I can't remember which pod I heard it on - it's been years. My opinion-The only explanation for their murders that I see, is that its possibly a random horrific murder. Despite these accusations, neither Houck brother has ever been charged with any crimes related to the disappearance of Crystal Rogers, which they both deny any involvement in. Troopers released a photo of the suspect vehicle taken from video surveillance. The crimes left a long-lasting effect on Bardstown. Complicating the investigation was that fact that Houcks brother. She later married but I dont know if it was to him or someone else. We would always get the chicken strip basket with the toast and gravy to go with it. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. When a law enforcement officer is murdered other cops are galvanized. , "My whole family's name is trashed for something completely not even tied to me. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Is it possible that they have some sort of freeway shooter there? (Barnes received a life sentence. Please call the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Location where Tommy Ballard was shot and killed while hunting with his grandson. At first, its as if the wind carrying the scent from the distilleries lining the town perimeter makes you a little high. Share Tommy Ballard's story with your own social network. Should You Want To? According to the statistics on the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence website, nearly 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner in the US. To further investigate the inmate's claims, Bauer and retired homicide detective Dwayne Stanton met with Kathy's daughter and Samantha's sister, Holly Netherland Williams. On the morning of November 19, 2016, Tommy had plans to go hunting on his property with his grandson. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. When a region that has had virtually no murders suddenly has five unsolved murders in a short period, it is statistically unlikely that at least some are related. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Sign up for InsideHook to get our best content delivered to your inbox every weekday. She would have had [a cellphone].". Crystal Rogers' mother hopes for closure with FBI investigation. Someone, perched on top of the stone cliff above him, fired a shotgun. He is heard signing off for the evening over the radio. https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2497/ncadv_kentucky_fact_sheet_2020.pdf. A seven-year veteran of the department and member of the K-9 unit, Ellis had just gotten off work and was driving home when he found a stack of freshly cut tree limbs blocking the road at his exit off the Bluegrass Parkway. Among the other past shows on the missing mother is"The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers," which premiered in 2018 onOxygen. Back then, Sherry. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! On May 25, 2013, Ellis, a husband and father of two young boys, clocked out of his shift at 2 a.m. and started his normal, 15-mile drive home on the Bluegrass Parkway. Tommy's family announces reward of $20,000. The HLN cable channel is a spinoff of CNN. In 2019, ahome being builtby Brooks Houckwas burned down inwhat city officials said was anarson case. It was never a hunting accident. In The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers docuseries, Sherry mentions that she believes that Tommy was getting close to information about who may be responsible for Crystals disappearance. Were you traveling on Bluegrass Highway between mile markers 21 and 25 on November 19, 2016, before 7:30 am? Within months of the murders, police had searched more than 90 cars in the area that matched the vehicle description, according to WDRB,. Kentucky has the 11th highest femicide rate in the US. FBI agents have conducted multiple searches in and near Bardstown since Rogers went missing. The FBI has not released more details on the "items of interest" that were sent to the Virginia lab for testing. That case was never solved. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Police haven't ruled out any suspects as of now but, they are leaning towards the theory that multiple people may have been involved. But, theres also a dark side to the region. The killer sets up the ambush and Officer Ellis stops to remove the debris from the roadway, and the killer opens fire, killing him. "She was nice to everyone she met. According to Wayne County Sheriff Tim Catron a Bardstown, Ky. man has been arrested on a drug trafficking charge. The fact that they were killed so heinously, makes Kentucky State Police wonder if it was personal. The FBI has been offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to arrests in Ellis' slaying. Jason was very active . LOUISVILLE, KY. Another search is underway relating to the 2015 disappearance of Crystal Rogers in Bardstown, Kentucky. I agree it did seem personal but I also think that maybe she fought back more than the mother did and the killer(s) lost their cool. Both had sustained knife wounds to their necks. He might have been murdered in hopes that the investigation of Chrystals case would fade away if he wasnt constantly raising the issue but it seems more likely to me that killing him would only increase the pressure to solve her case. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. I also hope that the person(s) responsible for Crystals disappearance pay for their crime. FBI agents were searching a farm Monday morning connected to the man. It doesn't mean we can't change that title later. Houck has denied involvement with Rogers'disappearance and has never been charged. (Family Photo) He was pronounced dead at the scene on a farm located on Ed Brent Lane. Two people have been arrested and charged in the murder of Michael Wayne Unseld, 61. