BARDSTOWN, Ky. — New court documents shed light on a previous search for evidence in the death of Crystal Rogers.
According to an investigative report filed on Friday, Steve Lawson told Kentucky State Police detectives that his son Joseph Lawson and another man, Jeremy Thompson, were digging on a farm near Thompson Hill Road in Cox’s Creek.
Lawson said they were “burning and digging” with a Skid-Steer within five days of Rogers’ 2015 disappearance over the Fourth of July weekend. He told police the two men were burning large amounts of wood in a hole at the request of David Thompson. At this time, it’s unclear what David’s relation is to Jeremy.
Both Steve and Joseph Lawson have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.
This is the first time authorities have mentioned either Thompson in relation to Rogers' death investigation and neither man has been charged.
Detectives said it was later brought to their attention that the skid-steer was seen on that property on numerous occasions.
That interview took place on Nov. 21, 2023, within two weeks of that interview, multiple law enforcement agencies were seen conducting a search for evidence on a property in that same area.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young told WHAS11 authorities were searching for evidence in one of three unsolved Bardstown murder cases including Crystal Rogers; her father, Tommy Ballard, who was shot and killed on a hunting trip a year after her disappearance; or ambushed police officer Jason Ellis.
Authorities never revealed what, if any evidence, was discovered at that location.
The supplemental report comes one day after Steve Lawson appeared in a Nelson County courtroom fighting for his charges to be dismissed. His attorney, Ted Lavit, claims Lawson was promised immunity for his cooperation with authorities.
In court Thursday, Young argued Lawson broke his deal with police claiming there were many inconsistencies in his stories.
These inconsistencies are also mentioned in the new court documents.
“Steve had denied that the Skid-Steer had ever left the construction sites after Rogers disappearance in a previous interview,” detectives wrote in 2023. “Steve Lawson cannot explain the change after being questioned.”
Judge Charles Simms has yet to rule on whether to dismiss charges against Lawson.
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