She would attend her childrens school parties and make efforts to help their teachers, Ballard said. The mayor of Bardstown said Nick Houck interfered with the investigation by phoning his brother on July 8 when 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," the Kentucky Standard reported at the time. Scotty Sharp, a spokesman for the police, said they continue to receive tips, but Our main focus is Officer Ellis family. But Tommy never said what type of vehicle it was that had been tailing him. we arrested someone else, Hill said. It's unclear if Unseld knew Tate or Lyons. So, if youre curious about what happened in this case, weve got you covered. Team Crystal was a group of family members and other local residents willing to do anything for Sherry and Tommy to help them determine what happened to Rogers. Her remains were found buried in the woods in 1983. Around July 5 or 6 (again, this varies depending on which article you read), police held a press conference about the case. We've talked about it at length. Mother of five, Crystal Rogers has been missing from Bardstown, KY since July 3, 2015. If he is so innocent, like he says he is. Her family tried to contact Crystal for two days via text and calling but they were not able to reach her. Second arrest made in 2016 Bardstown murder. "I think the whole town wants it." No arrests have been announced in the case as. The Sheriffs Office had been investigating the remains since at least Friday, and several people reported seeing the FBI vehicle come through Bardstown. Rogers, who was 35 when she disappeared, loved to take her children swimming at the Ballard house, Ballard said. I know crystals mother cannot see the grandson that lives with his father. We want closure., RELATED: Who Killed Lonnie Lard Anthony? Michael Wayne Unseld was shot and killed above what used to be the Broke Tee Nite Club in Bardstown in 2016. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. But the two still showed up daily, staying well into the evening and waving at workers as they drove excavators, trucks full of dirt and evidence trailers in and out of the otherwise quiet Kentucky neighborhood. Bardstown was named after its pioneering founders Davis Bard and William Bard. She doesnt want to be in the way. The second search took place in the Woodlawn Springs subdivision, where Brooks Houck's construction company built several houses shortly after the disappearance of Crystal Rogers. They cant hold it against me that my daughter was murdered and just assume that Im going to speak badly of the father. Never. Just like our community we were hopeful it would assist in answers and closure in Crystal Rogers case. He helped form Team Crystal, according to the FBI. The keys were in the ignition and her personal belongings (keys, cellphone and purse) were found inside and scattered around the vehicle. Brooks, who was the last person to have seen her alive, told the authorities that he didnt think anything was out of the ordinary when Crystal was not at home on July 4 because she was known to stay over at her relatives from time to time. I will never lose hope though in finding my daughter pic.twitter.com/cSnw6Zv8gb. Their bodies were discovered by a family member. who owns 10711 strait lane dallas, tx; thames valley police firearms department kidlington But he was an excellent father who was very protective., He always wanted to please the people he was building a home for, even if he had to go the extra mile, Ballard said. McAlister said she's learned that everybody has a story and that story is worthy. Investigation Discoverys Still a Mystery: She Gave No Warning shines a light on Crystals puzzling vanishing and the events leading up to it. Walden said the FBIs involvement brought hope again. Till Ballard echoed that confidence in the FBI. Cold and Calculating August 24, 2018 44min TV-14 Subtitles Subtitles English [CC] Audio languages Audio languages English I don't know which one was worse: not knowing who it was or having suspects and not knowing why or any other answers, Hill said. Ballard plans to have Rogers buried next to Tommy if her remains are found, she said. Small town secrets The case of missing woman Crystal Rogers, A few days later on July 15, Brooke Ballard, Crystals sister, spoke to WHAS11 saying boyfriend Brooks Houcks story, Nick later told the Kentucky State Police. Her car was found on the side of a busy parkway with a flat tire, keys, wallet and phone still inside. He said when they got home, he went straight to bed, and Rogers stayed up playing games on her phone. Outside of work, he was heavily involved in the community including coaching youth baseball. She knows now that just because someone is smiling doesn't mean there's not tragedy or grief just beneath that smile. "You hope it gets solved," Bardstown resident Paul Monin told the station of the six-year missing-person probe. Tommy Ballard was targeted on the morning of Nov. 19, 2016, according to the FBI. Rogers has been missing more than six years. You can read a timeline of Crystal's case from WDRB here. I dont need an attorney. Precautionary boil advisory issued for water customers in east Jefferson County, Police: Woman accused of buying nearly $9K in clothes with stolen credit card, WAVE Weather Now Syncbak Channel Embed for PBE Page, Christina Applegate attends last awards show as an actress, 15-year-old shot, killed in Smoketown neighborhood identified, LMPD: Man in hospital after shooting in St. Denis nieghborhood, Man in hospital after shooting in Russell neighborhood. She was Rebecca Coriam who worked on the Disney Wonder which was one of Disney's many cruise ships. He told me, he said, Dad, Ill spend my last dollar to find her.. Sherry said they have not seen Eli since Crystal vanished on July 3. I cannot find any further updates on the human remains found in Nelson County. We should just be giving it out because it's so true, you have no idea what someone is facing.". The inmate also revealed that at least four men were hired to kill Ellis, but didnt reveal his connection to them. Investigators had conducted numerous searches on Houck family property, including the home of Anna Whitesides, the grandmother of Brooks Houck. It's been just over seven years and there are still no answers in the murder of Ellis, leaving his friends, family and members of multiple communities confused, saddened and angry. An arrest slip says an eye witness said Lyons acted with Zachary Tate in the murder.. The person or persons who killed them is still on the loose. In 1997, Erica Lee Fraysure's car was found in a remote area of Brooksville, Kentucky. Sherry Ballard took care of four of her daughters children on her own after Rogers went missing and Tommy died. A lie detector test turned out to be inconclusive, but he maintained he had no involvement in the disappearance, saying, Im 100 percent completely innocent in this. Crystals sister thought there was more to it than what was apparent, adding, The stories just dont add up. In the beginning of her career she didn't necessarily understand that. Thats the way Tommy was. Rogers was the couples first living grandchild, she said. Investigators had wanted to ask her about a white car of hers they believed was connected to Rogers disappearance. According to an anonymous inmate, who spoke with reporter Stephanie Bauer and retired homicide detective Dwayne Stanton about Crystal Rogers disappearance, revealed that he knew something about Ellis murder. The car was examined on July 9, 2015, and there was evidence of biological fluids inside the trunk. Starting in August 2021, the authorities excavated a property in Bardstown built by Brooks around the time of Crystals disappearance. Houck said that he had been 100 percent completely honest with everyone and cooperative. August 2015 and Crystal is still missing. A few days later on July 15, Brooke Ballard, Crystals sister, spoke to WHAS11 saying boyfriend Brooks Houcks story doesnt add up. The FBI said it would keep searching as long as it takes to find evidence. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Crystals family also announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to her. Though his case remains unsolved, his community continues to carry on his memory. was burned down inwhat city officials said was arson, Jason Ellis, aBardstown police officerwho wasambushed in 2013, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I want to get my hopes up, Ballard said of the FBIs latest search. It never gets easier, she said. "The FBI is committed to bringing those responsible to justice, but we are going to need the communitys assistance.". They were located near the Nelson/Washington County line, although the sheriffs office was not disclosing the exact location in order to preserve details of the investigation. Im scared to. - The FBI has found an "item of interest" during a property search for missing Bardstown mother Crystal Rogers. The FBI said Rogerss mother, Sherry Ballard, consented to the search. Weve had our share of bad luck.. All rights reserved. Large trucks were seen hauling dirt and mud away day after day. The young woman was living with her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, who was the father of her youngest child. The FBI has conducted two searches in Bardstown; the first search occurred during August of 2020 and the second was in August of 2021. Kathy and Samantha Netherland (d: April 21st, 2014) - mother and daughter were horrifically beat and murdered in their home. They just ripped that baby away from me because they said theres too much animosity between the families, Ballard told Oxygen.com. Tommy, a skilled handyman from the age of 15, once put up a dog fence for a woman battling cancer and didnt charge her anything for it, Till Ballard said. Now, McAlister is returning t Out of respect for multiple families, we will not be commenting until we have results, Pineiroa said. Email Email. Michael Medley, its a night that continues to haunt him. The agency has set up a website for the case atwww.crystalrogerstaskforce.com. She's come to have passion for shining a light on areas that would probably prefer to be dark. George Weir was also found guilty. It was women like Sherry Ballard," she admitted. [] Its taking a lot of energy and effort. BARDSTOWN, Ken. The person or persons who killed them is still on the loose. These things weren't typical, noted McAlister. Since McAlister's first weeks at WHAS 11, she's put together an unsolved series covering missing and murdered loved ones from around Kentucky. Season 2 brings us to a bayou community in Louisiana Lacombe where the wife of a local fire chief is missing the day a mysterious fire rips through her house. And it kind of gave us hope that okay they hadn't forgotten and we're heading in the right direction now.. The Bardstown people continued their attempts to help. Rogers was from the small, tight-knit town of Bardstown, about 40 miles south of Louisville. On Thursday, the FBI arrived in Bardstown and executed nine search warrants related to Rogers' disappearance. In 2019,the home owned by Brooks Houck was burned down inwhat city officials said was arson. