Crystal Rogers’ mother takes the stand, attorneys give opening statements during day 1 of Steven Lawson’s trial

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WAVE) – The jury has been seated in the trial of Steven Lawson. He’s the first suspect to face a jury in connection to the presumed murder of Crystal Rogers.

The 15-member jury was seated May 27, after attorneys and the judge narrowed down a group of 37 Warren County residents. Before deliberations began, three of the jury members were designated as alternates.

Pre-trial motions

The case is being heard without media cameras or recording devices in the courtroom. Before the jury selection began, Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III denied a request from Louisville media outlets for pool camera coverage of the trial.

Simms brought up the possibility that witnesses in Steven Lawson’s trial could watch other witnesses testify if footage from the case was livestreamed and that the primary focus is for a fair trial, not with allowing cameras inside the courtroom.

Simms remarked that he and his staff in Nelson County, along with Warren County court staff have been inundated with requests from the media in preparation for this trial, saying he feels “exhausted” and the trial has not even started.

The defense also made a motion to continue, saying that neither Lawson nor the defense team has had a chance to review all of the discovery, with more than 400,000 documents and hundreds of interviews.

“As we stand here today, judge, we are not prepared,” Attorney Darren Wolff said.

He also said that there are mentions of individuals like Nick Houck and Jason Ellis in the discovery, calling them “tangential issues.” Special Prosecutor Shane Young said that those issues are not substantive in discovery.

Young said that, while the discovery is voluminous, they do not view it as “insurmountable.”

Wolff’s motion was denied.

Crystal Rogers’ mother takes the stand

The jury in the trial of Steven Lawson was seated, and the panel has heard testimony from the first witness, Sherry Ballard.

The mother of Crystal Rogers, Ballard outlined who Crystal was and what played out between July 3-July 5, 2015.

From the moment she sat down, she was emotional, fighting tears to even introduce herself to the jury. Her testimony wasn’t complex, but it did help paint a picture of who Crystal was and the frantic search to find her.

Ballard testified that the mother of five had been in a relationship with Brooks Houck beginning around 2010, but that in July 2015, Crystal wanted to leave him. She recalls the panic she felt as everyone tried to call Crystal and could never reach her, saying she would never have left her kids like that.

Ballard said that when she asked Houck if he’d seen Crystal, he said she’d gotten into a tizzy with him earlier.

She said he didn’t offer to go with him to report Crystal missing.

Attorneys for Lawson did not cross-examine Ballard.

Opening statements

Defense said in opening statements, they will not be contesting that Steve Lawson tampered with evidence.

We know the Ballard family was called about Crystal Rogers’ car on the side of the Bluegrass Parkway on July 5, 2015. Her keys, purse and phone were inside. She has never been found.

They said he will admit to picking his son and co-defendant Joseph Lawson up from where Rogers’ car was and that he put his hand in the car to move the seat up to make it appear that Crystal was driving the car last.

But that last charge, implying Lawson was involved in her presumed murder, Wolff says he’s not guilty of that. In fact, he argues that prosecutors “overreached” and was only charged with complicity to commit murder after he didn’t say what the Commonwealth wanted to hear.

That’s referencing his interviews where he was angling for immunity in this case. Prosecutors say he wasn’t 100% honest, so they revoked that agreement.

Joseph Lawson faces the same charges as his dad. He will be tried together with Crystal’s ex-boyfriend and main suspect, Brooks Houck, who faces a complicity to murder charge and tampering with evidence. That trial is set for June 24 in Warren County as well.

But the defense says Steven Lawson had nothing to do with a murderDefense said in opening statements, they will not be contesting that Steve Lawson tampered with evidence. and was not part of any plan to commit one.

The prosecution argues otherwise, emphasizing a phone call to Brooks Houck that night where they allege Steve said “the job was done.”

Full coverage: Crystal Rogers’ Disappearance

Check back for updates to this developing story.

Copyright 2025 WAVE. All rights reserved.