What's going on in Bardstown

sg24_

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Gotcha. Looks like Lawson is testifying. Interesting.

Doesn't sound like this is the judge's first rodeo. Sending the jury into deliberation on a Friday afternoon is a great way to make sure you get a verdict.
Seems like some of his testimony doesn't match up with the jail calls
 

UKCats_1019

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Oct 15, 2014
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Houck got life in prison with 5 years added. Lawson life plus 25 years added.

*Edit* I was wrong. The jury recommended it. 🫡
 
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Hank Camacho

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Will they try the Houck brother and/or mom for conspiracy now that they have a conviction against Brooks? The brother's phone was turned off on the day in question and his fiance testified they were moving at the time and it was highly unusual. I'm pretty sure I would be murdered by my own wife if I tried to pull that stunt.

With convictions in the Crystal Rogers murder, does this shed any light on the Jason Ellis or Tommy Ballard murders? I'm still not sure if the murders of the mother and daughter (Kathy and Samantha Netherland) were connected.

Did Houck's attorney ever mention any other possible perpetrators? I haven't followed the trial that closely but my understanding is that the circumstantial evidence of Houck and the Lawsons' involvement in Rogers' disappearance is overwhelming but there is no direct evidence of any actual violence committed by any of the three.

From that perspective, if I were a juror, my initial thought about reasonable doubt would be "Is there any possibility that she was attacked by a as yet unknown predator on the BG Parkway that night?" The fact that the Netherland murders might seem to have been committed by a predator looking for an opportunity to attack vulnerable women could possibly get me there if there was any actual confirming evidence beyond speculation.
 
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CashM03

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Will they try the Houck brother and/or mom for conspiracy now that they have a conviction against Brooks? The brother's phone was turned off on the day in question and his fiance testified they were moving at the time and it was highly unusual. I'm pretty sure I would be murdered by my own wife if I tried to pull that stunt.

With convictions in the Crystal Rogers murder, does this shed any light on the Jason Ellis or Tommy Ballard murders? I'm still not sure if the murders of the mother and daughter (Kathy and Samantha Netherland) were connected.

Did Houck's attorney ever mention any other possible perpetrators? I haven't followed the trial that closely but my understanding is that the circumstantial evidence of Houck and the Lawsons' involvement in Rogers' disappearance is overwhelming but there is no direct evidence of any actual violence committed by any of the three.

From that perspective, if I were a juror, my initial thought about reasonable doubt would be "Is there any possibility that she was attacked by a as yet unknown predator on the BG Parkway that night?" The fact that the Netherland murders might seem to have been committed by a predator looking for an opportunity to attack vulnerable women could possibly get me there if there was any actual confirming evidence beyond speculation.
 

Hank Camacho

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I had never seen that. Certainly makes it seem like the mom knew whoever did it if she was killed first (meaning that she is likely the one who answered the door) and she let the criminal in the house without hesitation. The fact that mom was shot while daughter was stabbed and physically attacked certainly makes it look like the daughter was the intended target.

You would think they have to have some suspect whose name they haven't released publicly.
 
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CashM03

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FBI has already released that Nick Houck was trying the sell the gun that ballistically match what killed Tommy Ballard. He tried to sell it under an alias. So I think Nick is fully in the cross hairs.
I think they will go after Rosemary Houck too for wanting Crystal gone and asking around how to do it
 

Hank Camacho

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FBI has already released that Nick Houck was trying the sell the gun that ballistically match what killed Tommy Ballard. He tried to sell it under an alias. So I think Nick is fully in the cross hairs.
It looks like they can't prove it is the same gun as the Ballard murder weapon:

During Brooks Houck's arraignment in court on Oct. 5, Young said prosecutors are "waiting for testing to come back from the firearm we believe was used to murder Tommy Ballard."

Young said the rifle was purchased from Nick Houck, who was using a fake name. Brooks Houck's attorneys said in court documents filed Tuesday that Young said the gun was "sold to an undercover agent." Young said the gun is the same caliber as the gun used in Ballard's death and, so far, matches four of the five criteria they were looking at in comparison.

Brooks Houck's attorneys said they've learned "this gun has already been tested once by the Kentucky State Police and twice by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. On each occasion, the tests came back as inconclusive. Regardless, this has nothing to do with Brooks Houck."


Also, I found the prosecutor's written response to the defense's motion for a directed verdict that was filed after the prosecution rested its case. They did a great job of summarizing their facts.

I hadn't seen it reported, but the brief that there was testimony that a witness saw Houck hand Lawson Roger's keys that night. If the jury believed it, that and Houck's statements to the police to the contrary would probably be enough to convict.

In other slightly related thoughts, I wonder whatever happened to the shotgun that killed Officer Ellis...
 

tcurtis75

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In separate but related news, Rick McCubbin who was sheriff (or chief of Police, I can't remember) in Nelson County during all this has been charged with domestic violence in relation to an incident involving his wife and stepdaughter.
 

CashM03

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In separate but related news, Rick McCubbin who was sheriff (or chief of Police, I can't remember) in Nelson County during all this has been charged with domestic violence in relation to an incident involving his wife and stepdaughter.
Was Chief of Bardstown Police
 

Hank Camacho

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This morning the FBI announced a $10k reward for information leading to the arrest of Tommy Ballard's killer.
 

Hank Camacho

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Feel like they are going to need to increase that quite a bit to get someone to talk.
I don't. The people with inside knowledge would be looking to trade testimony for freedom, not money, so that the reward money is incidental for them.

If anything, I think it is message to the public in that area that if you testify, you'll get paid to at least somewhat alleviate the potential risk on your life.
 

ukwildcat2004

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Jan 12, 2003
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Rumor I always heard was they fed her to pigs.

Im glad they were able to find him and the Lawson's guilty. Pretty impressive job by the prosecutors without her body, a murder weapon or a confession from the accused.

Let me say this first: I absolutely think he did it. With only circumstantial evidence I could see a scenario where a jury couldn't convict. Excellent job by the prosecution to overcome that hurdle. Those murders although seemingly not tied together and very mysterious especially when considering the time frame. I think the noose is getting tighter on people surrounding these murders and people are gonna start trading freedom for testimony.