The FBI is taking over the investigation into the disappearance of a Bardstown woman.
Crystal Rogers, 35, was last seen on July 3, 2015. Her abandoned vehicle was found on the Bluegrass Parkway in Nelson County. Rogers’ belongings were in the car.
Her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, has been publicly named a suspect in her disappearance, while his brother, former Bardstown police officer Nick Houck, was fired after it was discovered he was hindering the investigation into her disappearance during its early stages.
On Thursday, federal authorities executed a search warrant at both Houck residences, as well as the family’s farm. Agents spent over nine hours searching the respective locations.
“Today, FBI Louisville announces it is now the lead investigative agency on the Crystal Rogers case and is working with several federal, state and local partners to include the Internal Revenue Service, the Kentucky State Police, and the United States Attorney’s Office,” the FBI said in a press release. “By utilizing federal resources and expertise and by bringing a fresh perspective to the case, those responsible for Crystal’s disappearance will be brought to justice.”
The FBI said as part of the investigation, “more than 150 state and federal law enforcement officers began executing nine federal search warrants and will be conducting more than 50 interviews in Bardstown,” reported Forrest Berkshire of the Kentucky Standard.
The FBI has created a website, crystalrogerstaskforce.com, to serve as the official source of information from law enforcement. A $25,000 reward is being offered in the case.
Human remains were found in Nelson County, near the Washington County line, two weeks ago. The remains have been sent to the FBI’s lab in Quantico, Virginia, for identification.
Rogers’ father, Tommy Ballard, was mysteriously killed while hunting in November 2016. Kentucky State Police said the so-called hunting accident is still being treated as a death investigation. Ballard was shot in the chest on family property before hunting with his grandson.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
