Brooks Houck receives life in prison for murder of KY mother Crystal Rogers
The mother of missing Bardstown woman Crystal Rogers stared down the man convicted of her daughter’s murder Wednesday afternoon and demanded he tell authorities where the body is.
“Did she beg for her life?” Sherry Ballard asked. “Did she feel any pain?”
The scene unfolded in a Bardstown courtroom as Brooks Houck, 43, awaited his sentence for murder — principal or accomplice — and evidence tampering.
Houck was eventually sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 20 years. His codefendant, Joseph Lawson, 34, was sentenced to 25 years on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and evidence tampering, with the possibility of parole after a little more than 21 years.
A third suspect, Steven Lawson, 51, the father of Joseph Lawson, was convicted in a separate trial for conspiracy to commit murder and evidence tampering. He was sentenced in August to 17 years in prison.
Houck, Rogers’ boyfriend at the time of her 2015 disappearance, was crying Wednesday when he entered the courtroom. Rogers’ body has never been found, and she is presumed dead. The case garnered national attention.
As Rogers’ mother shared her victim impact statement, Houck looked straight ahead. She called him a coward and begged that he tell her where Rogers’ body is.
“Brooks, where is my daughter?” Sherry Ballard asked.
Rogers’ daughters, mother, sister and brother, testified and spoke to Houck directly as they expressed their desire for the maximum sentence for both men.
The family accused Houck of cheating on and emotionally abusing Rogers. They alleged Houck killed Rogers to maintain custody of their shared son, Eli.
Several members of Sherry Ballard’s family addressed the Houck family, many of whom were mentioned during the trial as potential accomplices in Rogers’ killing. No one except Houck has been charged.
Tommy Ballard, Rogers’ father, was also killed in 2016 in what police called a “hunting incident.” Prosecutor Shane Young previously said the gun used to kill Tommy Ballard belonged to Brooks Houck’s brother, Nick Houck. He was not at sentencing Wednesday.
Mike Ballard, Tommy Ballard’s brother, spoke to the media after the sentencing. He said he hopes investigators can find Rogers’ body and work toward justice for his brother.
Houck and Joseph Lawson were convicted after a nearly three-week trial in July.
Neither Houck or Lawson spoke in their defense. Both men plan to appeal their sentences.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
This story was originally published September 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM.
