News Summary
The murder trial of Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson has commenced, nearly a decade after the disappearance of Crystal Rogers. Houck faces charges relating to murder complicity and evidence tampering, while Lawson is charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Testimonies from various witnesses and presented evidence are shedding light on the case as it unfolds in Warren County.
Bowling Green, Kentucky –
The second murder trial of Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson began on June 30, 2025, nearly a decade after the mysterious disappearance of Crystal Rogers. Houck faces charges of complicity to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence, which could result in a prison sentence ranging from 25 years to life. Lawson, on the other hand, is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence and also risks up to 25 years in prison.
Crystal Rogers was last seen on July 3, 2015, and her case has remained open and unsolved since then. The initial week of the trial has already seen a mix of testimony from Rogers’ friends and family, Lawson’s ex-girlfriend, local business owners from Bardstown, and a digital forensic expert.
Key Testimonies and Evidence
Among the first witnesses was Keith Stivers, who testified that Nick Houck made attempts to sell a white Buick, belonging to his grandmother, Anna Whitesides, without allowing for a proper appraisal. In the search for evidence, the prosecution presented findings of hairs similar to those of Rogers found in the trunk of the Buick; however, the FBI was unable to obtain a DNA profile from those hairs.
Detective Jamie Brooks provided crucial information about the fingerprints discovered inside the Buick, revealing that only Whitesides’ prints were found, while Nick Houck, who had previously driven the vehicle, showed no DNA traces. An interesting development came when a cadaver dog was brought in to search the Buick; however, there has been no report presented regarding the results of that search during the trial.
Further testimony from witnesses Ryan Cecil and Daniel Donohue highlighted that they saw a white Buick parked near the Houck farm on the night Rogers was last seen. A Dollar General manager, Owen McKinney, corroborated this by stating he observed both Rogers’ car and a white vehicle on the Bluegrass Parkway that night; he noted that Rogers’ car remained in place the following morning.
Family and Digital Evidence
Detective Brooks also noted that the Buick owned by Whitesides was sold shortly after Tommy Ballard, Rogers’ father, made inquiries about the vehicle on social media. Additionally, Brooks Houck’s ex-girlfriend, Amber Bowman, provided testimony suggesting that Nick Houck had left home to assist Brooks with a rental property and did not respond to her communications between July 3 and 4, 2015.
As evidence of ongoing investigations, an IRS detective presented findings from a search warrant executed in 2020 at the residence of Rosemary Houck, which included revealing digital recorders that contained pertinent information related to the case. The prosecution also introduced recorded conversations involving Brooks Houck, shedding light on alleged conspiratorial behaviors surrounding Rogers’ disappearance.
Testimony from Charlie Girdley suggested discussions with Steven Lawson indicated Brooks Houck’s desire to “get rid of his old lady,” hinting at potential complicity in her disappearance. However, prosecutors informed the jury of previous inconsistencies in Girdley’s statements, including earlier claims about his lack of knowledge regarding the case, potentially undermining his credibility as a witness.
Trial Location and Juror Considerations
This trial is taking place in Warren County as pretrial publicity in Nelson County has made it challenging to secure an impartial jury. As the first week concludes, the jury has been sent home for the day, with the expectation of more testimony with the trial set to resume in the following days. The trial continues to draw local attention, given the unresolved nature of the case and the tragic events surrounding Rogers’ disappearance.
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Additional Resources
- WDRB: Hair Similar to Crystal Rogers Found in Car Tied to Houck Family
- WHAS11: Crystal Rogers Disappearance Update Trial
- Bowling Green Daily News: Second Week of Trial Begins in Crystal Rogers Case
- Wikipedia: Crystal Rogers
- WLKY: Crystal Rogers Trial Updates
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Crystal Rogers
- Wave3: Live Blog – Second Week of Crystal Rogers Murder Trial
- Google Search: Crystal Rogers Disappearance
- WBKO: Day 1 of Trial Underway for Crystal Rogers Case
- Google News: Crystal Rogers Trial
Author: STAFF HERE BOWLING GREEN WRITER
The BOWLING GREEN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBowlingGreen.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Bowling Green, Warren County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the National Corvette Homecoming, International Festival, concerts at SKyPAC, and sports events at Beech Bend Park. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and the African American Museum Bowling Green Area, plus leading businesses in automotive, apparel, and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant, Fruit of the Loom, and Med Center Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERELexingtonKY.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
