LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Another year is coming to a close, and 2023 delivered no shortage of big headlines in Louisville and throughout Kentuckiana.
There were major updates in the disappearance of a Bardstown woman, including the arrests of three men now facing charges related to her death. Louisville experienced one of its most painful and heartbreaking days when a gunman opened fire at Old National Bank.
There was good news too, like archaeologists making fascinating discoveries beneath Oxmoor Farm. There were also plenty of oddities in 2023.
Here are the top 10 most-read local stories of the year according to you, the WHAS11 reader and viewer. Thank you for following along and for your continued interest in all of the WHAS11 platforms.
NELSON COUNTY, Ky. — Crystal Rogers' former boyfriend Brooks Houck made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon after being charged with murder in the Bardstown mother's 2015 disappearance.
Houck to appeared in Nelson County Circuit Court via video during his arraignment hearing on Thursday, Oct. 5.
WHAS11's Shay McAlister has been covering the Crystal Rogers case throughout the entire investigation. She provided live updates from inside the courtroom as major details in a number of unsolved cases came to light.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Three years after the FBI first took over the Crystal Rogers' case, investigators have made a breakthrough in the case, leading to an arrest.
A Nelson County man has been arrested and is now facing charges in the Bardstown mother of five's 2015 disappearance.
Attorney Kevin Coleman confirms his client, Joseph Lawson, has been indicted in connection to Rogers' case.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After years of possible sightings, an illusive species has finally been discovered to reside in an enormous forest, about 30 minutes outside of Louisville, Kentucky.
The nine-banded armadillo was recently confirmed as the newest species and 51st mammal in Bernheim Forest.
The discovery was verified by Bernheim staff when an armadillo was found on a roadside, unfortunately, hit and killed by a car.
BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Investigators have made a third arrest in connection to the death of Crystal Rogers.
Rogers, the missing mother of five from Bardstown, was last seen alive the Fourth of July weekend in 2015. Now, police are linking a third man to her death, citing an incident on that same weekend.
Court records show Steven Lawson has been indicted on two charges: conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An archaeological dig on Louisville's oldest working farm is uncovering a piece of Kentucky's past you won't find in the history books.
Nestled 8 miles outside of downtown is Oxmoor Farm. It was home to five generations of the Bullitt Family, dating back to the Revolutionary War.
A Virginian named Alexander Bullitt purchased the land in 1787 and built what became the family's home until 2005. Today, the Bullitt Homestead Preservation is a trust overseen by Stock Yards Bank, preserving 235 years of history.
MOUNT WASHINGTON, Ky. — Authorities discovered a grisly scene after executing a federal search warrant on a Mount Washington man's home earlier this week.
On July 11, the FBI searched James William Nott's home in connection to stolen human remains being sold and shipped through online marketplaces.
When police arrived at the apartment, an FBI agent asked Nott if anyone else was in the home with him. "Only my dead friends," he responded.
BRANDENBURG, Ky. — A Kentucky restaurant located on a golf course is a "total loss" after a fire engulfed it early Sunday morning.
Meade County Fire District was dispatched to a structure fire at The 19th Hole restaurant in Doe Valley around 5 a.m. Officials said when units arrived on scene, the fire was coming out the roof of the restaurant.
A fire attack was initiated and firefighters started to knock the fire down.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A Louisville police officer who just graduated from the academy was fired before his first day on the job.
Louisville Metro Police responded to multiple calls for service in relation to a non-injury collision in the area of Frankfort Avenue and McCready Avenue on Aug. 26.
Once officers arrived on scene, they said they found several parked cars that were hit by a motorist.
BARDSTOWN, Ky. — An arrest has been made in connection to the 2015 disappearance of a Bardstown mother of five.
Brooks Houck was arrested on Wednesday morning and is facing charges "stemming from the Crystal Rogers investigation," according to an FBI Louisville news release.
He was charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence, according to court documents. His bond is set at $10 million cash. He's also ordered to not have any contact with Roger's family.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Multiple people are dead and several others injured following a mass shooting at the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville early Monday morning.
Louisville Metro Police said five people are dead and several others were injured. Police said the 25-year-old shooter is also dead.
According to LMPD Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel, the shooter purchased the rifle used in the shooting legally from a local gun dealership.