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! So, my best friend is from the area and I lived there a couple of years. A policeman, as a public safety officer, could reasonably be expected to stop. Noll, along with investigative reporter co-host Shay McAlister, of WHAS11 in Louisville, created Bardstown in an attempt to figure out if the crimes are connected. (He was already in prison when this crime occurred, he is not a suspect.) I agree that it would be easier if they were all related, but I don't think they are. It was related to the still-unsolved murder of her father. A 35 year old woman named Crystal Rogers went missing from Bardstown, Kentucky back in 2015. The 35-year-olds car was later found on the Bluegrass Parkway, not far from mile marker 14. Bardstown Murders and Mysteries: Brookelyn Farthing, Disappearance of Crystal Rogers 104: This is Much Bigger than Kentucky. With a population of just over 14,000. and also boasts of being the Bourbon Capital of the World, due to the presence of six major whiskey distilleries in town. Kathy Netherland taught special education at Bardstown Elementary School. There has been gossip about the surviving daughter being involved, but I see no actual evidence of that. On May 25, 2013, Bardstown police officer Jason Ellis was ambushed and killed on his way home after signing off for the night by someone lying in wait for . Officer Ellis was discovered by a passing motorist. [PREVIOUS STORY: Vigil held for Nelson County murder victims as investigation goes on]. Houck and Rogers have a son together. Her car was found abandoned on the Bluegrass Parkwaywith her keys, phone and purse still inside. Her relatives do not seem to believe she was involved. Some Doctors Are Now Making More Dubious Claims About Ivermectin. Officer Ellis was driving home late that night in his cruiser when he stopped on Exit 34 of the Bluegrass Parkway to clear brush from the road. "I have been asked by the police about the relative location of chairs," said Holly. Her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, who lived with her, claimed innocence and said he had no clue what happened to Crystal. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The pair were probably in the lowest risk group for being murder victims. Although detectives considered Houck a suspect, he was never charged in connection with Crystals disappearance. Regarding the thought of finally finding out what happened to her daughter, Ballard said, "I want it, but its going to be so hard for me. I'm innocent. They had been killed the previous day. In August of 2013, Brant Sheckles, a member of the Bardstown Money Gang, claimed the street gangwas responsible for Ellis murder. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. It appears as though this murder was covered up by family members of the murderer. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Houck was under suspicion immediately. Tommy Ballard is killed on family property, Signs show up on the first anniversary of Tommy Ballard's death, Major Crystal Rogers update as FBI searches Bardstown farm linked to missing mom-of-5 seven years after she vanished | The US Sun, FBI searching farm in connection to KY woman who went missing in 2015 | News | WPSD Local 6, Timeline: The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers, FBI searching Bardstown farm in relation to Crystal Rogers case, FBI extends search for Crystal Rogers on Bardstown farm | whas11.com, FBI: Search on Houck family farm will continue for fourth day | whas11.com, 6 years later: Anniversary of Tommy Ballard's death follows 2nd FBI search in Crystal Rogers disappearance. When Bauer pressed him for details about how he knew it was gang initiation, he said, "Well, I know they was tortured. Tequila fanatic? Greek stationmaster arrested in head-on train crash; 36 dead. The random frightens us. The driveway was reportedly dug up, as agents appeared to be zeroed in on the location. In a March 2017 interview with WDRB, Crystal Rogers mother, Sherry Ballard, surmised that her daughter disappeared because she overheard something maybe she shouldn't have, related to the murder of Jason Ellis. Samantha was attacked near a different door suggesting she was attempting to flee. It's been more than seven years since a Bardstown mother of five vanished and to this day, it still remains a mystery. Ellis had signed off on the radio and was driving home when he encountered branches blocking the road on exit 34 of the Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown, Kentucky. Kathy Netherland, a special education teacher, and her 16 year old daughter Samantha are brutally murdered in their own home. "We are a very close family, and Im not doing anything different that any mother would do for their daughter at all," Ballard added. Absolutely. When pressed for details about how he knew it was gang initiation, he said, "Well, I know they was tortured.". However, a few months before the shooting, Tommy told his wife, Sherry, that he felt like someone was following him. Its a real place, sits between Lebanon and Danville. I have also lived in Western KY, Northern KY, Central KY, and Eastern KY. Small town politics and the good ol boy system are very much in existence here in the smaller towns. The Bardstown Murders are a series of 5 unsolved deaths over 3 years starting in 2013. Father of missing woman is killed while hunting with his grandson. Small towns where everybody knows each others business are notorious hotbeds of gossip. I hope for the sake of Crystal Rogers' children, that she will be properly laid to rest in the future. Their bodies were discovered by Kathys father on April 22 after she failed to show up for work at Bardstown Elementary School, where she worked as a special education teacher. Year after year, tragedies struck this small town, Jessica Noll, investigate journalist and host of the hit podcast, Bardstown, told Nancy Grace during the latest Crime Stories episode. That October, Nick Houck was fired from the police forceor allegedly interfering with the investigation of Crystal Rogers disappearance,according to NBC affiliate WLEX. Nick later told the Kentucky State Policethat he only contacted his brother to tell him that "they might be trying to trip him up" and "he should protect himself.". Though just an hour south of the major metropolitan hub of Louisville, Bardstown, Kentucky, is a world away. . It was the sort of town a young man or woman visits and finds themselves wondering what