Investigators showed up in the Woodlawn Springs subdivision in Bardstown on Aug. 24 and began looking for any evidence they could find. A mans body is stuffed in the trunk of his car and the vehicle is set abla KSP said detectives are still actively working on the case and following leads, which come in periodically, according to KSP. Brooks trial for the Lowes theft was held in 2019 and a jury found him not guilty. Once you think you come to terms with what's going on, you're thrown into another loop of hey guess what. But he was unrelenting in his efforts to find his daughter. Officials said Brooks Houck, Crystals boyfriend, was the last person to see her alive when they were at his family farm the night of July 3. The car was examined on July 9, 2015, and there was evidence of biological fluids inside the trunk. He stopped his police cruiser to clear the road and was gunned down by several shots from a 12-gauge shotgun. Tommy Ballard, Tills son and Sherrys husband, had been relentlessly pursuing the truth. The image of seeing your best friend, your best partner it never goes away, she said. Till and Betty said Sharene was seven-and-a-half months pregnant at the time. But one thing is for sure: the person who killed Ellis seemed to know the route he took home and when hed be traveling on it. 7 talking about this. They just ripped that baby away from me because they said theres too much animosity between the families, Ballard told Oxygen.com. Tommy was the second of Till and Betty Ballards children to be murdered. On Friday August 16, 2019, Bardstown police arrested Robert Tate, 26, and charged him with murder. I just want to see my grandson. Those remains have yet to be identified. Kentucky wont get an elite NCAA Tournament seed. Rogers was also very hands-on with her childrens schoolwork. No immediate answers came out of the searches as Rogers family dealt with the six-year anniversary of her disappearance. Crystal's maroon 2007 four-door Chevrolet was . He didnt mind doing that. michael lombard actor obituary; justinas duknauskas biography; organic valley grassmilk yogurt discontinued In 2019, we brought you the story of five unsolved murders in and around the small, tight-knit town of Bardstown, Kentucky. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. By Benjamin H. Smith Bardstown Murders and Mysteries: Brookelyn Farthing 1:09 Preview Out of respect for multiple families, we will not be commenting until we have results, Pineiroa said. She also spoke about the day that her mother went missing: I was calling and texting and she wasnt answering, she said. Brooks Houck never participated in these searches for Crystal. McAlister said journalists are humans and she feels the best journalists are humans first, honoring emotions. By Samantha Maffucci Written on May 29, 2019. After a week, the only people going through the checkpoint were local residents and members of the community who wanted to show their support for investigators. Rogers had five children. An arrest slip says witnesses told detectives Tate admitted to killing Unseld. It's something you really learn in this business, she said. In November 2020, we got more news about the identity of the human remains. Large construction equipment could be seen tearing up the driveway of the home and hauling large piles of dirt and concrete slabs away from the search. This is to compile a list of of the names of the unsolved murders in Nelson Co. Rogers'car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkwaywith her keys, phone and purse still inside. "For those individuals who have information about this incident but who have not yet spoken to law enforcement for whatever reason, please contact us.". On July 23, 2020, Nelson County Sheriffs Office investigators became aware of the existence of human remains in a remote area near the Washington County line. "Out of respect for family members of multiple missing persons in these areas, we will not be commenting on this until we have more information from the lab," the office said in a statement. The motive and the person behind his murder remain a mystery to this day. In February, a Nelson County judge denied Ballard the right to visit Eli, citing animosity between families that could pose a significant risk of emotional harm to the child. "When we got the interview with the FBI, they told us there was a probability that the five unsolved cases, including Jason Ellis were connected and it was so much new information," said McAlister. Slight chance of a rain shower. And it kind of gave us hope that okay they hadn't forgotten and we're heading in the right direction now.. He was also operating a pool car, which did not have a dash camera to record the incident. They had taken over the investigation into Crystals disappearance once the human remains were found. She would attend her childrens school parties and make efforts to help their teachers, Ballard said. The FBI, in a show of force, took over the investigation. The Ballards are currently caring for Crystals four other children full-time. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight The little things really matter more than the big huge things,. Till and Sherry Ballard said they believe the cases are connected and Tommys death investigation will be solved quickly after Rogers case is solved. Till and Sherry Ballard are adamant that Tommy was killed because of how hard he was working to find Rogers. He told me, he said, Dad, Ill spend my last dollar to find her.. Weve been through it, Till Ballard said. "A hallmark of the FBI is we never give up," FBI Louisville Special Agent in Charge Robert Brown said in the release. McAlister goes on to list names including Tiny, Tammy and Rose, women that she'd gotten to know in one way or another through her reporting. Brooks admitted he and Crystal had a stressed relationship at times, but he emphatically denied having anything to do with her disappearance. Surveillance video captured Brooks vehicle getting there at around 7:20 PM and leaving just before midnight. 