Brooks Houck Arrested in Connection to Crystal Rogers’ 2015 Disappearance

Brooks Houck, 41, formerly Crystal Rogers’ boyfriend and the longstanding main suspect in her 2015 vanishing, has been arrested by the FBI in Louisville on murder and evidence tampering charges related to the investigation. Houck, who was apprehended at a Bardstown subdivision while working, has now been transferred from Nelson County Jail to Hardin County. His bond stands at $10 million cash. Further details await his arraignment scheduled for early October in the Nelson County Circuit Court.

The FBI stated their determination in holding accountable those involved in Rogers’ disappearance, describing the arrest as a “significant step” toward that goal. Rogers, a mother of five, was last seen in Bardstown with Houck, her then-boyfriend and the father of one of her children. Although previously named as the primary suspect, this is the first charge Houck has faced in connection with the crime. Her car was later discovered on Bluegrass Parkway with a flat tire, her belongings still inside.

In response to Houck’s arrest, the Ballard family expressed gratitude to law enforcement and reiterated their continued hope for justice and Rogers’ return.

This is the second arrest linked to Rogers’ disappearance this month. Joseph Lawson, 32, also of Bardstown, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the case. He has pleaded not guilty and remains incarcerated on a $500,000 bond.

The FBI, which took over the investigation in 2020, has primarily concentrated its search around the Houck family, including a significant search at the Houck family farm last year. Houck’s grandmother, Anna Whitesides, was believed to have used her car to dispose of Rogers’ body but refused to testify when summoned.

During the initial stages of the investigation, interference from Brooks’ brother, Nick Houck, resulted in his removal from the Bardstown Police Department. Additionally, Danny Singleton, an associate of Brooks Houck, faced perjury charges but later pleaded guilty to lesser offenses. The mystery deepened with the unsolved death of Rogers’ father, Tommy Ballard, a year after her disappearance.