The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers
I just watched Still A Mystery on Investigation Discovery about this case, it’s Season 2, Episode 4 titled ‘She Gave No Warning.’ I felt so sad for this family, they have been through a lot of tragedy. I also felt bad for this Bardstown community because of how many people have died and how many unsolved murders there are.
Crystal Rogers, a 35 year old mother of 5 went missing on July 3rd, 2015. She was living with her boyfriend Brooks Houck, their son and Crystal’s 4 other children. She was last seen by her boyfriend, he said that when we went to sleep, she was still awake and playing games on her phone. When he woke up the next morning, she wasn’t there and neither was her car.
Crystal Rogers
Brooks
The family immediately was suspicious of Brooks and said many times throughout this episode that he didn't show any emotion, he didn't help in the searches, he didn't show up at the press conference (although it’s stated that the police told him not to come), and even when he was interviewed by Nancy Grace and another reporter he once again showed no concern for Crystal and the fact that she was missing.
On July 5th, Crystal’s car was found on the BG or Bluegrass Parkway. Crystal drove a maroon 2007 Chevy Impala. Her purse, cell phone and diaper bag were found on her front seat and the keys were in the ignition. The car also had a flat tire.
On July 8th, Brooks was brought into the police station for questioning. In the show, the police said at first Brooks showed no emotion and that he was calm and about a half n hour later, he showed he had a temper and was cussing at the police. Halfway through his interrogation he got a phone call, it was his brother Nick Houck who was a Bardstown police officer. Brooks said he was leaving after that phone call. Crystal’s mom thought it was weird that since he kept claiming he was innocent, why would his brother need to tell him to stop talking? Which I agree, it was strange.
Below is Brooks’ interrogation:
The next day, Nick was called to testify in front of a grand jury. The police had a strong suspicion that Nick had a hand in the disappearance of Crystal. Nick was given a polygraph test and failed. They also searched Nick’s police cruiser and found biological fluids in it. In a clip on the show, he said “he didn't care what the damn computer said” and that he was innocent.
Below is a video of his interrogation, it’s longer than it was in the show but you can see that he gets upset when they confront him.
On October 16, 2015 Nick was fired from the police department. Shortly after that they named Brooks as a suspect. They searched the farm property and took several garbage bags of evidence and didn’t find anything. They did find surveillance tapes of Nick and Brooks leaving closely together and thought that was interesting.
Nick Houck, Brooks’ brother
Tommy Ballard’s (Crystal’s father) death:
On November 19th, 2016, Tommy Ballard went hunting on his family property with his grandson who was 12. He told his grandson he left something in his vehicle. He was killed by a single gun shot wound in the chest. The police tested Tommy’s gun and ruled out suicide. My question is would they really think it was suicide considering his 12 year old grandson was nearby? I understand they have to rule everything out but really?
Crystal and Tommy’s family think their cases are connected. Crystal’s mom, Sherry said Tommy told her that a few days before he was being followed. His case has never been solved either.
Sherry and Tommy Ballard, Crystal’s parents
Mysterious deaths in Bardstown, Kentucky:
In May 2013 around 2AM, a Bardstown Police officer named Jason Ellis was on his way home when he was killed off Exit 34. He got out of his car because it was being blocked and that’s when he was killed. He was killed by a 12-gauge shotgun.
Jason Ellis
A year later, a mother named Kathy and her daughter Samantha Netherland were killed at their home. Kathy was a special education teacher and Samantha was 16, a sophomore in high school. They were murdered. Kathy was shot multiple times and Samantha was bludgeoned and had her throat slit.
Kathy and Samantha
These cases, including Crystal’s and Tommy’s are unsolved.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I can’t even believe that there is so much crime in one town and not even one case is solved.
Do you believe it was Nick and Brooks who killed Crystal and even Tommy? They are the only ones who seem suspicious. I think the fluids in Nick’s car, the surveillance tapes and Brook’s temper seem like the most suspicious. I think they’re guilty as hell, Brook didn't give one shit about Crystal and didn't care how it affect her kids and especially his son. Also, why would Nick ruin his career to murder someone? Was he always a shady cop?
I feel so bad for Crystal/Tommy’s family. They have been through such tragedy and they have not one but two unsolved cases to think about for as long as it will take to solve them.
I also feel bad for the families of Jason Ellis and Kathy and Samantha Netherland. I hope they get justice for their family members as well.
SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Crystal_Rogers