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. In November 2018, a court ruled Sherry Ballard could no longer see her grandson, Eli. Starting in August 2021, the authorities excavated a property in Bardstown built by Brooks around the time of Crystals disappearance. David Bard sanctioned and obtained this area while William Bard surveyed and planned the city. (Family Photo) Its so hard.. was burned down inwhat city officials said was arson, Jason Ellis, aBardstown police officerwho wasambushed in 2013, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Get FBI email alerts Her mother reported her missing July 5 after she . Sherry has not seen Eli in two years minus one chance run-in at the local Walmart. Shay (in the middle) is standing in the heart of downtown Bardstown. Thats the question weve got.. And authorities have been left without closure for six years now. He had been just about to go hunting with one of his grandsons Crystals son. Since McAlister's first weeks at WHAS 11, she's put together an unsolved series covering missing and murdered loved ones from around Kentucky. There is a great post on reddit about Crystals case and this information comes from there:In December 2015, Louisvilles WDRB reported the arrest of Danny Singleton on 38 counts of false swearing after he allegedly lied under oath to a grand jury in relation to the investigation of Crystal Rogers disappearance. But Tommy never said what type of vehicle it was that had been tailing him. The relationship with these friends and family members has evolved over time to one where McAlister said she used to just keep in touch to get updates on the case, to one where now she's keeping in touch, making sure they are ok. "As a human it's difficult to draw a boundary and keep a boundary especially in a case like this where we've known each other for five years," McAlister said. Tommy Ballard was targeted on the morning of Nov. 19, 2016, according to the FBI. On May 25, Ellis, a husband and father of two young boys, clocked out of his shift at 2 a.m. and started his normal, 15-mile drive home on the Bluegrass Parkway. Ballard plans to have Rogers buried next to Tommy if her remains are found, she said. Nelson County Sheriffs detectives arrested Crystal Maupin on Friday. I know Im not the mother, but the mothers not here and the fathers the number one suspect.. BARDSTOWN, Ky. (WAVE) - In a matter of five days, there were some big development in connection to a 2016 Bardstown murder. Who killed Jason Ellis? While the family maintained that Brooks didnt help with the search efforts, he claimed his efforts were carried out behind the scenes. During Brooks interview with the police, his brother Nick, a police officer, allegedly called Brooks and asked him not to talk to the authorities. There has been a string of unsolved murders and an unsolved disappearance in Nelson County. Im 100 percent, completely innocent in this, he said. Kentucky State Police took the lead on the investigation right away. In the middle of the interview, Brooks phone rang. His father built houses, too, and still does as hes gotten into his 80s. An arrest slip says an eye witness said Lyons acted with Zachary Tate in the murder.. Around July 5 or 6 (again, this varies depending on which article you read), police held a press conference about the case. 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. what did stefan moon say to amber smith what did stefan moon say to amber smith 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. I hope it gives hope to everybody else thats got to deal with what were going through.. He joined the paper in 2020, and is originally from Erlanger, Ky. When she arrived in Louisville in July of 2015, a young woman, also from Bardstown, would go missing -- a huge national news story then and still today. And then in August 2020, FBI agents turned up at a storage unit that belonged to Crystal. My whole familys name is trashed for something completely not even tied to me. Please consult your doctor before taking any action. McAlister, who continues to cover the Rogers' case and would later come to learn, investigate and follow all the unsolved cases in Bardstown, talked with the Times-Tribune about what it's been like trying to uncover the truth and juggling the lines between professional and personal as a journalist. In late July human remains were found on the edge of Nelson County. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible for the death of Bardstown, Kentucky Police Officer Jason Ellis. said Sherry Ballard, Crystal Rogers mother. There is a great post on reddit about Crystals case and this information comes from there: You can see Crystal Maupins Facebook here. It was Crystals mother, Sherry, who went to the authorities. In November 2017, on the one year anniversary of Tommy Ballards death, signs appeared around Bardstown, implicating Brooks in Crystals disappearance and death. A massive search for her turned up more questions than answers, frustrating the authorities and loved ones alike. That's what's hard.". Agents were also seen using SONAR equipment. They havent seen their brother. Just like our community we were hopeful it would assist in answers and closure in Crystal Rogers case. Then Came Four More. Who Killed Jason Ellis? The FBI announced that they had uncovered multiple items of interest. I don't think a lot of people were trying to connect the dots," McAlister said. . In August 2021, the FBI initiated a new search in the Woodlawn Springs subdivision of Bardstown. Nick was accused of warning his brother that detectives planned to interview him and advised him not to speak with them. Houck has denied involvement with Rogers'disappearance and has never been charged. You hope this is the year, and then you get no answers.. Season two went beyond Bardstown, investigating a deadly fire in the bayou community of Lacombe, La. Discuss this case with us at TrueCrimeSociety.com. Seven years later, KSP says its disheartening that the case is not solved. The Bardstown Murders are a series of 5 unsolved deaths over 3 years starting in 2013. Stephanie and Dwayne follow a search of a lake where cadaver dogs pick up a scent. 