FBI releases new surveillance photos of vehicles in Crystal Rogers disappearance.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Louisville has released new surveillance photos of vehicles related to the investigation of Crystal Rogers’ 2015 disappearance in Nelson County.

“The surveillance photographs ... are ones where we need the public’s assistance in identifying the drivers of those vehicles,” FBI spokesman Timothy Beam told the Herald-Leader Sunday. “We believe the drivers of these vehicles may have important information related to Crystal’s disappearance.”

Rogers disappeared in Nelson County in July 2015, and the case has since gained national attention. The FBI was called into Nelson County on July 24 to help the sheriff’s office retrieve possible human remains. Since then, the FBI has become the lead agency on the case.

“I have begged and pleaded for years for this to happen,” Rogers’ mother, Sherry Ballard, said on Facebook Sunday night. “The fact that they have responded is still surreal to me.”

Beam reiterated Sunday there was no update on whether or not those remains belonged to Rogers, but the FBI is now offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the current whereabouts of Rogers.

“Still waiting on results,” Beam said Sunday. He said the photos were released Saturday.

“These are photos that have been added to the task force website crystalrogerstaskforce.com,” he said.

One photo shows what appears to be a white SUV and a red SUV driving near the My Old Kentucky Home campground.

A second photo taken at 3:45 a.m. July 4, 2015, shows an unidentified vehicle on Balltown Road close to the Paschal Ballard Road intersection.

“The FBI values the incredible input the community has offered thus far in the investigation,” Beam said Sunday. “These photos also represent the results of a growing dialogue with the residents of Bardstown. By sharing important elements of the investigation, we hope this will increase the public’s cooperation generating vital information in our pursuit of justice.”

More than 150 state and federal law enforcement officers began executing nine federal search warrants Thursday morning, FBI officials previously said. Officers expected to conduct more than 50 interviews as part of the investigation, FBI officials said.

The search warrants include three properties belonging to the Houck family. Brooks Houck was Rogers’ boyfriend at the time of her disappearance. He was named a suspect in the case by the Nelson County sheriff’s office, which was previously the lead agency,

Shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, the FBI said on its Twitter page that it had concluded its “judicially authorized search activities” and encouraged people to keep coming forward with information.

Ballard said she’ll keep fighting for justice for Rogers and her husband, Tommy Ballard. Tommy Ballard died of a gunshot wound in November 2016, police said. His death is still under investigation as well.

“I will never fully recover from the loss I have endured but, somehow I will continue to move forward and make them proud,” Sherry Ballard said.

Reporter Jeremy Chisenhall contributed to this story.

This story was originally published August 9, 2020 at 5:05 PM.