x
Breaking News
More () »

BLOG: Minute-by-minute what happened when Crystal Rogers suspects appeared in court

Nelson County Judge Charles Simms will consider several motions during the hearing. Here's what to know.

BARDSTOWN, Ky. — This story will be continuously updated throughout Thursday. Scroll below for live updates.

All three men charged in the death of Crystal Rogers will be back in a Nelson County courtroom Thursday. Several motions will be discussed in what is expected to be a lengthy hearing.

Rogers, 35, was reported missing over the Fourth of July weekend in 2015. She has been presumed dead for nearly nine years.

RECAP: Attorneys agree, trial for 3 men charged in Crystal Rogers death should be outside of Bardstown

Brooks Houck, Rogers’ boyfriend, is charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence in her case. Two other men, Joseph and Steven Lawson, are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.

Credit: Alyssa Newton, WHAS11 News
Three men charged in Crystal Rogers' death appear in court on Feb. 8, 2024. (From left to right: Joseph Lawson, Brooks Houck, Steven Lawson.)

Here's an updated list of motions expected to be heard:

  • Change of Venue – All three men are requesting the trial is moved from Nelson County.
  • Charges dismissed – Steve Lawson wants his charges dropped, here's why.
  • Disclosure of identity of expert witnesses – Joseph Lawson’s attorney has requested prosecutors reveal the names and testimony that will be provided by experts at trial.
  • Combining the trial – Special Prosecutor Shane Young wants to combine next year's trial for all three men, but Houck's attorney argues the trials should not be combined.

The hearing will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 21.

Live updates

1.19 p.m. 

Court has adjourned.

1:18 p.m.

Another hearing has been scheduled for May 1 at 1 p.m. to review if attorneys have chosen the new venue for trial.

1:13 p.m.

Lavit said there "may" be the need for another hearing to discuss evidence about promised immunity in Steven Lawson's motion to dismiss charges. Expected to happen in June.

As for the testimony on expert witnesses in Lawson's motion, Young said everything will be turned over by June 13 at 9 a.m.

1:10 p.m.

Young said attorneys should have a location chosen within a month. 

1:09 p.m.

Young agrees with the defense, the trial should be moved out of Nelson County.

1:08 p.m.

Discovery has been completed by prosecutors. Young clarifies there was 276GB of remaining evidence turned over, not a terabyte as he mentioned during the last hearing. Two interviews are missing, however, which will be turned over in the next two to three months, he said.

1:07 p.m.

Judge Charles Simms has entered the room, the hearing has begun. Joseph Lawson is appearing over Zoom from jail.

1:06 p.m.

Special Prosecutor Shane Young, Steven Lawson's attorney, Ted Lavit, and Brooks Houck's attorney Brian Butler have entered the courtroom.

1:00 p.m.

The courtroom is silent as both Lawson and Houck sit in the Nelson County courtroom. Neither suspect's attorneys have entered the room yet. 

12:58 p.m.

Brooks Houck has entered the courtroom.

12:57 p.m

Steven Lawson has entered the courtroom.

12:51 p.m. 

Brooks Houck's family, including his mother Rosemary, have entered the courtroom. 

12:45 p.m. 

Courtroom doors have opened for the community. 

12:43 p.m. 

Crystal's mother, Sherry Ballard, has entered the courthouse lobby. She's joined by more family members.

12:31 p.m.

A team of attorneys representing Brooks Houck have entered the courtroom. 

12:26 p.m.

It's unknown if all three men will appear for the hearing in person. At February's hearing, court was delayed nearly 40 minutes as deputies brought Joseph Lawson to the courthouse. 

12:16 p.m.

Doors to the courtroom have not open yet, but media and community are starting to enter the building. Crystal's grandparents, Till and Betty Ballard, are in attendance. 

Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.

Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Before You Leave, Check This Out