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 a little further north, one journalist is committed to finding the truth in these tragedies and opens up about her journey to the truth. Kyleigh Fenwick was 14 when Crystal disappeared and was 19 at the time of the anniversary. "I think the whole town wants it." No arrests have been announced in the case as. Nov 2, 2018 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A three-judge panel of the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled Friday that the 6-year-old son of Crystal Rogers, the Bardstown woman who disappeared in. Her estranged husband, Edsel Eddie Barnes, and another man, George Weir, were eventually convicted and sentenced to life in prison for her murder. The Nelson County Sheriffs Office confirmed in a statement Sunday that human remains had been recovered in a rural part of the county. We would always get the chicken strip basket with the toast and gravy to go with it. They lost a brother too; the kids are having a real hard time with that. McAlister interviewed FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian Jones who said the remains have been sent to Virginia and that they are working to identify them as quickly as possible. Her estranged husband, Edsel Barnes, was found guilty of murder by a jury, according to court records. The FBI said it would keep searching as long as it takes to find evidence. When he stopped to pick up debris in the road (that is said to have been intentionally put there,) a gunman shot and killed him. All rights reserved. [] Its taking a lot of energy and effort. His family, our two sons, his wonderful friends and I cannot heal without knowing who and why he was taken from us by this senseless murder, she said. March 9, 1997 Murderpedia Willa Jean Ferrier, Crystal Conaster, and Chris Boswell were shot and killed by John Roscoe Garland in McCreary Country, supposedly over jealousy. Ellis stopped, turned on his blue lights and got out of his cruiser to clear them. He took Exit 34, a narrow ramp bounded on either side by steep stone walls. According to an arrest warrant, the video shows Maupin getting out of her car and taking the sign., Why wouldnt she help us? Ballard's grandson, who was with him during the trip, was not responsible for Ballard's death, Kentucky State Police detectives said. Now into the month of October citizens and family members are still wondering and don't have answers that just a few months ago seemed so close. They focused on multiple houses before they eventually dug up a front yard and driveway at one property on North Howard Street. I will never lose hope though in finding my daughter pic.twitter.com/cSnw6Zv8gb. Im not worried about nobody but my grandson and my daughter., This was a fight that would be drawn out for years. You can read a timeline of Crystal's case from WDRB here. He helped form Team Crystal, according to the FBI. Ballard said she couldnt have asked for better than her late husband. Bardstown today has more than doubled in population, and the shadows have grown deeper. Bourbon City Kitchen a hidden gem in NC. Whitesides lawyer said, There are lots of things, particularly in a high-profile case, where there is as frenzied an investigation as there is here that could ensnare an 82-year-old woman. Annas home was searched again in August 2016. Searches have still been undertaken the Louisville Metro Police searched several waterways to no avail. According to the show, Crystal mentioned to her friends about having a date night with Brooks, and after dinner, they drove to Brooks family farm in the area. This HAD to be Crystal. Her family tried to contact Crystal for two days via text and calling but they were not able to reach her. She had previously been seeing him every other weekend. I feel discriminated against, she told Oxygen.com. The sheriffs office hasnt been able to do more than name Houck a suspect years ago. WAVE reported Kathy had been shot multiple times, while Samantha had been bludgeoned about the head, both women showing knife wounds to their necks. Tommy didnt like to be in the public eye, Ballard said. But if there's anything positive that came from that tragedy, it is perhaps it has helped her investigate and report with even more compassion and empathy. | Photo contributed, Shay McAlister in front of the camera. In July 2017, Brooks new girlfriend, Crystal Maupin was arrested. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to anidentification, arrest or conviction in the Rogers case. I dont need an attorney. Crystal Rogers' family knows the Bardstown Kentucky missing mother is dead after she disappeared 6 years ago. All of us went to the police station and reported her missing, Till Ballard said. 3. We have had a stressed relationship at times, and one of the ways that Crystal has always chose to deal with that is by going to her cousin whom shes very close to, Houck told Grace in a phone interview. Houck has said he didnt do anything to Rogers. In the beginning of her career she didn't necessarily understand that. Ballard's death adds to a tally of unsolved murders around Bardstown, a city of 12,800 about 40 miles south of Louisville. The FBI said Rogerss mother, Sherry Ballard, consented to the search. Fort Valley State University student Missing Where is Anitra Gunn? The same day she was reported missing, her car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkway near mile marker 14, roughly 6 miles from the Bardstown exit. 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. It was women from a million different parts of her life who came together and held her up, McAlister said. They recovered two items of interest that were sent for examination. But in the spring of 2011, Rebecca was never seen again. Jeremy Chisenhall covers criminal justice and breaking news for the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com. Buy HD $2.99 More purchase options 3. Im innocent. He was also arrested for a probation violation and drug charges. Again, the motive and perpetrator have never been determined. Updated: Lexington woman charged with murder 1 year after investigators find body wrapped in plastic, Officers at Kentucky prison admit to assaulting inmates, lying about the attacks, Juvenile injured in shooting outside Lexington store, Updated: 1 man convicted of murder in trial for suspects accused of Lexington killing. Tommy was a kind of quiet man who built houses for a living, Sherry Ballard said. July 3, 2015, seemed like a typical day at the outset for her. Plus, we had a contractor on the jury with us, and he said when they get it, they load it and take it to a site. Agents returned to the Woodlawn Springs neighborhood in Bardstown as they continue to search for clues in the case of missing mother Crystal Rogers. The FBI and its law enforcement partners are seeking information about the murder of Kentucky police officer Jason Ellis. 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