LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Crystal Rogers' mother and four children are suing Brooks Houck, the man charged with murder in Rogers' case.
Sherry Ballard filed a wrongful death lawsuit Monday in Nelson County Circuit Court, according to online court documents. Ballard is the mother of Rogers, who disappeared from Bardstown in 2015.
Also listed as plaintiffs are Rogers' children: Kyleigh Fenwick, Ashley Miller, Thomas Rogers and Victoria Rogers. Ballard is requesting the following:
- A judgment in an amount to be determined at trial by a jury.
- Court costs and attorney fees.
- Pre and post-judgment interest.
- Punitive damages.
- Any and all other relief to which the plaintiffs may be deemed entitled by the court.
According to the lawsuit, Ballard was appointed as the administrator of Rogers’ estate in November. The appointment came after Houck was charged with murder in September.
The lawsuit states Houck "intentionally and wrongly" caused Rogers' death. Ballard claims she is entitled to recover damages from Houck including:
- Reasonable and necessary funeral, monument and administrative expenses.
- Physical pain and mental suffering experienced by the decedent before her death.
- Lost earnings incurred by the decedent.
- Loss of decedent's enjoyment of life.
- Loss of decedent's power and ability to earn money.
Read the full lawsuit below. Mobile users, click here.
The lawsuit claims “the defendant’s actions against Crystal M Rogers were committed willfully, with oppression, fraud of malice.”
It goes on to list four additional counts on behalf of four of Rogers’ children. All of the children were minors when Rogers went missing.
According to the lawsuit, as a result of Houck’s actions causing the death of their mother, the children lost “the love, affection, guidance, services…of their mother.”
Houck was Rogers' boyfriend at the time of her disappearance. He was considered the main suspect in her case from the beginning.
Houck was arrested in September and charged with murder and tampering with evidence. His bond was set at $10 million.
Prosecutor Shane Young said during Houck's arraignment that this was the first time he asked for $10 million bond because Houck was the first "multimillionaire" he ever prosecuted.
According to court documents, Houck owns three businesses and 83 properties in Nelson County worth more than $8 million.
Authorities are also investigating the death of Ballard's husband, Tommy Ballard, who was shot and killed while hunting in 2016. That death is being investigated as a homicide.
During Houck's arraignment, prosecutors revealed they believe they are in possession of the gun that was used to kill Tommy Ballard, and said police purchased that gun from Nicholas Houck, Brooks' brother and a former Bardstown police officer.
"It’s what I've always believed," Ballard told WHAS11 in November. "I've said that from day one. I've never ever changed my mind on that. Ever."
Tommy Ballard led search parties for over a year following his daughter's disappearance.
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