was so great about the big city, anyway. Bourbon Town Mystery, produced by the HLN Investigations team, takes a deep dive into the disappearance of Rogers. The parkway would've been an otherwise very empty road that late at night and almost any vehicle seen on that road between Bardstown and, say Lawrenceburg could've been possibly considered suspect at the time. Kathy was attacked at the front doorway suggesting that she was attacked after she answered the doorbell. Crystal Rogers case: FBI Louisville, other federal agencies search for Crystal Rogers with new warrants. Two days later,her mother reported her missing, the same day her car was found abandoned along the Bluegrass Parkway with a flat tire and her belongings still in it. Something a lot of the podcasts and articles and shows dont tell you is that Jason Ellis wife is also a teacher and she worked closely with Kathy and Crystals boyfriends brother worked closely with Jason as well and their family was always known to sell drugs, it is a small enough town to know that. Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. Ballard told The Courier Journal she has "a lot of hope" that her family will soon finally learn what happened to her daughter. KSP investigators are asking for the public's help identifying the occupants of the vehicle, which was seen near the Netherlands' home on April 21. KSP still believes the person or persons inside a black Chevrolet Impala seen traveling north on U.S. 150 from Botland into Bardstown on the night of the murders know something or had something to do with the murders of the Netherlands. They include the ambush murder of police officer Jason Ellis in 2013, the brutal double homicide of Kathy Netherland and her teenage daughter Samantha a year later and the 2015 disappearance of Ballard . Kentucky State Police had no suspects or motive for the Netherlands' murders. Rogers was last seen on July 3, at the home she shared with her boyfriend, Brooks Houck, their 2-year-old son and other children. In a bizarre twist, on November 19, 2016, Crystals father, Tommy Ballard, was fatally shotin the chest by an unknown gunmen while out hunting. Is Tommys murder connected to the other Bardstown unsolved cases? He believed he was being followed prior to his death, and even installed a camera in his truck to catch anyone on his tail. He was a K-9 handler (narcotics dog) for the police department in addition to his patrol duties. The sudden disappearance of Crystal Rogers, a young mother, in July 2015 had the small town of Bardstown, Kentucky, on edge. It is a sad, but an almost daily occurrence in the US. And awesome. A cop, Crystal Rogers, her father, and a school teacher and her daughter were all murdered and no one knows anything about it. Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis is murdered while driving home after his shift. Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. On the one-year anniversary of Tommy Ballard's death, yellow signs begin to show up around town. The next mystery to befall Bardstown was the 2015 disappearance of 35-year-old Crystal Rogers. Its been called the most beautiful small town in America, but four unsolved murders and the disappearance of a beloved mother-of-five left an ugly stain on Bardstown, Kentucky. A year later, mom and daughter, Kathy and Samantha Netherland, lost their lives inside their rural home, just outside of Bardstown. I mean, that would explain why they didn't get a call off because I know my mom always had a phone in her hand. In a finely-detailed report on Elliss murder by Jessica Noll of WCPO-TV, its clear that despite aggressive efforts by local law enforcement and the FBI, the officers murder remains unsolved. After exiting his police cruiser to investigate, he was ambushed. She went on to say her husband Tommy "was never going to give up for my daughter, and he was going to push, and I think people knew that. . In March, 2018,the Kentucky House of Representatives and State Senate passed a resolutionhonoring the victims of the Bardstown Murders, urging witnesses to come forward. A massive search for her turned up more questions than answers, frustrating the authorities and loved ones alike. He is clearly the focus of the investigation. It didnt even begin with Crystals mysterious disappearance in July 2015. Ballard's grandson, who was with him during the trip,was not responsible for Ballard's death, Kentucky State Police detectives later said. Outside of work, he was heavily involved in the community including coaching youth baseball. She didn't receive an inheritance when her mother and sister were killed and the idea that she killed her remaining family (her father recently passed from cancer) because they supposedly didnt like her boyfriend doesnt seem like a real motive. Though just an hour south of the major metropolitan hub of Louisville, Bardstown, Kentucky, is a world away. She was a widow and in photos she looked younger than her reported age of 48. I hope they get justice. " I'm just praying this will bring us some kind of closure. Numerous podcasts have focused on the Crystal Rogers case. I hope they receive justice in the near future. He was said to have been trying to clean up drug activity in the area, this could have made him a target, but I have always had a gut feeling that this was either a completely random crime or was possibly a personal crime against him, not police related. ", "I just hope that I can handle that, when they come to me with that news, even though Ive waited for six years," shesaid. Whenever possible, actual redditors have participated in investigating the events. The FBI said it is "offering up to a$25,000 rewardfor informationleading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible" for Rogers' disappearance. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! While police initially treated Ballards death as a possible hunting accident, it eventually became clear it wasnt. Everyone wants to know what the hell is going on. Could a fellow student have killed her? NELSON COUNTY, Ky. (WAVE) - It has been seven years since mother and daughter were brutally murdered in Nelson County in the small community of Botland.