LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Attorneys for Brooks Houck asked on Thursday for a change of venue in the murder case of Bardstown mom Crystal Rogers.
Rogers was last seen Fourth of July weekend in 2015 on Houck's family property in Nelson County.
According to court documents, Houck's attorneys do not believe the defendant can receive a fair trial from jurors living in Nelson County or any county surrounding Nelson. They would like to move the trial to either Boyd County or Daviess County.
According to court documents, Boyd County is three hours from Nelson County and has similar demographics to Nelson County. Daviess County is two hours from Nelson County and slightly bigger, but still an option.
The attorneys claim there is no "pattern of deep or bitter prejudice" against Houck in Boyd or Daviess County, as there is in Nelson County.
The attorneys pointed to multiple reasons Houck’s ability to receive a fair trial is unattainable in Nelson County. First, they cite police searches on properties with ties to Houck, that they said unfolded in front of the public eye. They also cite numerous yard signs, billboards and bumper stickers that allude to the connection between Rogers’ disappearance and Houck.
Finally, the team of attorneys wrote during a 2023 grand jury proceeding, the Nelson County grand jurors had "almost alarming" knowledge of the case and sympathized with the victim's family.
They also described a new connection to another unsolved murder mystery from Nelson County, the death of Tommy Ballard. According to court documents, "The commonwealth argued in Brooks' bond hearing that his brother Nick Houck was the primary suspect in the alleged murder of Mister Ballard." The attorneys said this has resulted in Brooks being subjected to “intense public scorn.”
One of Houck's attorneys, Brian Butler, said back in February that he would be filing a change of venue motion.
Houck is charged with two other men, Steven and Joseph Lawson, in the death of Rogers. Right now, their trial is scheduled for February 2025.
Butler also said he would likely object to all three of them being tried together.
On Wednesday, Steven's attorney filed a motion asking for his charges to be dismissed or his testimony to be excluded from the case. His attorney cited multiple interviews with state investigators and the FBI, where he was “promised immunity.”
The motion includes testimony excerpts from police interviews where the prosecutor “made it clear” Lawson’s statements could not be used against him. Now the attorney either wants the charges dismissed, or his testimony excluded from the case.
Both the motion for a change in venue and the motion to dismiss the case will be heard at the next court date in Nelson County set for Thursday, March 21.
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