the jury will hear in the Warren County courtroom. Crystal Rogers case: Man files motion to drop charges, 'promised immunity' Man charged in Crystal Rogers case fires attorney during hearing Hair found in Crystal Rogers' car nearly a decade ago isn't hers, to be DNA tested What we know about the 2015 Nancy Grace interview to be used as evidence in Crystal Rogers case A reported immunity agreement was made between Steven and the investigators in exchange for the truth. However, prosecutors have argued that Lawson has lied repeatedly to minimize his role in the Rogers case. A judge later rejected Steven's claims. In June 2024, evidence filed in Steven's immunity case revealed that he told investigators he saw his son and another man 'burning and digging' with construction equipment on a farm on Thompson Hill Road within five days of Rogers' disappearance in 2015. 'Obviously, the Commonwealth is convinced that parts of Lawson's statement are truthful,' May 2024 court documents state. But they go on to reveal that prosecutors believe that Lawson was more involved in Rogers' disappearance and death than he's let on. He allegedly admitted that he was recruited by Houck to move Rogers' car in the early morning hours of July 4, 2015, as well as looking for someone to 'get rid of Crystal Rogers,' per court documents. The filing alleges that the pair spent an 'inordinate amount of time together' preceding Rogers' disappearance, and witnesses allegedly claim that conversations between them and Steven show that Houck attempted to recruit Lawson or have him recruit somebody else to 'get rid of Rogers.' 'S. Lawson's statements fall apart when questions arise about what he was doing certain hours of the early morning of July 4 as well as the phone call Houck made to Lawson on July 8 from the police station,' the documents read. Lawson allegedly told detectives that the call in the early morning hours of July 4, 2015, was to tell Houck that 'the job is done,' alluding to the car being moved, per court documents. See the latest coverage of people missing in Kentucky Report a missing person(s) to FOX 56 News The latest breakthrough in the case was in regard to hair that was recovered from Rogers' car in 2015 and never tested for DNA. Kentucky State Police investigators reportedly determined the samples are not 'similar in characteristics' to Rogers' hair. A special prosecutor asked the judge to order that Steven complete a buccal swab for comparison. But DNA testing could take months, and the court opted not to delay the trial any further in an April 2025 order. The trial against Houck and Joseph is set to begin on June 24. Jury selection for Steven's trial will begin around 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Steven Lawson trial to start soon. What to know ahead of first trial in Crystal Rogers case
After nearly a decade, the first trial connected with the disappearance and presumed death of Bardstown mother Crystal Rogers is set to begin May 27. Steven Lawson, 54, of Bardstown, will stand trial for charges including conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence, according to court records. While the alleged crime occurred in Nelson County, the trial will take place in Warren County because of the national attention the case has received. Two other men, Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson — Steven Lawson's son — will stand trial for charges related to the case starting June 24. Here's what to know about the case and the upcoming trial. Rogers, a 35-year-old mother of five children, went missing around July 3, 2015, from Bardstown. Her car was found abandoned on Bluegrass Parkway with her keys, phone and purse inside. Rogers was not known to go anywhere without her kids, according to the FBI. Rogers' body has never been found, but she is presumed dead by investigators. Steven Lawson — the third and latest person charged in the case — was arrested in December 2023. The 54-year-old man faces charges of tampering with physical evidence and conspiracy to murder. He has pleaded not guilty. Joseph Lawson, Steven Lawson's 34-year-old son, was arrested in September 2023. He was the first person arrested in the case. Joseph Lawson, like his father, faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence, according to court records. He has pleaded not guilty. Houck, 43, was arrested in September 2023, just weeks after Joseph Lawson was taken into custody. The FBI announced Houck was arrested "without incident" at a job site. Houck is charged with murder "by intentionally or under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life wantonly causing the death of Crystal Rogers," according to court records. He is also charged with tampering with physical evidence. Houck, Rogers' boyfriend at the time of her disappearance and the father of her youngest child, told investigators he last saw Rogers alive when they visited his family's farm the night before she disappeared. He has denied involvement in the disappearance and has pleaded not guilty. In March 2024, attorneys for Lawson filed a motion to dismiss his charges or have his statements to the Kentucky State Police and his grand jury testimony suppressed. According to the motion, Lawson was promised immunity by state investigators in exchange for his cooperation and gave multiple interviews with investigators based on that offer. Judge Charles Simms denied the requests to dismiss the charges against Steven Lawson and suppress his testimony but allowed statements he gave during interviews with KSP to be excluded, according to court records. Lawson fired his defense attorney during a pretrial hearing Aug. 8, 2024. At the beginning of the hearing, Lawson asked for permission from the court to remove attorney Theodore Lavit as his defense. He was sitting by Lavit when he informed the court of his intention. The removal of Lavit came as prosecutors alleged improper collusion between the lawyer and another defense team in the case. Prosecutors filed a motion in March 2024 to consolidate the three defendants into a joint trial, citing the grounds that each indictment is centered around Rogers' murder. All three men pushed back against that attempt. In November 2024, Simms issued an order for Steven Lawson to be tried separately from Joseph Lawson and Houck, according to court records. In his order, Simms pointed to prosecutors' intent to use Steven Lawson's "ever-evolving" grand jury testimony at a joint trial. Attorneys for Joseph Lawson and Houck have said they want to use interviews between Steven Lawson and investigators — which cannot be used against Steven Lawson because of a prior immunity agreement — to explain why his grand jury testimony changed over time. Joseph Lawson and Houck, Simms said, would suffer prejudice if the jury heard Steven Lawson's grand jury testimony but not his interviews. Houck is a prominent businessman in Nelson County involved in real estate. He is a current officer for Houck Rentals in Bardstown, according to Kentucky Secretary of State records. Court records show the Lawsons performed work for Houck. Both trials related to Rogers' disappearance will take place in Warren County. Simms ordered to move the trials there following motions by all three defendants to move court proceedings outside of Nelson County, where the alleged crimes occurred. The chosen venue is roughly 100 miles south of Bardstown. The co-defendants argued that keeping the trial in Nelson County would impede their rights to a fair and impartial trial because the publicity and news coverage the case has received could lead to a prejudiced jury pool. Steven Lawson was originally set to stand trial in February 2025, but it was delayed to May after his defense filed a motion Jan. 3 asking for the trial to be postponed to allow time for them to review prosecutorial evidence. The motion came after he had fired his former defense attorney, Theodore Lavit, in August 2024. His new defense attorneys, Darren Wolff and Zach Buckler, said they needed more time to review an "anomalously high' amount of evidence to ensure a full defense and fair trial, according to court records. Steven Lawson filed another motion to delay his trial in April, but it was denied. Former Courier Journal reporter Rachel Smith contributed. Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@ or @bkillian72 on X. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Crystal Rogers murder case: Steven Lawson trial, timeline, venue
