PASSAGE ONE OF THE DAY: "Despite her body never being found, prosecutors argued Houck is responsible for the murder of Rogers, whom he was dating when she disappeared around July 3, 2015. Throughout the trial, prosecutors portrayed a plot to kill the 35-year-old mother of five children, led by Houck and aided by others, including Lawson."
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PASSAGE TWO OF THE DAY: "The jury went on to take just a few minutes to deliberate a sentencing recommendation."
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PASSAGE THREE OF THE DAY: "During closing arguments July 7, Lawson defense attorney Bobby Boyd said his client is "collateral damage" in the investigation. No cell phone or location evidence for Lawson was presented during the trial, but defense attorneys used data from his father's device to back their theory that the Lawsons were on Boston Road the night of the disappearance — not Bluegrass Parkway. Investigators did not find DNA evidence suggesting the Lawsons or Houck were in the vehicle, though they did find Rogers' DNA on the steering wheel. While physical evidence in the case is limited, Google data from Houck's device indicates he lied to investigators early on in the investigation about his whereabouts the day Rogers went missing."
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PASSAGE FOUR OF THE DAY: "Several witnesses also came forward to testify they heard the Lawsons talk about the alleged crimes. Defense attorneys sought to discredit the reliability of those witnesses, however, and argued the gaps in physical evidence create reasonable doubt. During closing arguments, Brian Butler, a defense attorney for Houck, said a "witch hunt" for a conviction of Houck prompted investigators to coerce much of the prosecution's most valuable testimony."The whole case is garbage," Butler said. "They're just throwing stuff against the wall."
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PASSAGE FIVE OF THE DAY: "In May, Steven Lawson was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence in a separate trial connected to the disappearance. During that trial, he admitted to picking up his son from the side of Bluegrass Parkway and calling Houck — at his son's request — to tell him the job of moving the car was done. A jury recommended he spend 17 years in prison, though his final sentencing is set for Aug. 6 in Nelson County."
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STORY: "Jury recommends maximum sentence for Houck, Lawson after conviction in Crystal Rogers trial," by Reporter Killian Baalaer, published by The Louisville Courier Journal. published on July 8, 2025.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — After 10 days of proceedings and roughly four hours of deliberations in the Crystal Rogers murder trial, the jury reached its verdict July 8.
Brooks Houck, 43, was convicted of murder as a principal or accomplice to the crime and complicity to tampering with physical evidence. Joseph Lawson, 34, was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence.
The jury recommended a life sentence for Houck, plus an additional five-year sentence for the tampering charge to be served consecutively, and a 25-year sentence for Lawson — the maximum for both individuals. Final sentencing is set for Aug. 21.
During the sentencing portion of the proceedings, one of Rogers' daughters, Kyleigh Fenwick, who was 14 years old when her mother disappeared, testified about reaching life milestones without her mother.
"I've waited a long time for this," Fenwick said. "I just want you all to be fair and go with what's in your heart."
The jury went on to take just a few minutes to deliberate a sentencing recommendation.
What happened at the Crystal Rogers murder trial?
Despite her body never being found, prosecutors argued Houck is responsible for the murder of Rogers, whom he was dating when she disappeared around July 3, 2015. Throughout the trial, prosecutors portrayed a plot to kill the 35-year-old mother of five children, led by Houck and aided by others, including Lawson.
Several witnesses testified Rogers constantly had her children with her, particularly her youngest child, Eli, whom she shared with Houck.
Prosecutors never expressly shared a believed motive, but they noted the relationship faced difficulties and that Houck's mother, Rosemary Houck, disapproved of Rogers having children prior to dating Houck. One witness who worked for Houck's home-building business, Ashley Nalley, testified she once asked Houck why he stayed with Rogers despite their arguing.
"Because I won’t lose Eli,” Nalley testified was his response.
Houck told investigators he and Rogers spent the evening of July 3, 2015 on his family's farm, along with Eli, and returned home together sometime after midnight.
But Rogers' cell phone was inactive starting around 9:23 p.m. that night, and she stopped answering calls and texts from family and friends thereafter, prosecutors said.
Police found her car abandoned on Bluegrass Parkway with her keys, phone and purse inside a few days later.
Prosecutors alleged Lawson drove the car until it got a flat tire, and he had to be picked up by his father, Steven Lawson, the night of the disappearance. The flat tire, prosecutor Shane Young said during the sentencing portion of the trial, was the impediment to a successful plot.
"This was premeditated murder," Young said. "They planned to killer her — to get rid of her — and make it look like she just left."
During closing arguments July 7, Lawson defense attorney Bobby Boyd said his client is "collateral damage" in the investigation.
No cell phone or location evidence for Lawson was presented during the trial, but defense attorneys used data from his father's device to back their theory that the Lawsons were on Boston Road the night of the disappearance — not Bluegrass Parkway.
Investigators did not find DNA evidence suggesting the Lawsons or Houck were in the vehicle, though they did find Rogers' DNA on the steering wheel.
While physical evidence in the case is limited, Google data from Houck's device indicates he lied to investigators early on in the investigation about his whereabouts the day Rogers went missing.
Several witnesses also came forward to testify they heard the Lawsons talk about the alleged crimes.
Defense attorneys sought to discredit the reliability of those witnesses, however, and argued the gaps in physical evidence create reasonable doubt.
During closing arguments, Brian Butler, a defense attorney for Houck, said a "witch hunt" for a conviction of Houck prompted investigators to coerce much of the prosecution's most valuable testimony.
"The whole case is garbage," Butler said. "They're just throwing stuff against the wall."
In May, Steven Lawson was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence in a separate trial connected to the disappearance. During that trial, he admitted to picking up his son from the side of Bluegrass Parkway and calling Houck — at his son's request — to tell him the job of moving the car was done.
A jury recommended he spend 17 years in prison, though his final sentencing is set for Aug. 6 in Nelson County.
The entire story can be read at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue/resource. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog.
SEE BREAKDOWN OF SOME OF THE ON-GOING INTERNATIONAL CASES (OUTSIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL USA) THAT I AM FOLLOWING ON THIS BLOG, AT THE LINK BELOW: HL:
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/120008354894645705/4704913685758792985
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FINAL WORD: (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases): "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."
Lawyer Radha Natarajan:
Executive Director: New England Innocence Project;
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FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions. They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true!
Christina Swarns: Executive Director: The Innocence Project;
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