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. It's something you really learn in this business, she said. All of my efforts in searching for her have been done behind the scenes with the Nelson County sheriffs office, Houck said on Nancy Graces show. The agents went through boxes of belongings at the storage unit, piling items outside, including clothes, toys, diapers, TVs and furniture. Copyright 2019 WAVE 3 News. David Bard sanctioned and obtained this area while William Bard surveyed and planned the city. The FBI has used them to generate seeking information posters and large billboards featured prominently along the Bluegrass Parkway. Sherry denies the allegation and says she was always careful not to speak about Brooks in front of Eli. The remains are being sent to Quantico, Virginia, for analysis by the FBI. On Nancy Graces show, Houck said he went to a July Fourth party without Rogers and was planning to check with others about Rogers if she remained absent for more than a day or a day-and-a-half. There are always flowers at the exit ramp, laminated photos of Ellis on the front doors of the Bardstown Police Department, his uniform lays on a black bourbon barrel, and a long corridor wall was dedicated to him, which includes photos. Ellis was hit multiple times, and died on the side of the road. Multiple items of interest potentially relevant to Rogers disappearance, Coroner: Suspect in murders of three Kentucky police officers died by suicide, New faces joining WKYT, The CW Lexington at anchor, weather desks, Lexington police officer arrested, charged with abusing a child, Man charged in murders of Kentucky police officers kills himself in jail, officials say. Sometime in the evening, she was seen with three of her children buying groceries and other items. There were a dozen. The FBI returned to the subdivision every day before suspending the search on Monday due to bad weather. His father built houses, too, and still does as hes gotten into his 80s. The vehicle had a flat tire, but what was more troubling was what they found inside the car. My Theories on the Bardstown Murders and the Disappearance of Crystal Rogers I used to believe that the murder of police officer Jason Ellis on May 25, 2013, the Netherland Murders on April 21, 2014, the disappearance of Crystal Rogers on July 3, 2015, and the murder of Tommy Ballard on November 19, 2016 in Bardstown, Kentucky we're all related. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. bardstown, ky. The FBI has concluded its latest search efforts related to the 2015 disappearance of Crystal Rogers in Nelson County. In the days after Crystal vanished, searches conducted by the authorities with the help of volunteers and family didnt turn up anything. By Sunday afternoon, the news had spread by word of mouth that the FBI was in town investigating something.. "I've covered the absolute most horrible things that have ever happened to them. Ellishadsigned off on the radioand was driving home when he encountered branches blocking the roadonexit 34 of the Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown, Kentucky. The brutal killings of a Nelson County mother and daughter have not been solved after almost five years, but Kentucky State Police and family members cling to hope. RELATED: Who Is Carla Walker? One year ago in the middle of recording the Bardstown podcast, McAlister lost her partner. He claimed that the police officer was murdered because he was close to an investigation of a ring of storage shed burglaries and business burglaries. The storage units contained high-end antiques as well as drugs. FBI officials said they would work with the IRS, Kentucky State Policeand the U.S. Attorneys Office to bring a "fresh perspective" to the case, which has attracted national attention over the years as family members in Nelson County and investigators seek answers. Sharenes child wouldve been Till and Bettys first grandchild, Betty said. Tommys dad said his son was very charitable. The FBI announced that they had uncovered multiple items of interest. Kathy Netherland, 48, and her daughter, Samantha, 16, were killed inside their home on April 21, 2014. Kathy Netherland, 48, and her . Compartilhar isto . Rogers, a mother of five children, wasnot known to go anywhere without her kids, according to the FBI. 5. Moving into 2016, things slowed down in Crystals case but there were some interesting things that happened. Very nervous.. The Houck Family Farm was also searched in August 2016 The Nelson County Sheriffs Office, Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, FBI and Louisville Metro Police Department searched 300 acres with at least 14 cadaver dogs. Crystal Rogers disappeared on July 3, 2015 and weeks later McAlister would begin to cover the case. One of the photos is of a smiling Ellis in his uniform, a photo that has been printed onto cards that Medley carries with him and hands out to people who may have information. New Details About The Murder Cold Case That May Be Solved After 45 Years. Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand. Both are serving life sentences in prison, Till said. In a social media post, FBI Louisville said the items are potentially relevant to the investigation. Two years after the murder, Ellis wife, Amy, made a second video, pleading for answers. The remains were found very close to where she disappeared around 4 miles from the Houck Family Farm. The skeletal remains were discovered Thursday evening, and investigators called in an FBI team to help with recovery and identification. Bardstown today has more than doubled in population, and the shadows have grown deeper. Once you think you come to terms with what's going on, you're thrown into another loop of hey guess what. Please add name and any info that you. New Details In The Unsolved Murder Of Texas Woman Who Was Set On Fire And Left On Side Of The Road, Who Killed Lonnie Lard Anthony? I just knew she wasnt. Hill and Unseld are both processing the new development. He wasnt going to give up on Crystal, Till Ballard said, standing outside the FBIs search site on Monday. Sherry Ballard hasnt spent any time at the FBIs newest search site, she said. See additional information. || Photo contributed. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Journalist dedicated to finding truth in 5 unsolved murders, TONI SAYS: Taking Medicare advice from your fri, Shawn Rogers Realty celebrates new location, Corbin Walmart donates cupcakes, stuffed animals, Schedule announced for 13th Region Boys & Girls Tournaments, Man wanted in Whitley County arrested in Laurel County, Whitley County's Bracken Castle signs with Centre College, Woolum man charged with murder after Knox house fire, Health professional speaks out: I had a heart attack and didn't know it, GIRLS 50TH DISTRICT: Lady Redhounds end South Laurel's six-year reign to claim district title, Woodbine man charged with murder following death of 3-year-old, 13TH REGION GIRLS TOURNAMENT: Preview, schedule, stats, rankings, predictions and more, 13TH REGION: Lady Cards knock off Knox Central in OT thriller, 66-62. Even though the father is a suspect in the case of Crystal going missing. Tommy was a kind of quiet man who built houses for a living, Sherry Ballard said. Its mind blowing, Unseld said. Houck had called the Ballards and asked if theyd seen Rogers, Till Ballard said. Ellis stopped, turned on his blue lights and got out of his cruiser to clear them. Waking up every day and not being able to wake up and be like Hey mom and What are you going to do today? Just like normal little things. And it. He was usually unwilling to have his picture taken. The Nelson County Sheriffs Office will continue to be the lead agency on the human remains case. You have permission to edit this article. Kentucky State Police and the Nelson County sheriffs office worked the cases for five years before the FBI took the lead in the summer of 2020. More than 200,000 unsolved cases have gone cold since 1980, and murder clearance rates continue to drop. It was Crystals mother, Sherry, who went to the authorities. It was early enough in the morning that it was still dark when Tommy was shot, Ballard said. His name is also carved into a black column next to the building, along with the names of other fallen officers, and a memorial was held last May. From day one, I never thought my daughter was coming home, Ballard said. Police began their investigation after the vehicle was found. Crystal's maroon 2007 four-door Chevrolet was . On the days that are the best, with the best news and on the days with the worst news of their lives, I'm there.". I made eye contact with him, Tommy Ballard said after the court hearing. More than five years after a Kentucky mother of five vanished without a trace, and two weeks after human bones were found 4 miles from where she was last seen alive, FBI. Then we got the unexpected call that they had arrested someone. Parkway with a flat tire, but didnt reveal his connection to them was murdered and just that. Us hope that okay they had uncovered multiple items of interest he helped form Team Crystal, to. 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Family Farm Bard surveyed and planned the city once you think you come to terms what... Property, including the home owned by Brooks Houck was burned down inwhat city officials said arson! The investigation the allegation and says she was always careful not to speak about Brooks in front Eli. Outside the FBIs search site, she said were seen hauling dirt mud... Were some interesting things that happened assume that Im going to give up on Crystal, said...
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